Appointed King’s Counsel in March 2022, Sultana is a highly experienced human rights, international law and criminal justice barrister, advising States, NGOs and individuals. She also advises large multi-national corporations on Diversity & Equality. She is Chair of the Bar Standard Board’s Taskforce on Religious & Belief. Sultana's unique expertise in high profile counter terrorism & national security cases spans across the Criminal Courts, Coronial Courts, Administrative and Family Divisions of the High Court and the Appellate Courts. She is part of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Roster of Criminal Justice Sector Experts dealing with Counter-Terrorism. She advises on international human rights, international criminal law and humanitarian law issues. She is currently on the Advisory Board, Influencing Corridors of Power (ICOP), School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London; Member of Legal Expert Advisory Panel for Fair Trials International (LEAP); Special Advisor on Human Rights for the Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights; and on the Advisory Council for JUSTICE. Sultana is an award-winning barrister, winning Barrister of the Year 2022 at the Inspirational Women in Law Awards; appearing in the HERoes Top 100 Women Future Leaders, 2021; Winner of the Professions Category, Asian Women of Achievement, 2021; Finalist in BSN Lawyer of the Year (Chambers), UK Legal Diversity Awards; and Finalist, in Outstanding Woman in Professional category sponsored by Baker McKenzie, Precious Awards 2021. She is also the Founder & Director of Modest Fashion Festival which attracted a global audience of 1.56 billion.

Bio to be added soon!

Safiyah is 13 years old and the Co-Founder of GHRH. Safiyah has always been driven by the desire to become a human rights lawyer. She came up with the idea of creating a Hub where girls could learn more about their rights and how to claim them. She loves representing and advocating on behalf of her peers. She has represented her year group on the School Council for two years. She has been a Form Captain and was voted vice House Captain this year. She is a Digital Ambassador at her school and has recently taken on the role of Inclusivity Ambassador. She loves debating and is a Lamda scholar.

Helen Pankhurst CBE is a women’s rights activist and advisor to the humanitarian and development organisation CARE International. She is also a Visiting Professor at MMU and was the first Chancellor of the University of Suffolk. The great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst, she carries on the legacy e.g. through Centenary Action and GM4Women2028.

@helenPankhurst

Afsana Lachaux is a leader and advocate reshaping the landscape for gender equality. She created the national campaign “Change Starts in the Changing Room,” igniting a movement to transform school PE changing rooms and remove one of the biggest hidden barriers to girls’ participation in sport and physical activity.

With over 30 years’ experience across government, philanthropy and social impact, Afsana has advised Ministers on national policy, led major programmes tackling inequality, and championed the rights of women and girls at every level of society. As Director of the Sweaty Betty Foundation, she has driven a strategic shift towards systems change advocacy, leading high profile campaigns and partnerships that amplify the voices of under represented girls’ and women.

A respected voice on gender equality, Afsana was awarded the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize for her work on women’s access to justice.

Mandy Sanghera OBE is a distinguished winning philanthropist and international advocate, often hailed as a driving force for change across the globe. A human rights activist, motivational s in speaker, and TEDx speaker , Mandy has journeyed extensively, inspiring and empowering individuals in various countries. With more than 30 years of expertise in international development, Mandy has dedicated her career to fostering innovation, forging strategic alliances, and championing key issues such as human rights, gender equality, accountability, migration, and social justice on a global scale. Her impactful work has touched the lives of hundreds, and through her active presence on social media and numerous television appearances and speaking events, she now reaches thousands more. Mandy has addressed the US House of Representatives three times and frequently participates in the World Economic Forum, using these influential platforms to shed light on pressing global issues affecting women, children, and refugees. Notably, she has recently provided support to refugees from Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, and Iraq, and collaborated with a group of women activists to help evacuated over 400 Afghan refugees.

Founder, Courageous Leaders

As a seasoned leader with 30 years of experience across Private Equity, PLCs, and start-ups - holding CEO, COO, and GC roles - Nilema specialises in navigating complex organisational challenges. Her focus is on empowering leaders to find the courage to create lasting impact. From driving transformative change and advising boards on high-stakes issues to championing equity and social impact, she blends empathy, authenticity, and innovation to foster environments where individuals and teams can truly flourish. Her work has supported thousands, from boardrooms to marginalised communities, inspiring a ripple effect of positive change.

Founder, Courageous Leaders

With over 25 years of experience in the creative industry, Shaun has led design, innovation, and creativity for global brands at some of London’s top creative agencies. He is a master at unlocking creativity and transforming ideas into action. Through unique facilitation methods such as LEGO® Serious Play®, Shaun helps leaders and teams solve complex challenges, embrace purposeful play, and drive meaningful change. His expertise spans startups to global corporations across a wide range of industries, including Media, Legal, Insurance, and Retail, always bringing energy, fun, and a passion for collaboration to his work.

Founder, Risk as Service & Family Offices Education | Family Office Advisor | Advocate for Financial Literacy as a Human Right

Carolin Schönherr is an established Executive and Non-Executive Director with a strong track record of shaping the way family offices and financial institutions approach risk, governance, and generational transition. Her career spans hedge funds, fintechs, FTSE100 insurers, and top-tier investment banks.

As founder of Risk as Service, she leads a boutique London-based advisory business, and launched Family Offices Education — a dedicated offering focused on empowering the next generation through tailored financial literacy programmes.

Carolin has advised clients globally on sustainable operating models, effective governance frameworks, and the cultural levers needed to future-proof wealth and leadership. Her sector expertise includes family offices, investment firms, and financial innovators across private and institutional spheres.

A respected public speaker and lecturer, Carolin delivers content on risk management, ESG, family office trends, NextGen readiness, and intercultural competence. She is especially passionate about championing financial literacy as a fundamental right for girls and young women, positioning it as a tool for long-term agency, independence, and inclusion.

Hannah McNicol is an international development researcher, writer and communications professional. Hannah is currently the Grants, Research and Communications Executive at So They Can, and the Research and Communications Manager at the Australian International Development Network (AIDN). Hannah recently completed her PhD in International Development as a Cookson Scholar at the University of Melbourne and the University of Manchester. Hannah is affiliated with the Global Development Institute and is a Research Associate for the Second Cold War Observatory. Hannah previously worked with Good Return (focusing on women’s economic empowerment in the Asia-Pacific) and the Australian Red Cross. Hannah holds a Masters of Development Studies, specialising in gender, from the University of Melbourne (Dean’s Honours List 2020) and a BA in History and Politics from the University of Oxford (Magdalen College, 2018).

So They Can is a leading international NGO founded in 2009 to reduce poverty in Tanzania and Kenya through access to quality education. 50,000 children across 55 primary and secondary schools have directly benefitted from So They Can’s programs since 2009. So They Can’s Education Program provides access to quality education, school infrastructure, teacher training and school management. So They Can’s Community Development Program breaks down the additional barriers to education by focusing on child wellbeing and rights, women’s empowerment, and community health projects. So They Can’s “Keeping Girls In School” and “Ambassadors of Hope” projects exemplify So They Can’s commitment to gender equality, girls rights and addressing gender injustice across all their Programs. 15,000 marginalised girls will be reached directly through So They Can’s Education Program in 2026.