Top Female Speakers

Dr. Linda Yueh is an economist, author, and broadcaster whose career spans the worlds of journalism, business and academia.

She has advised organisations such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum at Davos, the European Commission, and the UK Government, and has held senior media roles at the BBC and Economics Editor at Bloomberg.

Her insights combine economic expertise with real-world experience - explaining complex ideas to audiences.

Melati Wijsen is one of the world's most influential young change-makers who turned an idea into real change at just aged 12. She co-founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags, a grassroots movement in Bali that helped push through a ban on single-use plastic after years of campaigning.

Since then, she’s become a powerful voice on the global stage, giving TED Talks, speaking at the UN, and even opening for President Barack Obama. The visionary is known for her energy and authenticity on stage, as well as her ability to turn passion into action.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt is a former Danish Prime Minister, recognised by Fortune as "one of the world’s greatest leaders."

As Denmark’s first female PM, she guided the country through a financial crisis while championing education and reducing child poverty.

After politics, she became CEO of Save the Children, reaching millions in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.

Today, Helle combines her political and international expertise to advise businesses and organisations, while remaining active in global policy through think tanks and the World Economic Forum.

Priya Lakhani is a BBC AI Decoded correspondent and leading voice on how AI can be used in human-centred ways.

She advises businesses on AI platforms and serves on the UK government’s AI Council, helping organisations get ahead of rapid technological change.

As the founder and CEO of CENTURY Tech, she’s applying AI to one of education’s biggest challenges - moving beyond one-size-fits-all learning - making her insights especially valuable for anyone trying to understand AI’s real-world impact.

Carmen M. Reinhart is known for making sense of financial crises and boom-and-bust cycles.

A former Chief Economist of the World Bank and a professor at Harvard Kennedy School, she’s also the co-author of This Time Is Different, a landmark book on financial history read around the world.

With senior roles at the IMF, Bear Stearns, and advisory positions to the U.S. Federal Reserve and Congress, her insights are highly valuable to global organisations today.

Dr. Rumman Chowdhury works at the crossroads of AI and humanity, and is a leading voice in making technology more ethical, transparent, and accountable.

The scientist is CEO of the nonprofit Humane Intelligence, a U.S. Science Envoy for AI, and a Responsible AI Fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center.

Widely published and deeply engaged in public debate, she’s known for turning complex questions about responsible AI into solutions.

Michelle DiGruttolo is the former White House intelligence briefer to President Obama, who now helps leaders make sense of an increasingly unstable world.

Drawing on her national security experience, she breaks down today’s shifting geopolitical landscape - from AI and quantum computing to trade, global power struggles, and the risk of major international conflict.

Known for her “Kaleidoscope Method,” she challenges decision-makers to see what others miss, offering sharp insight into how global fragmentation is reshaping politics and business.

Baroness Joanna Shields is a pioneer in the tech world, ethical AI and digital safety.

As the UK’s first Minister for Internet Safety and Security and a Silicon Valley veteran, she has led global conversations on AI, misinformation, and online security. She was also behind the global scaling of Facebook.

Known for tackling complex challenges, from AI algorithms and polarisation to cybercrime and online exploitation, she helps leaders navigate the tech landscape with sharp insight.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi is a member of the House of Lords and the UK’s first Muslim government minister, known for seeing politics as a force for change rather than a career.

A lawyer, businesswoman, philanthropist, and campaigner, she speaks on global affairs, ethical leadership, DEI, and women’s empowerment.

Her insights are shaped by her experience in government and a strong belief in the importance of diversity, religious tolerance, and inclusive decision-making in both politics and business.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a Jamaican sprinting legend, famously nicknamed the “Pocket Rocket” for her petite frame and explosive speed.

She made history at the 2008 Olympics as the first Caribbean woman to win 100m gold and successfully defended her title in 2012, becoming only the third woman to win back-to-back Olympic 100m events.

Known for her remarkable motivation and discipline, Fraser-Pryce has become one of the most celebrated athletes in the world, inspiring audiences with her inspiring message.