Peace and Security Plenary Session - How can young leaders drive global cooperation for a safer world?
Speakers
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Emmanuel Lanko Isidore SoroFounder & CEO - Children's SmileEmmanuel Lanko Isidore Soro
Founder & CEO - Children's Smile
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Mónica de GreiffFormer Minister of Justice and Law, Republic of ColombiaMónica de Greiff
Counsellor
Former Minister of Justice and Law, Republic of Colombia
Mónica de Greiff holds a Law degree, with a specialisation in Administrative Law and a PhD in Jurisprudence, all from Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá. She has held numerous senior positions in both the public and private sectors. In government, she was appointed Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Environment and Habitat. She also served as Minister of Justice of Colombia, Vice Minister of Justice, Presidential Adviser for International Affairs, and Secretary General at the Ministry of Mines and Energy. In addition, she represented the President of the Republic before the National Television Commission and was District Secretary of Economic Development of Bogotá. In the corporate sector, she was CEO of the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce and the Bogotá Energy Group, as well as Vice President of Legal and Public Affairs at Shell Colombia Inc. She has also served on the boards of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, Promigas S.A., Corporación de Ferias y Exposiciones S.A., Grupo Keralty S.A.S., and Gran Colombia Gold. Currently, she is a member of the Boards of Directors of Lagos de Aurea S.A.S., the Aris Mining Corporation in Toronto, Canada, and One Young World in London. Given her extensive professional trajectory, she has expertise in: i) the energy industry; ii) administration, senior management, and leadership; iii) government affairs and public policy; iv) business risk management; v) human resources and talent development; vi) legal affairs and corporate governance; vii) health, safety, and environment; viii) sustainability; ix) climate change; and x) business strategy and project management.
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David BeasleyFormer Governor of South Carolina and Former Executive Director, UN World Food ProgrammeDavid Beasley
Counsellor
Former Governor of South Carolina and Former Executive Director, UN World Food Programme
David Beasley is a distinguished leader, humanitarian, and former Governor of South Carolina (1995–1999). He most recently served as the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) from 2017 to April 2023, having been nominated by two U.S. presidential administrations from different parties and appointed by the UN Secretary-General. Under Beasley’s leadership, WFP became the largest humanitarian organization in the world, assisting over 160 million people in 2022 alone and raising over $55 billion to combat global hunger. In 2020, he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of WFP for its efforts to provide food assistance in conflict areas and prevent food from being used as a weapon of war. In his Oslo acceptance speech on December 10, 2021, he remarked: "We have learned that there is great richness in those who are seen, in the eyes of the world, as 'the poor.' And many of us who are considered 'rich' are actually poor in the things that matter most." Beasley has also been recognized for his courageous leadership beyond humanitarian work, receiving the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Award for taking a stand on the Confederate Flag issue in South Carolina. He majored in Microbiology at Clemson University and received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of South Carolina. Beasley was also a Fellow and lecturer at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and is now a professor at the University of South Carolina Law School. He is married to Mary Wood Payne, and they have four children and four grandchildren. Today, Beasley remains an influential advocate for global food security, humanitarian action, and international cooperation.
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Nazanin BoniadiActress and Human and Women's Right ActivistNazanin Boniadi
Counsellor
Actress and Human and Women's Right Activist
Nazanin Boniadi is an Iranian-born actress and internationally recognised human and women’s rights activist. As an Amnesty International UK Ambassador and long-time partner of Amnesty USA, she has championed the rights of marginalised populations—especially Iranian women, youth, and prisoners of conscience—since 2008. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has emerged as a key global voice for Iran’s “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. Her advocacy has brought her to Capitol Hill, the UN, and parliaments across the UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia. In 2022, she met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and testified before the UN Security Council on the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses. She has spoken at major international forums including the Munich Security Conference, World Economic Forum, and Oslo Freedom Forum. Boniadi is the recipient of numerous human rights honors, including the 2023 Sydney Peace Prize, the 2022 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and awards from Freedom House and the Feminist Majority Foundation. Her commentary has appeared in The New York Times, TIME, CNN, and The Washington Post. As an actress, Boniadi is known for her roles in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Homeland, Counterpart, and Hotel Mumbai. She will next star in A Mosquito in the Ear and The Saviors. She is fluent in English and Persian.
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Michael MøllerFormer Under-Secretary-General, United NationsMichael Møller
Counsellor
Former Under-Secretary-General, United Nations
Michael Møller is a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and in his last post served as Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva and Secretary-General of the Conference of Disarmament, and has over 40 years of experience as an international civil servant. He served as the Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation from 2008 to 2011. He is now member of the Board of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation, Senior Adviser to Macro Advisory Partners, Distinguished Fellow at the Geneva Graduate Institute in Geneva, Member of the Executive Board of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Member of the Board of One Young World, Honorary President of Art for the World, Honorary Chairman of Greycells and member of the Advisory Boards of a number of other Foundations. Born in 1952 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Mr. Møller earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, United States, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
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Professor Thuli MadonselaDirector, Centre for Social Justice, Stellenbosch University and Founder, the Thuma Foundation for Democracy Leadership and LiteracyProfessor Thuli Madonsela
Counsellor
Director, Centre for Social Justice, Stellenbosch University and Founder, the Thuma Foundation for Democracy Leadership and Literacy
Professor Thuli (Thulisile) Madonsela is the director of the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University and the Law Trust Research Chair Professor of Law in Social Justice Studies. She is the founder of the Thuma Foundation for Democracy Leadership and Literacy and a member of the African Academy of Sciences. She was recently appointed to the UN Scientific Advisory Board and as Chairperson of Cities Alliance. She also serves on the International Anticorruption Advisory Council and Global Justice Leaders. The former Public Protector of South Africa and full-time Commissioner in the South African Law Reform Commission, Prof. Madonsela was one of the 11 technical experts who helped draft the South African Constitution. She co-authored laws such as the Equality Act, Employment Equity Act, and Promotion of Administrative Justice Act. She has an extensive background in constitutional, social justice, and administrative law, shaped by her years in public service investigating improper conduct in state affairs. Prof. Madonsela has written, taught, and presented widely on these topics and on ethical leadership, good governance, and gender mainstreaming. She contributed to international human rights instruments at UN, AU, and SADC levels. She currently teaches Constitutional Law, Social Justice Law, Administrative Law, and Constitutional Governance and Ethical Leadership. She holds eight honorary law doctorates, two law degrees, a Harvard Advanced Leadership Certificate, and other postgraduate qualifications. Named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2014, she has received over 70 awards including the Rotary’s Paul Harris, Commonwealth Lawyers Truth and Justice, and ACFE Cressy Award. A mother of two and avid mountaineer, she has summited Mt. Kilimanjaro twice under #Trek4Mandela-#Caring4Girls and hikes for the #Action4Inclusion campaign to end student debt.
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Dr Dumazedier KabaseleNeurologist and Mental Health expertDr Dumazedier Kabasele
Neurologist and Mental Health expert
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Daniel ZapataInnovation Leader, Corporación Ayuda HumanitariaDaniel Zapata
Innovation Leader, Corporación Ayuda Humanitaria
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Martina VollmerCyber-security Lead Architect Digital Identity, SiemensMartina Vollmer
Cyber-security Lead Architect Digital Identity, Siemens
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Shirene YaseenFounder of Arabic MateShirene Yaseen
Founder of Arabic Mate