Speakers

Dr Emma Fulu is a feminist activist, researcher, and entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to advancing gender equality and ending violence against women and girls. She is the founder and Co-CEO of the Equality Institute, a global organisation dedicated to creating a more just and inclusive world that has worked in more than 30 countries. Emma has led some of the world’s largest studies on violence against women, including at the United Nations, and co-founded VOICE, supporting women and girls in crisis settings. Emma has advised governments, UN agencies, and global brands, and her work has been featured on Q&A, The Project, the BBC, CNN, and beyond. A TEDx speaker and writer with a PhD from the University of Melbourne, she brings together data, storytelling, and lived experience to inspire change.

Bandana Rana is the first Nepali member of the UN CEDAW (Convention of Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) Committee since 2017. She served as Vice Chair of the Committee from 2018-2020. She is presently the Chair of the Task Force on Afghanistan within the Committee. She is also a member of the UNFPA High Level Commission on ICPD25 follow up.

Olena Shevchenko is a prominent Ukrainian women's and LGBTI rights activist, serving as the chairwoman of the NGO Insight and co-founder of the feminist movement - Women's March in Ukraine (Marsh Zhinok). She advocates for marginalized communities, including LGBTQI individuals and women from vulnerable communities, while challenging discriminatory laws. In 2021, Shevchenko was awarded the Human Rights Tulip by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her pioneering human rights work. The following year, she and Insight received the Prix international de la ville de Paris for the Rights of LGBTI+ People. Named Women of the Year by The Times in 2023, Shevchenko highlighted the increased vulnerability of women and LGBTQI people during the war in Ukraine, pointing to widespread discrimination, sexual violence, and gaps in humanitarian aid. She remains a powerful advocate for human rights in Ukraine.