Annika Lescott-Martinez

Focus Areas: Housing Policy, Nonprofit Financial Management, Urban Politics & Governance

Annika Lescott-Martinez brings over a decade of experience in housing finance and policy at both the local and federal levels. With a distinguished career that includes strategic roles in government and nonprofit sectors, Ms. Lescott-Martinez has been recognized for her innovative approaches to public administration and financial management.

As Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Finance at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), Ms. Lescott-Martinez manages a $5 billion operating budget and a $1 billion investment portfolio. In her role, she leads the financial planning and analysis, accounting, payroll, risk management, and investment activities of the Authority. Her leadership at NYCHA, where she is the youngest person to ever serve as Chief Financial Officer, is characterized by her commitment to fiscal transparency, strategic financial planning, and operational efficiency. Ms. Lescott-Martinez has implemented groundbreaking budgeting processes and financial training programs, earning NYCHA recognition for its financial reporting and clean audit opinions.

Before her tenure at NYCHA, Ms. Lescott-Martinez served as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Executive Office of the President of the United States. She was pivotal in housing policy analysis and budget oversight for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, contributing to significant national housing policy reforms and legislation to improve workforce development programs.

Her earlier experience includes working with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, where she facilitated investment in low-income communities throughout New York City, addressing housing preservation challenges and supporting nonprofit housing developers.

Ms. Lescott-Martinez holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Romance Languages from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has been recognized as one of Crain’s New York Business "40 Under 40" and a "Young Leader" by Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, underscoring her impact and leadership in the field of housing and public administration.

Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Lescott-Martinez is an active community leader, serving on the Board of Trustees for The Hotchkiss School and the Public Housing Preservation Trust. Her dedication to public service and education is reflected in her ongoing commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment both within and outside of academia.

Education

• MPA, Columbia University
• BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Honors & Awards

• U.S. Presidential Mangement Fellowship (2015-2017)
• Crain's NY Business "40 Under 40" (2022)
• Affordable Housing Finance "Young Leader" (2023)