2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, trained social worker and women’s rights advocate.
She currently serves as Executive Director of the Women, Peace and Security Program at the Earth Institute at Columbia University and is the founder and current President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, the founding head of the Liberia Reconciliation Initiative, as well as co-founder and former Executive Director of Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-A).
She is also a founding member and former Liberian Coordinator of Women in Peacebuilding Network/West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WIPNET/WANEP). She travels internationally to advocate for human rights and peace & security.
Ms Gbowee’s leadership of the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace – which brought together Christian and Muslim women in a nonviolent movement that played a pivotal role in ending Liberia’s civil war in 2003 – is chronicled in her memoir, Mighty Be Our Powers, and in the award-winning documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell. Ms Gbowee holds an M.A. in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, VA), and a Doctor of Laws (LLD) honoris causa from Rhodes University in South Africa and the University of Alberta in Canada.
Ms Gbowee advises numerous organisations working for peace, women’s rights, youth, and sustainable development and has held distinguished fellowships at Barnard College and Union Theological Seminary. In 2016, Ms Gbowee was awarded the Lifetime Africa Achievement Prize (LAAP) for Peace in Africa by the Millennium Excellence Foundation. Ms Gbowee serves as a Sustainable Development Goals Advocate for the United Nations and as a Member of the World Refugee Council. In 2017, Ms Gbowee was selected by the United Nations Secretary-General to serve as a member of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation. In 2018, she was appointed to the Gender Equality Advisory Council Secretariat for Canada’s G7 Presidency.
Leymah is the proud mother of eight children.
Dr Dawn-joy Leong is an autistic multidisciplinary artist, researcher and co-founder of inclusive arts initiatives. Her immersive, sensory art and storytelling explore autism through personal experience, supported by her autism assistance dog, Lucy, offering a unique lens on neurodiverse expression.
Lecyca Curiel started researching Gen Z and public speaking at seventeen years old. Yeah, pretty brave, right? Now she’s all about challenging lazy stereotypes, making sense of Gen Z for the rest of us, and building real connections between generations in the workplace. Lecyca’s roots trace back to a deep curiosity about identity and cultural dynamics, shaped by her own ancestral history. It’s not just a passion – it’s her purpose.
A Professor of Management Practice at London Business School, where she directs ‘Human Resource Strategy in Transforming Companies’ – considered the world’s leading programme on human resources.
Joe Roberts is a celebrated keynote speaker known as “The Skid Row CEO.” From living on the streets to building a multimillion-dollar company, his story of resilience, leadership and purpose inspires audiences to unlock their potential and embrace change with courage and determination.
Ambassador Anthony Gardner’s extensive experience in policy, diplomacy, business, and law makes him an essential keynote speaker for corporate event planners. His insights on U.S. political shifts, transatlantic relations and global business strategies offer invaluable guidance to organisations navigating complex international landscapes.
Pioneering conductor and composer Eímear Noone is a respected visionary in the world of music. Best known for her compelling video game and film scores, she is also celebrated as the first female conductor to have led the orchestra at the Oscars. Eímear’s music and powerful leadership insights reflect her exceptional talent.
Discover how Jim Lawless, an acclaimed motivational speaker, has mastered the art of the impossible. From becoming a record-breaking freediver to a televised jockey, Jim inspires transformation in personal and professional life.
Founder of Ethiopia’s first commodities exchange, a serial entrepreneur impacting the lives of over 15 million small farmers.
Born without his right hand, Nicholas defied expectations to graduate from the prestigious RCM in London and become a globally acclaimed pianist and motivational speaker. He captivates corporate audiences with inspiring talks on resilience, inclusion, and peak performance, motivating listeners to overcome challenges with determination and creativity.
An economist and serial entrepreneur for human progress with 26 successful pioneering ventures under his belt, including Progressio Foundation, focusing on human progress through entrepreneurship, has just passed its 30th year and 300 projects in 33 countries; Social Venture Network Europe, the first network of socially responsible business leaders, which Marcello co-founded and led in 1993-94; the Tällberg Forum in Sweden, 2005-2013, co-founded with Bo Ekman and one of the first systems’ approach global community of leaders; and B Lab Europe, co-founded with Leen Zevenbergen in 20014-current, where he has grown B Corps in Europe from zero to over 300 (today at 600).
