Lina Ma is a Program Assistant with the Multilateral Reform program at NYU’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC), where she supports work on developing a follow-up mechanism for Financing for Development (FfD) and advancing efforts to strengthen global cooperation and sustainable financing frameworks.
Before joining CIC, she gained hands-on experience in international policy and development at the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), where she assisted with meetings of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, with a focus on sustainable development, gender equality, and multilateral reform. She also worked at the Urban Justice Center, leading communications and fundraising initiatives for youth and LGBTQ+ advocacy programs.
She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Global Affairs at NYU, with a concentration in international development and gender studies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in language translation and interpretation from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Having lived in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States, she brings a strong background in translation, journalism, and cross-cultural engagement. Her work on women in politics and Chinese feminism has been published in The New York Times and Global Affairs Review.
She also has experience leading student initiatives, including serving as the founding president of the East Asia Language & Culture Lounge at NYU. She is passionate about gender equality, global development, and policy advocacy.