Buenaflor Nicolas was born in the Philippines, and became a South San Francisco resident in 1988 when she and her husband, with their two young children, immigrated to the United States. She is now a grandmother of three. Nicolas was first elected at-large to the City Council in November 2018 and as the District 3 representative in November 2022, becoming the third Asian-American woman elected to the City Council, and only the fourth woman to serve in that capacity. She was installed as Mayor in December 2022.
Nicolas received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree from Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila and a Master of Public Health from University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her professional career includes almost 25 years in leadership positions at various biotechnology companies – Gilead Sciences, InterMune, Kalobios Pharmaceuticals, Cytokinetics, Forty Seven (acquired by Gilead Sciences in 2020), and Rain Oncology. Currently, she is Vice-President and Head of Drug Safety and Pharmacovigilance at Scorpion Therapeautics.
Her community and public service commitments span over 30 years and include:
- All Souls Catholic Church Volunteer, 1988 – 2008
- SSF Day in the Park Committee Member, 2006-2011
- SSF Housing Authority Board Commissioner, 2006
- Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church Volunteer, 2008 - present
- SSF PAL (Police Activities League) Boosters, Secretary, 2008 -2019
- SSF Historic Preservation Commissioner, 2009
- SSF Conference Center Authority Board Commissioner served as Chairperson 2014-15 and 2022
- SSF Asian Alliance Founding Member, Treasurer, 2012 - 2019
- Kawayan Folk Arts, Founding Board Member
- Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center Board Member
- SSF Friends of Parks and Recreation, Member
- SSF Historical Society, Member
- SSF Sister Cities Committee, Member
- SSF Chamber of Commerce, Member
2024 City Council Committee Assignments
- Community Development Block Grant Standing Subcommittee (CDBG)
- Conference Center Authority Board
- Homeless Outreach Team (HOT)
2024 City Council Ad Hoc Committees
- Age Friendly Task Force
- Holiday Decorations Committee
- Joint Advisory Committee of the Child Care Master Plan (JACCCMP)
- Naming Committee
- Sister Cities Committee
- Sustainability Committee
2024 Regional Assignments
- Airport Land Use Committee (ALUC)
- America Supporting Americans (ASA)
- C/CAG Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
- City/County Association of Government (C/CAG) Board - Alternate
- Housing Our People Effectively (HOPE) IAC - Alternate
- Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) Board - Alternate
- San Mateo County Emergency Services Council - Alternate