Ottavia Criss

Ottavia Barone Criss is an international development practitioner with 9 years of experience in new business development and project implementation across various donors such as USAID, World Bank, UN, and DOS. She specializes in economic/private sector development, effective governance, and stability, with a regional focus on MENA.

Barone Criss holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in International Development from American University School of International Service. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Wales and another Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from John Cabot University.

Her professional experience includes roles such as Business Development Manager in the Economic Growth/Governance Practice at Palladium: Make It Possible, Senior Associate in the Economic Growth and Governance Practice at Palladium, Senior New Business Recruiter focused on the Middle East at DAI, and Associate II in MENA/Afghanistan at DAI.

Previously, she held positions at American University as a Program Specialist, at The Abraham Fund Initiatives as a Public Advocacy and Government Relations Assistant, at FAO as a JFCA Assistant Editor, at the World Bank Group as an Expanding Access to Microfinance Fellow, and at the Guarini Institute for Public Affairs as a Communications Intern.