Rio Ferdinand
Speakers
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Gary StannettCEO, Rio Ferdinand FoundationGary Stannett
CEO, Rio Ferdinand Foundation
Rio Ferdinand Foundation -
Rio FerdinandFormer International Football Star, Pundit, and Founder, Rio Ferdinand FoundationRio Ferdinand
Counsellor
Former International Football Star, Pundit, and Founder, Rio Ferdinand Foundation
Following an illustrious playing career as a centre-back for Manchester United and England, Rio Ferdinand is now recognised as a podcaster and social media personality as well as his works in the media and across a range of football based initiatives. Rio won every major domestic honour while playing for Manchester United, making over 300 appearances for the Club. He twice broke the British transfer record for a defender and made over 80 appearances for the England National Side. He was honoured with the permanent England Captaincy in 2010. In 2018, Rio won a BAFTA for his New Era produced documentary, Being Mum and Dad, which dealt with bereavement in families, and has since produced documentaries on subjects ranging from racism in society to football culture in South London. Rio established his own Foundation in 2012 to promote opportunities for young people to achieve their potential through participation, personal development, training and employment pathways in the UK and Ireland, and the Foundation is building a wider international portfolio through its capacity building support for local agencies in South Africa and beyond.
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Carine N'kouéGeneral Secretary, UEFA Foundation for ChildrenCarine N'koué
Counsellor
General Secretary, UEFA Foundation for Children
Carine N’koué is a humanitarian and the current General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children, appointed in mid‑2024 (announced in February 2025). She has over a decade of experience delivering sport-based humanitarian initiatives—particularly during the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan starting in 2013—and has been instrumental in leveraging football to enhance social cohesion and the well‑being of vulnerable children. Under her leadership, the Foundation allocated €5 million to 72 global projects in 2025 and joined the UN’s “Football for the Goals” initiative.
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Angela F WilliamsPresident and CEO, United Way WorldwideAngela F Williams
Counsellor
President and CEO, United Way Worldwide
Angela F. Williams is the President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, leading a global network serving
48 million people across 1,100 communities in 36 countries. Angela’s family, culture, and early life
experiences culminated in her role at United Way and have influenced her entire career. Growing up as the
child of civil rights activists, Angela learned early on the power of community, the importance of
resilience, and the impact that individuals can make by standing up for justice. Angela is bi-vocational,
serving as an ordained minister, attorney, and civil society executive. With over 30 years of leadership
experience across nonprofit, public, and private sectors, Angela has held key roles at Easterseals; YMCA
of the USA; Sears, Roebuck & Co.; the U.S. Department of Justice; and the U.S. Air Force. Angela’s
leadership is grounded in service and community-driven solutions. She is a member of the Council on
Foreign Relations, OpenAI’s Ethics Council, and the Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council. Angela holds
degrees from the University of Virginia, University of Texas School of Law, and Virginia Union University’s
School of Theology.