Asha Richards, a dedicated advocate for human development, joined the Mayors Migration Council in March 2024. Motivated by her Jamaican migrant upbringing, Asha strives to minimize inequality and empower marginalized communities.

Currently, Asha volunteers with the Global Jamaica Diaspora Youth Council (GJDYC), a youth-led initiative established by the Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT). Serving as the elected Northeast USA representative and the 2024 Chair of the council, Asha actively contributes to empowering young Jamaicans in the diaspora (1st to 4th generations) while supporting MFAFT in diaspora engagement. In October 2023, Asha achieved a notable feat, winning the “Solving For Humanity: Global Youth Challenge for Human Development.” Her proposal on collective remittances for Jamaican development earned her the opportunity to present to UNDP HDRO President Pedro Conceição.

Prior to her role with the Mayors Migration Council, Asha has garnered diverse experience, having worked with the Grants Resource Center at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Development team at Net Impact, the Migration, Remittances and Development Program at the Inter American Dialogue, and the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership team at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation—a US Department of State initiative. Additionally, her graduate capstone at the Inter-American Development Bank focused on enhancing HR efficiency in the Jamaican public sector.

Asha holds a BA in Political Science and International Studies from Virginia Wesleyan University (2021), as well as an MPA in Development Practice from Columbia University (2023), where she specialized in International Organization and Latin American Studies.