Amnesty International USA is pleased to announce Nadia Daar as its next Executive Director, succeeding Paul O’Brien who will be retiring in April 2026.
As AIUSA’s Chief Strategy and Impact Officer for the last three years, Nadia has demonstrated outstanding leadership, commitment to charting paths forward to protect human rights in a rapidly evolving environment and strengthening Amnesty International’s people power as the largest grassroots human rights organization in the world. Under Nadia’s leadership, AIUSA will continue to leverage its unique position as a globally networked U.S.-based organization working to uphold human rights increasingly under assault both here in the United States and around the world.
“With two decades of deeply impactful work on social justice and human rights spanning issues and geographies, including three years of sound leadership within AIUSA, the board of directors unanimously and enthusiastically selected Nadia to be the new leader of our organization at this pivotal moment to protect human rights,” said Chris Foley, AIUSA Chair of the Board. “Nadia brings the vision, experience and unwavering commitment needed for this moment. Under her leadership, AIUSA will continue to tirelessly defend human rights against the rising abuses in the U.S. and around the world.”
In her role as Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Nadia has been responsible for overseeing AIUSA’s programs, advocacy, campaigning, research and communications teams. She has led the organization to achieve meaningful wins for human rights domestically and internationally, while steering it to be more adaptive and agile given rising authoritarian practices and the accompanying serious risks to human rights and those that defend them. Prior to joining AIUSA, Nadia was the head of Oxfam International’s Washington, D.C. office for several years, leading their advocacy, policy and worldwide network to influence international financial institutions to address globally relevant issues, including economic inequality, climate change, and shrinking civic space. She has also worked with civil society in the Middle East and North Africa focusing on areas related to transparency, accountability and participation. She is a leading expert on multilateral advocacy and community rights in development, and has worked with NGOs, grassroots activists, impacted communities, and governments across a range of countries over 20 years to advance social justice and human rights.
AIUSA’s current Executive Director, Paul O’Brien, will retire April 15 and join his spouse in Ireland. He has served in the position since 2021 and is leaving the organization in a healthy and strong position, with exceptional staff and dedicated members, growing partnerships and more support in the United States than ever.
“It has been the honor of my life to lead AIUSA and I cannot imagine a better leader to take this organization into the future than Nadia Daar,” said Paul O’Brien, AIUSA’s outgoing executive director. “I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Nadia for a number of years and know her integrity, courage, and wisdom. Amnesty International USA is strong and ready for this crucial moment in the fight for human rights. I cannot wait to see where the organization will go under Nadia’s leadership in the coming years.”
“I’m both humbled and energized to take up the leadership of AIUSA at this critical moment where the human rights context in the U.S. and globally demands that we be bold, creative, and collaborative,” said Nadia Daar. “I believe deeply in our mission and I’m committed to ensuring that Amnesty International’s efforts to stop human rights abuses and fight for a future of dignity and justice for all, grow stronger and more impactful. I look forward to building on AIUSA’s legacy, while continuing to evolve the organization to meet current challenges head on.”
Amnesty International is a global movement of millions of people demanding human rights for all people — no matter who they are or where they are. Through research, mobilization, and advocacy, Amnesty International brings people together to uncover the truth, hold human right violators accountable, demand change, and create a world in which human rights are enjoyed by everyone.
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