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​Ambassador Sidique Wai
Director of Diplomatic Outreach
A distinguished diplomat with over 35 years of leadership experience in international relations, public policy, and strategic partnerships. Proven track record in advancing global development initiatives, fostering bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and driving cross-sectoral collaborations. Expertise in managing high-level diplomatic negotiations, policy advocacy, and securing funding for major global projects. Adept at navigating complex geopolitical landscapes and fostering strong relationships across stakeholders including governments, the private sector, and international organizations to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Career
Ambassador Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai brings more than three decades of diplomatic and public-policy leadership to Gotham, with a career defined by forging high-stakes relationships across governments, global institutions, and the private sector. As Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States—also accredited to Brazil, Canada, the Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago—he has operated at the highest levels of international diplomacy, managing presidential and ministerial visits, leading strategic negotiations, and advancing major development initiatives including the successful securing of a $480 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact for energy infrastructure.
His tenure has placed him at the center of U.S.–Africa engagement, from hosting congressional delegations and UN Security Council briefings to coordinating public-private partnerships in health, education, and security. Ambassador Wai’s ability to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes—and to translate them into actionable partnerships—makes him a strategic asset for clients operating in an increasingly interconnected global environment.
Before his diplomatic appointment, Ambassador Wai spent over a decade with the New York City Police Department, where he became a pivotal figure in community affairs and trust-building after 9/11. He spearheaded the NYPD’s body-camera initiative, built diplomatic bridges between NYPD leadership and African ambassadors at the UN, and founded the department’s first Muslim Advisory Council. His background across law enforcement, crisis response, and public-safety policy gives Gotham clients a uniquely informed perspective on the intersection of domestic and international security.
Earlier roles across the NYC Housing Authority, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office round out a career steeped in government operations, constituency engagement, and institutional problem-solving. As founding president of the United African Congress, he has long been a champion for diaspora communities and a builder of durable coalition networks.
At Gotham, Ambassador Wai leads Diplomatic Outreach, strengthening client access to foreign missions, U.S. federal agencies, international organizations, and cross-border private-sector partners. His combination of diplomatic standing, policy fluency, and operational experience provides Gotham clients with a global extension of their influence—whether the mission involves investment attraction, crisis navigation, multilateral engagement, or building strategic alliances across continents.