Penny Abeywardena
Penny Abeywardena | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sri Lanka |
| Occupation(s) | Foreign policy expert, non-profit leader |
| Years active | –present |
| Known for | New York City Commissioner for International Affairs (2014–2022) |
Penny Abeywardena is a U.S.-based expert in foreign policy and a leader in the non-profit sector, who held the position of New York City Commissioner for International Affairs from 2014 through 2022.
Early life and education
Originally from Sri Lanka, Abeywardena and her family escaped the civil conflict when she was four years old, relocating to Los Angeles in the United States. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California and pursued graduate education at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Career
Abeywardena launched her professional journey with Human Rights Watch before moving on to work with the Drum Major Institute. She also held the role of Director for Girls and Women Integration at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI).
De Blasio administrations
Appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in September 2014, Abeywardena became the commissioner of international affairs, marking a milestone as the first immigrant woman of color to occupy this office. In 2017, she earned recognition as a Young Leader by the French American Foundation. She concluded her tenure in this capacity in 2022.
Following her commissioner role, Abeywardena established Soft Power Strategies (SPS) and took on a Fellowship-in-Residence at NYU’s McSilver Institute. In 2023, she began contributing to Forbes, focusing on leadership methodologies.