AIWF Founder & Chairman Haifa Al Kaylani attended the Global Thinkers Forum 6th Awards for Excellence Gala on 06 December 2018 under the theme ‘100 Years: Women of Passion and Purpose’, held to honour leading female minds who have leveraged ideas, innovation, technology, passion, culture and values to lead by example and have made meaningful contributions to good governance, prosperity and development.
The Awards for Excellence Gala was hosted in the presence of HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, the Rt Hon Tobias Ellwood MP, Academy Award winning actress Kate Winslet, Baroness Sandip Verma and dignitaries from all over the world. Awards were presented to eight outstanding women who were recognised for their contributions to entrepreneurship, business, women’s empowerment, global thinking, leadership, positive change, African female leadership and lifetime achievement.
The Gala was attended by an audience of notable guests including HE Ambassador Omar Al Nahar, HRH Queen Sylvia of Buganda, Annabel Karmel MBE, Jonathan Townsend, CEO Prince’s Trust International and Yvonne Thompson CBE. An additional Athena40 recognition was given to Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society, for her services to women’s leadership and empowerment. Athena40 is the first ever global ranking of the top 40 most powerful female minds. Launched in Paris at UNESCO in March 2018, it acknowledges the work of the 40 most dynamic, active and fearless female thought leaders, columnists, commentators and activists across all industries and from all over the world. The first ranking will be announced in March 2020. At the Gala, HRH Princess Sumaya said: “When given the opportunity, women in our region and around the world have proven themselves, again and again, to be innovative and creative, resourceful and driven. Gatherings such as this help to build confidence, to celebrate success, and to devise better strategies to achieve incredible outcomes for women and, ultimately, for society as a whole.”
The AIWF Chairman thoroughly enjoyed the outstanding keynote addresses from HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, First Elected Female Head of State in Africa & Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and all the accomplished and highly distinguished women leaders who participated at the Gala, which was beautifully organised by the GTF team under the leadership of Elizabeth Filippouli, Founder & CEO of the Global Thinkers Forum. AIWF is indeed proud to be affiliated with the Global Thinkers Forum and highly commends the Board of the GTF for the excellent Global Thinkers Mentors programme and outreach which makes such a rich impact on the lives and confidence of young people aspiring to leadership positions and excellence across all sectors.
