International Affairs Team

Aissata M.B. Camara serves as New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs. She is the first African-born and Muslim woman, and one of the youngest individuals, to be appointed as a Commissioner in the City’s history. She is also the first African-born and Muslim woman to lead the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs. In this role, she oversees the City’s engagement with the diplomatic community, the consular corps, and the United Nations.

Prior to her appointment, Commissioner Camara served as Deputy Commissioner for Policy & Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff in the same office. In that capacity, she advised City leadership on international policy, managed emergencies involving foreign-born New Yorkers and diplomatic incidents, and oversaw City protocol, the Diplomatic and Consular Parking Program, and internal operations to ensure New York City remains a trusted and effective global partner.

Commissioner Camara is committed to bridging local action with global solutions, with a focus on advancing equity, sustainability, and inclusive economic growth. She works closely with the United Nations, Permanent Missions, Consulates General, international organizations, and the private sector to develop forward-thinking partnerships that deliver tangible results for New Yorkers.

A proven leader in international engagement, she has created and led award-winning programs that have positioned New York City at the forefront of subnational diplomacy. She launched the NYC Junior Ambassadors program, which has connected thousands of students and educators with the United Nations, and helped expand the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) movement, now adopted by more than 330 cities worldwide to localize and measure progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Commissioner Camara is a Fulbright Specialist, frequent speaker, and respected voice on subnational diplomacy, gender equity, and inclusive growth. Her work and story have been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, PBS, Deutsche Welle, and more, and she regularly speaks at high-level forums, including the United Nations.

Her contributions have earned her global recognition, including the 2023 Bernard M. Baruch College Alumni Changemaker Award, induction into the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Hall of Fame and Under 40 list, the Jo Ivey Boufford Award for Public Service Innovation, and recognition as a Thomson Reuters Trust Conference Changemaker.

Originally from the Republic of Guinea and now based in New York City, Commissioner Camara is driven by a vision to build resilient, inclusive, and globally connected communities that leave no one behind.