Christine Mari Palma Start champions workers, consumers, and injured individuals through federal and state litigation aimed at addressing systemic injustices and driving institutional change. Her legal career include nearly 15 years in public service, including as Special Deputy Attorney General under California Attorney General Rob Bonta, focusing on civil rights and criminal justice reform, and 11 years as a deputy public defender in Solano and Fresno Counties.

As the Executive Director, Lead Facilitator and Visionary Founder of Pinay Powerhouse, Christine empowers Filipino women in law. She also works as a certified professional leadership and life coach for visionary women and nonbinary abundant lawyers and leaders. Her professional excellence earned her recognition in Andrea Lyon's "The Feminine Sixth: Women for the Defense," selection as a "Best Lawyer Under 40" by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, receipt of the Minority Bar Coalition Unity Award, and the University of San Francisco School of Law's "Pursuit of Justice" Award.

Christine serves her community through multiple leadership roles: Arts & Culture Commissioner for Union City, CA; Board of Governors member for USF School of Law; Co-Chair of the Women Lawyers Network for the National Filipino American Lawyers Association; and Advisory Board Member of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California. She holds a J.D. from USF School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley.