International Affairs Director, Mayor's Office-City of Atlanta
Vanessa Ibarra is originally from Caracas, Venezuela, and has enjoyed living and working in France, Germany, Mexico, Peru and the United States. Over the course of the last 12 years, Ibarra has consulted and supported international trade organizations such as ERAI (Entreprise Rhone-Alpes International), the French Embassy Trade Office, and international private organizations such as VGH International GmbH and YER USA Inc. In her various roles, she advised European companies interested in establishing their businesses in the United States and led trade missions across the United States.
Ibarra served as the chief of protocol for the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs under Mayor Kasim Reed and was later promoted to deputy director where she launched the city’s first international startup exchange program and promoted the Metro Atlanta Export Challenge Grant in partnership with UPS, Chase and regional partners. Ibarra was later appointed as the new director for the International Affairs Office under Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. As director, Ibarra advises the mayor, cabinet members, the airport and City Council on international matters. Under her leadership, the city has strengthened ties with international cities, attracted international events such as the Smart City Expo Atlanta, Wunderbar Together and the Sustainable Airport Areas International Seminar, grown the Atlanta Christkindl Market, launched the first Women Export University Program in partnership with UPS and the first IoT Living Labs Agtech Challenge, and supported the establishment of the Atlanta Global Studies Center.
Ibarra is a recipient of the French National Order of Merit with the rank of Knight from the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. She is part of the city’s Smart Cities Governance Team, the Atlanta Global Studies Center Advisory Board, the Board of the French American Chamber of Commerce, the Francophone-Atlanta Committee, the Georgia Council for International Visitors Board, the Conseillers du Commerce Exterieur de France in Atlanta and La French Tech Atlanta.