Athena Padilla

Athena Padilla is a Partnerships & Communication Liaison Officer in the Global Partnerships Unit at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, based in Rome. She plays a key role in supporting large-scale bilateral initiatives funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Mattei Plan for Africa. In this position, Athena oversees communication activities, organizes high-level consultations, and engages key stakeholders across Tunisia, Guinea, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Cameroon to ensure the seamless execution of project objectives.

Athena holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Law from the University of Toulouse and the University of Leeds, as well as a Master’s in International and European Studies from the University of Aix-Marseille. Prior to joining the Alliance, she worked with the UN World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), where she developed extensive experience in food security, agricultural development, and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships.