Omar Ayyash sees himself as an ambassador and is passionate about helping people understand that the world is a global village.
Ayyash is a true global citizen. He was born in Jordan, raised in Austria, and educated in the United States. He is the director of Office of International Affairs (OIA) for Louisville Metro Government where he is the mayor’s point person on international matters.
As director of OIA, Ayyash managed, marketed, and developed the city’s international program into an award-winning division. He developed one of the largest international festivals in the region, Worldfest, a weekend festival that drew over 60,000 people, making it the largest international festival in the region.
Before joining OIA, Ayyash served as acting director of the Kentucky World Trade Center. He holds a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from the University of Louisville.