Alaa Murabit is a UN High-Level Commissioner for Health Employment and Economic Growth, one of only 17 Sustainable Development Goal Global Advocates appointed by the UN Secretary General and a MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow. Her TED Talk, “What my religion really says about women” was “Talk of the Day” & one of four “moving TED Talks to watch right now” by New York Times. At the young age of 15 Alaa completed high school and moved from Saskatoon, Canada to Zawia, Libya. It was there that she completed medical school and, driven by her desire to create inclusive processes and institutions, founded VLW in 2011 at the age of 21.With a strong focus on challenging societal and cultural norms and utilizing traditional and historical role models Alaa champions women’s participation in peace processes and conflict mediation. Her programs, such as the groundbreaking “Noor Campaign” have been replicated internationally. Nicknamed “The Libyan Doogie Howser” by Jon Stewart and applauded for her innovative and inclusive approach to security, Alaa is a champion for inclusive peace processes, and acts as advisor to numerous international security boards, governments and organizations, serving as aboard trustee for International Alert and Keeping Children Safe. An Ashoka Fellow, Alaa is the youngest Marisa Bellisario International Humanitarian Award recipient, New York Times “International TrustWomen Hero 2014”, Newsweek’s “25 under 25 to watch”, a BBC “100 Top Woman” and SAFE Global Hero.

Lightning talk - The Power of Compassion