Leslie (she/her) brings experience in humanitarian affairs and city diplomacy. During her time in the Communications and Advocacy division of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), she helped develop international advocacy campaigns and strategies, raising awareness about the most pressing emergencies in global fora. In 2020, she was based in WFP’s West African Regional Bureau in Dakar, where she led communications and advocacy on the Sahel crisis. Leslie has also worked in the Greater London Authority (GLA), where she developed a strong understanding of how municipal governments function, the value of city-to-city exchanges, and the pivotal role mayors play in responding to major global challenges. During her time in the GLA’s International Relations team, she led on questions related to the war in Ukraine.
Leslie holds a BA in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College in Los Angeles, and an MsC in Urban Development Planning from the Bartlett’s Development Planning Unit (DPU) at University College London. She lives in London where you might see her riding around on her tandem bike with her partner, Josh.