Bama Athreya

Collaborative on Global Children's Issues

Bama Athreya is the director for global advocacy at the International Center for Research on Women, a senior fellow with the Georgetown University Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues, and has board or advisory positions with Faith in Democracy, Goodweave International, American Leadership Initiative, and Council for Global Equality.

As deputy assistant administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), oversaw the Children in Adversity team and portfolio, working closely with the U.S. special advisor for children in adversity, and advanced important new work to strengthen care infrastructure globally.
Has led global portfolios on gender equality, youth in development, disability, LGBTQI+, and Indigenous peoples, and advanced new efforts on racial and ethnic equity.
As executive director of the International Labor Rights Forum, led pathbreaking global research, campaign, and advocacy work to end child labor globally.
Represented the United States in delegations to the Global Ministerial on Ending Violence Against Children, Commission on the Status of Women, and COP28.
Holds a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the University of Michigan.