Kayla Colyard is the Events and Partnerships Project Lead at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth). Based at the Secretariat office of the SDSN in NYC, Kayla also serves as the UN Focal Point. The SDSN is a program launched by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to mobilize global expertise around the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement. Kayla leads all of SDSN Youth’s speaking engagements and event coordination, including their annual Vatican Youth Symposium hosted in partnership with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of change management, youth empowerment, technology and innovation, quality access to education, corporate social responsibility and storytelling as a tool for progressive change. A passionate humanist, previous work experience includes the American Red Cross, SOS Children's Village, CIEE, and organizations for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Kayla holds dual Masters degrees in International Development & Service and Business Administration from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. She received her BS from the University of Delaware, where she studied human services, sociology, and psychology.

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