Chaired by the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Sami Bahous, and created in partnership with the Government of Iceland, the UN Foundation, and the Council of Women World Leaders, the network will operate in support of UN Women’s work on women’s leadership. As the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approaches in 2025, and world leaders are being called on to recommit to gender equality and women’s rights and empowerment, the network will serve as champions for diversity in leadership.
The network includes leaders such as Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder, Rise; Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius (2015 – 2018); Aya Chebbi, Former African Union Special Envoy on Youth and Founder of Nala Feminist Collective; Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank; Hibaaq Osman, Founder and Chairperson, ThinkTank for Arab Women, the Dignity Fund, Karama and the Centre for the Strategic Initiatives of Women; Janet Mbugua, Author, Advocate and Founder, Inua Dada Foundation; Joyce Banda, President of Malawi (2012 – 2014); Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia (2010 – 2013); Julieta Martinez, Climate Justice and Gender Equality Youth Activist; Kathleen Hanna, Musician, Author and Feminist Activist; Kimberlé Crenshaw, Civil Rights Advocate, Scholar and Co-Founder and Executive Director, African American Policy Forum; Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2011; Melanne Verveer, Executive Director, Georgetown Institute of Women, Peace and Security, Georgetown University; Roxane Gay, Author, Professor and Advocate; and Tarja Halonen, President of Finland (2000 – 2012). A full list of the current leaders can be found here.
Once fully mobilized, the network will consist of a group of 100 women leaders.
