James Mazzarella provides strategic public affairs and communications advice to those seeking to understand or influence the U.S. and other governments and is a Senior Associate (non-resident) at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Before becoming an independent consultant, Jim was Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications at the Global Innovation Fund, a non-profit, impact investment fund seeking to catalyze positive economic benefits in the world’s poorest countries. Immediately prior to joining GIF, Jim was the Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs for the World Wildlife Fund.
From 2017 through 2019, Jim was at the White House’s National Security Council and National Economic Council, first serving as Director of International Development and then Senior Director for Global Economics and Development. While at NSC, he was a primary architect of a new government agency, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and a senior member of the U.S. G20 and G7 teams. His responsibilities at the National Security Council included coordinating U.S. policy on foreign assistance, especially development finance and global infrastructure programs, as well as foreign anti-corruption efforts.
For 10 years prior to his work in the White House, Jim served as Deputy Vice President of Congressional and Public Affairs for the Millennium Challenge Corporation and later served as an Alternate Member of MCC's Board of Directors. Jim ran New York State’s Office of Federal Affairs for almost a decade and also served as Chief of Staff and Press Secretary on Capitol Hill.
