Ilona Rayan
Valley Stream
Summary
Dedicated Professional with over 15 years of experience driving administrative activities, program coordination, research, political analysis, program strategy, communications and team leadership efforts within the government, diplomatic, public services and non-profit sectors. Equal ability to perform autonomously, as a team leader and as a supportive team member.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Multilateral Engagement Associate
The New York Climate Exchange
02.2025 - 10.2025
- Supported The Exchange’s global initiatives by helping to build and maintain relationships with international stakeholders, such as the United Nations and multilateral financial institutions.
- Assisted in coordinating communication and collaboration between The Exchange and international and multilateral organizations, ensuring that our goals aligned with global climate policy and finance initiatives.
- Supported the planning and coordination of events and meetings, ensuring smooth logistics and communication for international and local engagements.
- Monitored international developments and helped identify opportunities to enhance The Exchange’s presence and impact on the global stage.
Administrative Assistant
The New York Climate Exchange
01.2024 - 02.2025
- Assisted in ensuring the seamless functioning of the organization by providing comprehensive administrative support to key leaders within The Exchange, including the Chief Executive Officer, Director of Planning and Development, and Interim Director of Academic, Research, and Commercialization Programs, and other future executive leaders.
- Carried out scheduling, data entry, and document management to support the team’s daily operations.
- Contributed to effective communication efforts by drafting and editing emails, memos, and assisting with website and social media updates.
- Managed calendars and was responsible for organizing appointments, meetings, and events, maintaining up-to-date and well-organized schedules.
- Oversaw upkeep of office supplies, equipment, and facilities, and coordination of office-related logistics.
- Assisted in event coordination, planning and organizing various events, workshops, and meetings, managing logistics, and coordinating materials and resources.
- Collaborated closely with team members to understand and support their administrative needs.
City Diplomacy Officer, Adaptation
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
07.2021 - 01.2024
- Provides cross-cutting support to the City Diplomacy team on a range of global climate advocacy and political strategies aimed at promoting a green and just recovery from Covid-19 and enhancing climate ambition.
- Supports the Urban20 initiative with the day-to-day management of the project through the convening of operational and strategic meetings, drafting and preparation of communications, policy briefs, agendas, liaising with stakeholders, maintaining the projects archive, and planning and delivering the Urban20 sherpa meeting, communique and mayoral summit.
- Provides cross-cutting support with the Climate Resilience team on the development of C40’s Adaptation Diplomacy strategy.
Team Coordinator, City Diplomacy
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
01.2021 - 07.2021
- Provided clerical and administrative support to the Director and team.
- Coordinated meetings and conference calls across multiple time zones for the Director and team.
- Maintained the daily calendar of meetings of the team.
- Scheduled domestic and international travel for the Director.
- Coordinated and submitted monthly financial expenses for the Director.
Team Coordinator, North America Region
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
04.2018 - 01.2021
- Provided clerical and administrative support to the Director and Deputy Regional Director.
- Coordinated meetings and conference calls across multiple time zones for the Director and Deputy Regional Director.
- Maintained the daily calendar of meetings of the team.
- Scheduled domestic and international travel for the team.
- Coordinated and submitted monthly financial expenses for the team.
- Conducted city-specific and regional research for the team.
- Maintained the team annual travel budget.
Research Team Coordinator
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
01.2016 - 04.2018
- Provided clerical and administrative support to the director of the Science and Innovation team.
- Coordinated meetings and conference calls across multiple time zones for the director and team.
- Maintained the daily calendar of meetings of the team director.
- Scheduled domestic and international travel for the director and team.
- Coordinated and submitted monthly financial expenses for the team.
Research Officer
Fiji Mission to the United Nations
03.2010 - 08.2015
- Provided clerical and back-up administrative support to the Ambassador and diplomatic staff as well as visiting officials, the President, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Fiji.
- Answered incoming calls, responded to inquiries and coordinated meetings and conference calls across multiple time zones.
- Assisted the Executive Assistant to the Ambassador with scheduling domestic and international travel, including obtaining visas, booking flights and hotels, obtaining proper credentials for meetings and liaising with the appropriate foreign embassies and officials to secure and ensure proper welcome and courtesies were extended to the Ambassador upon arrival in his destination.
- Assisted the Executive Assistant in maintaining the daily calendar of meetings of the Ambassador and diplomatic staff within the office as well as at United Nations Headquarters.
- Coordinated and maintained the meetings and daily schedule of the President, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Fiji when in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly as well as other official State visits.
- Liaised with and provided the official US Secret Service detail with the daily schedule of the President and Prime Minister of Fiji when in New York on official visits.
- Assumed all duties of the Ambassador’s Executive Assistant when on leave or sick.
- Maintained the Mission’s filing system.
- Implemented the required updates for the Mission’s official website as well as drafted press releases for dissemination in New York and Fiji.
- Provided analysis and implemented research findings on different global affairs issues as well as U.N. committees for Fiji’s official voting position on U.N. resolutions, formation of Fiji’s foreign policy, establishment of diplomatic relations, international treaties, bilateral and multilateral meetings and inter-governmental negotiations.
- Attended meetings and negotiations on peacekeeping, sustainable development, sustainable energy for all, non-communicable diseases, climate change and human rights at U.N. Headquarters on behalf of the Mission’s diplomats and took minutes and prepared reports.
- Assisted the Mission’s elections officer with Fiji’s official candidacy to the United Nations Human Rights Council by tracking other country candidacies, approaching other countries to secure their support for Fiji’s candidacy and maintaining a matrix for the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Fiji of the support received.
- Assisted the Mission’s Military adviser on all U.N. peacekeeping issues including the preparation of official paper work for submission to the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations of Fiji’s military, police and civilian peacekeepers in Liberia, Sudan and the Middle East.
- Collaborated with the Administrative Officer and the Executive Assistant on the logistics for all official events including Fiji’s annual National Day celebrations featuring over 150 UN Ambassadors and officials.
Studio Coordinator
Center for Movement
04.2009 - 01.2010
- Opened the studio and cleaned and set up for the clients and instructors.
- Answered incoming calls and responded to inquiries.
- Maintained the calendar of appointments for both the clients and instructors.
- Followed-up with clients to remind of upcoming appointments or to re-schedule.
- Processed all payments after each appointment and at closing at the end of the day.
Personal Assistant to the Ambassador
Papua New Guinea Mission to the United Nations
11.2003 - 12.2005
- Answered all incoming calls and responded to inquiries.
- Maintained the Ambassador’s daily calendar of meetings both within the Mission and at United Nations Headquarters.
- Coordinated and maintained the calendar of meetings and official events for the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea during the annual United Nations General Assembly and other official visits to New York.
- Liaised with and provided the official US Secret Service detail with the daily schedule of meetings and events of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea when in New York on official visits.
- Coordinated with the Administrative Officer on the logistics for all official meetings, luncheons, dinners and cocktail receptions for the Ambassador, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea as well as other visiting officials.
- Assisted the Mission’s Administrative Officer in processing Papua New Guinea visas for all UN staff, diplomats and officials.
Education
Master of Science - Global Affairs
New York University
New York, N.Y.05.2015
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and Government
CUNY Hunter College
New York, N.Y.12.2009
Associate’s degree - liberal arts
Nassau Community College
Garden City, N.Y.05.2003
Skills
- Mac/PC proficient: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, Adobe Photoshop; Drupal and Joomla; Prezi; Canva; Salesforce; Hubspot
Timeline
Multilateral Engagement Associate
The New York Climate Exchange
02.2025 - 10.2025
Administrative Assistant
The New York Climate Exchange
01.2024 - 02.2025
City Diplomacy Officer, Adaptation
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
07.2021 - 01.2024
Team Coordinator, City Diplomacy
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
01.2021 - 07.2021
Team Coordinator, North America Region
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
04.2018 - 01.2021
Research Team Coordinator
C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
01.2016 - 04.2018
Research Officer
Fiji Mission to the United Nations
03.2010 - 08.2015
Studio Coordinator
Center for Movement
04.2009 - 01.2010
Personal Assistant to the Ambassador
Papua New Guinea Mission to the United Nations
11.2003 - 12.2005
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and Government
CUNY Hunter College
Associate’s degree - liberal arts
Nassau Community College
Master of Science - Global Affairs
New York University