On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Women’s eNews will honor ’21 Leaders for the 21st Century’ at its 24th annual Gala in New York City. The 2024 honorees were selected due to the Innovative programs and practices they provide to help ensure full equality regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, or abilities. Each week, we will introduce you to one of this year’s stellar honorees.
Today we invite you to meet Penny Abeywardena, holder of leadership roles in international affairs, government and philanthropy, Penny recently served as the New York City Commissioner for International Affairs (2014-2022), where she led the agency serving the largest diplomatic corps in the world. During her tenure, New York City successfully implemented a series of award-winning programs with the international community focused on issues ranging from youth empowerment to the leadership of cities and local governments on global issues like climate change, and rebuilding post the Covid-19 pandemic. Prior to her role in government, Penny served as the Director of the Women’s program at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), where she advised multinational corporations, philanthropists, NGOs and multilateral institutions to increase investments in gender-focused development initiatives.
Currently, Penny serves on the Board of Directors of the Center for Reproductive Rights, and advisory councils for the Aspen Institute, APCO Worldwide and the 92Y. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, which provides oversight of the UN Foundation, the International Peace Institute’s International Advisory Council, and chaired the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cities of Tomorrow. Penny’s other accolades include a recent appointment to the rank of Knight in France’s National Order of Merit by President Macron for her global leadership on diplomacy, human rights and sustainability, and in 2020 she was awarded the Golden Helsinki Medal by Mayor Vapaavuori for the creation of a global network of local governments achieving sustainable development efforts. Penny was also recognized by the French American Foundation as a Young Leader (2017) and named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader (2016).
We hope you will join us in honoring Penny, and well as all of our 2024 honorees, in the evening of March 26th in NYC. For a current list of honorees, please click here.
To purchase tickets and sponsorships, please contact angie@womensenews.org
