NSN Top 50 Women in Security List

Kamala Harris is the 49th Vice President of the United States, serving since 2021 under President Joe Biden.

She made history as the first woman, first Black American, and first Asian American to hold this position. Harris graduated from Howard University and earned her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Harris began her career as a deputy district attorney in Oakland, eventually becoming California's attorney general in 2011. Her tenure was marked by significant achievements, including securing a settlement against mortgage lenders. In 2017, Harris became a U.S. Senator, making history as the first Indian American and second Black American woman in the Senate. Her prosecutorial style during committee hearings gained national attention. In 2024, following Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, Harris secured the Democratic Party's nomination, becoming the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major party ticket.

Condoleezza Rice is a distinguished public figure and academic, currently serving as the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at Stanford's Graduate School of Business.

She is also a Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution and a professor of Political Science at Stanford. Additionally, Rice is a founding partner of RiceHadleyGates, LLC, a strategic consulting firm. From 2005 to 2009, she was the 66th US Secretary of State and the 19th National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2005. As an accomplished author, she authored and co-authored numerous books. Her notable works include the 2018 book "Political Risk" and best-sellers like "Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom" (2017). Rice currently serves on the boards of Dropbox, C3, and Makena Capital. Rice also served as Ambassador for the KPMG Future Leaders Programme and Vice Chair on the Board of Governors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Michèle Angélique Flournoy is an American Defence policy adviser who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Strategy under President Bill Clinton and Under Secretary of Defence for Policy under President Barack Obama.

As Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, Flournoy became the highest-ranking woman in the history of the Department of Defence. In that role, she crafted the Obama administration's counter-insurgency policy in Afghanistan and played a key role in persuading President Obama to intervene militarily in Libya. In 2007, Flournoy co-founded the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS), a bi-partisan think tank focused on national security policies. She is also a co-founder and the current managing partner of WestExec Advisors, a consulting firm, along with the current Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. Flournoy has consistently been a top choice for a Democratic administration due to her extensive experience and expertise in defence policy.

Liz Cheney is an American attorney and politician who represented Wyoming's at-large congressional district from 2017 to 2023.

She chaired the House Republican Conference, the third-highest position in the House Republican leadership, from 2019 to 2021, and served as the Vice Chair of the Select Committee investigating the January 6 Insurrection. Cheney was also a member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, the U.S. Department of Defence China Task Force, the U.S. Natural Resources Committee, and the U.S. House Committee on Rules. Previously, Cheney served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and held positions with USAID and the State Department in Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine. She practised law with White and Case and at the International Finance Corporation. Cheney co-authored "Exceptional: Why the World Needs a Powerful America" with her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2022, Cheney received the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library’s esteemed Profile in Courage Award for her “consistent and courageous voice in defence of democracy.” As of March 2023, she is a professor of practice at the University of Virginia Centre for Politics.

Letitia “Tish” Long served as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) from October 2010 to October 2014, becoming the first woman to lead a major US. intelligence agency.

Long started her career in Naval Intelligence and went on to serve as the Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, the first Deputy Undersecretary of Defence for Intelligence (Policy, Requirements and Resources), the first CIO and later the Deputy Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency. During her tenure, she led efforts to establish the agency’s first ‘Map of the World’, for intelligence users. NGA became the first U.S agency to adopt open-source software development to deliver its software to first responders for collaboration, during and after natural disasters. Long also led the agency as it provided critical support to the SEAL Team Six operation that led to the death of Osama bin Laden in. Currently, Long is Chairman of the Board for the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) and sits on the boards of companies such as Noblis, Parsons, T-Mobile, AIS, COPT, and Octo. She also chairs the Advisory Board for HawkEye 360 and serves as Rector on the Board of Visitors of Virginia Tech.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician who served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, making history as Africa's first elected female head of state.

Born on October 29, 1938, in Monrovia, she pursued her education in the United States, studying at Madison Business College, the University of Colorado Boulder, and Harvard University. Sirleaf began her public service career as Deputy Minister of Finance in the 1970s but faced persecution during Liberia's political turmoil, including imprisonment for her opposition to the military government. After years in international finance, she returned to politics and won the presidential election in 2005, serving two terms focused on rebuilding Liberia's economy and infrastructure post-civil war. Her leadership earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her advocacy of peace and women's rights. Sirleaf's presidency was marked by significant progress in debt relief and democratic institution-building, despite facing corruption challenges. Her legacy as "Africa's Iron Lady" reflects her resilience and determination in overcoming obstacles and promoting stability in Liberia.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Joe Biden.

She served as the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs from 2013 to 2017. Thomas-Greenfield then worked in the private sector as a senior vice president at business strategy firm Albright Stonebridge Group in Washington, D.C. President Biden nominated her as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 23, 2021. Her notable Foreign Service career includes serving as ambassador to Liberia from 2008 to 2012, alongside postings in Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. In Washington, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of African Affairs from 2006 to 2008 and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration from 2004 to 2006. Thomas-Greenfield was the inaugural Distinguished Resident Fellow in African Studies at Georgetown University from autumn 2017 to spring 2019 and has received several awards, including the University of Minnesota Hubert Humphrey Public Leadership Award in 2017.

Michelle Bachelet has served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights since 2018.

Prior to her UN role, Bachelet made history as the first woman to be elected President of Chile, serving two terms from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018. She had previously been the first woman to be appointed as Chile’s defence minister from 2002 to 2004. Bachelet also served as the country’s health minister from 2000 to 2002. She was appointed in leadership roles at multiple international organisations — including as the first executive director of UN Women, as chair of the Partnership for Maternal Newborn, and Child Health, and as chair of the ILO’s Social Protection Floor Advisory Group. Civil unrest in Chile profoundly changed Bachelet’s life - she and her mother were jailed and exiled following General Augusto Pinochet’s 1973 military coup, and her father, an Air Force general, died in prison.

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee is a Ghanaian diplomat who has been serving as Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Africa at the United Nations Secretariat since 2021.

In this capacity, she is part of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Before joining the UN, Pobee was Ghana's first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations. She was appointed in July 2015 by the former President John Dramani Mahama. As the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peace Operations, she gave remarks to the Security Council in November 2023. Pobee is a career diplomat with more than 30 years of experience in international affairs and diplomacy. Pobee has been a powerful advocate for women’s participation in peace and security processes, emphasising the importance of gender equality in sustainable development. Her career reflects a dedication to advancing African interests on the global stage.

Lise Grande is the new U.S. special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues.

Appointed on 25 April 2024, Grande’s decades of humanitarian experience built on the foundation by Ambassador David Satterfield and his team to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She served as President and CEO of the U.S. Institute of Peace, a federally funded institution dedicated to preventing, mitigating, and resolving violent conflicts worldwide. With nearly thirty years of experience, she has led and coordinated complex operations for the United Nations during major crises. Her extensive background includes significant roles in Africa and the Middle East, particularly as the head of UN humanitarian and development operations in Yemen, where she managed one of the UN’s largest global operations. Grande was also responsible for the UN’s humanitarian, stabilisation, and development operations while serving as deputy head of the UN’s political mission in Iraq during the campaign against ISIS, where she led UN efforts to stabilise the more than twenty cities that had been liberated.

Giorgia Meloni took office as Italy's prime minister in October 2022, becoming the first woman in history to hold the role.

Her leadership plays a crucial role in Italy's diplomatic engagements and collective defence efforts within the European Union and NATO. Meloni is also the president of Italy's right-wing Brothers of Italy party, a position she has held since March 2014 and has been the president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party since 2020. Forbes ranked Meloni as the fourth most powerful woman in the world in 2023. In 2024 she was listed among the most influential people in the world by TIME magazine. Meloni has been an unwavering supporter of Ukraine saying the decision was not only morally right but it was also aimed at safeguarding rules designed to protect national integrity. She also said that the European Union should speed up Ukraine’s accession process as a reward for its contribution to Europe’s security in fighting off Russia’s invasion.

Ursula von der Leyen is the first woman to serve as Germany’s minister of defence and in 2019, she became the first woman to be elected president of the European Commission leading diplomatic efforts and policy initiatives to enhance collective defence and security cooperation among EU member states.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, working with other Western leaders, von der Leyen ushered through a sweeping sanctions package that targeted a broad range of Russian businesses, industries, and individuals. She also pledged €500 million in direct military aid to Ukraine. In April 2022, von der Leyen visited Kyiv, delivering paperwork to formalise Ukraine's EU membership intentions, leading to Ukraine's EU candidate status on June 23. Following Russia's reduction of gas supplies to Europe in August 2022, von der Leyen committed to reforming energy markets, reducing dependence on Russian gas. By January 2023, EU gas prices had fallen lower than levels before Russia's invasion.

Kaja Kallas made history as the first female Prime Minister of Estonia, serving in this role from January 2021 - July 2024.

During her tenure, she focused on issues such as digital innovation, security, and international relations, particularly in the context of regional challenges. In July 2024, she resigned from her position to enhance her prospects for being appointed as the European Union's foreign policy chief, aiming to leverage her experience and leadership skills on a broader European stage. Kallas's leadership not only marked a significant milestone for gender representation in Estonian politics but also underscored her commitment to advancing Estonia's role in the EU and addressing pressing global issues. Kallas holds a law degree from the University of Tartu and has worked as an attorney specialising in European competition law.

Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's First Lady, actively supports diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives in response to Ukraine's geopolitical challenges, especially amid Russian aggression.

At the third Ukrainian Women’s Congress in December 2019, she spearheaded Ukraine's involvement in the G7 Biarritz Partnership for gender equality. Dedicated to preserving Ukrainian culture, she has reformed the school nutrition system and promoted the Ukrainian language globally. A fierce advocate for a barrier-free society, Zelenska strives to ensure accessibility and equal opportunities for all Ukrainians. Following the Russian invasion, she launched vital medical projects, including evacuating children with severe cancer for treatment abroad and coordinating humanitarian aid. Her "Books without Borders" project has distributed 280,000 Ukrainian books to displaced children across 20 countries, preserving their cultural connection. In September 2022, Zelenska founded her own foundation, focused on restoring Ukraine's human capital by fostering a physically and mentally healthy, protected, and empowered populace. She also champions global collaboration among first ladies and gentlemen via the Summit of the First Ladies and Gentlemen, creating a platform to address global issues.

Yulia Svyrydenko is a Ukrainian politician currently serving as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and simultaneously Minister of Economic Development and Trade since 04 November 2021.

Her leadership focuses on strengthening Ukraine's economy and resilience amidst ongoing security challenges. On 05 May 2020, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Svyrydenko as the representative of Ukraine in the subgroup on social and economic issues of the Trilateral Contact Group on resolving the situation in Donbas. On 22 December 2020, Zelensky appointed Svyrydenko as Deputy Head of the Office of the President to replace Yuliya Kovaliv. She has also been involved in promoting the training of Ukrainian civilians to detect and remove landmines as professional de-miners struggle to cope with the huge number of explosives planted across the country. Additionally,Svyrydenko is a key lobbyist working to persuade the United States to enhance Ukraine’s air defence systems.

Lisa Monaco is an American attorney, former federal prosecutor and national security official who has served as the 39th United States Deputy Attorney General since April 21, 2021.

As the Deputy Attorney General, she is the Department’s second-ranking official and is responsible for the supervision of the entire Department. Monaco served as a career federal prosecutor and in several leadership positions across the Department. She began her Justice Department career as Counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno and went on to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, where she was a member of the Enron Task Force and received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the Department’s highest award. She thereafter served in several leadership roles: Chief of Staff at the Federal Bureau of Investigation to then Director Robert S. Mueller, III; Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General; and Assistant Attorney General for National Security, the first woman to hold that position.

Nadia Catherine Schadlow is an American academic and defence-related government officer known for her significant contributions to U.S. national security policy.

She served as Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy in the Trump Administration from 2017 to 2018, where she was the primary author of the 2017 National Security Strategy. Schadlow holds a B.A. in government and Soviet studies from Cornell University, as well as M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Her career includes roles at the Department of Defence, the Defence Policy Board, and as a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute. Additionally, she has published extensively on governance and military operations, including her book War and the Art of Governance: Consolidating Combat Success Into Political Victory. She writes about the potential impact of disruptive technologies on U.S national security interests.

Helen Zille is a South African politician, activist and former journalist who served as the national leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), the country’s official opposition party, from 2007 to 2015.

She was also the premier of the Western Cape province from 2009 to 2019 and held the position of mayor of Cape Town from 2006 to 2009. Zille began her career in journalism, gaining recognition for her investigative reporting on the death of Steve Biko during the apartheid era. In addition to her leadership roles, she served as the Western Cape's education MEC from 1999 to 2004 and was a Member of Parliament. Under her mayorship, she earned the title of World Mayor of the Year in 2008 for her efforts to tackle crime and unemployment in Cape Town. Throughout her political career, Zille has been influential in expanding the DA's membership and is recognised for her contributions to public service and governance.She has also been instrumental in the formation of South Africa’s second Government of National Unity after the ANC lost its majority in May 2024.

Suzanne Spaulding is a senior adviser for homeland security and director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

She is also a member of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Previously, she served as undersecretary for the Department of Homeland Security, leading the National Protection and Programmes Directorate, now the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where she managed a $3 billion budget and a workforce of 18,000. Spaulding has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations, including roles as Assistant General Counsel at the CIA and general counsel for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. She was also the minority staff director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Additionally, she is the former chair of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Law and National Security and co-founder of its Cybersecurity Legal Force. Spaulding serves on various boards, including Defending Digital Campaigns and Girl Security, and participates in the Homeland Security Experts Group.

Melissa Hathaway is a leading expert in cyberspace policy and cybersecurity and brings a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional perspective to strategic consulting and strategy formulation for public and private sector clients.

She served under two U.S. presidential administrations from 2007 to 2009, including more than 8 months at the White House, spearheading the Cyberspace Policy Review for President Barack Obama after leading the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) for President George W.Bush. She is President of Hathaway Global Strategies LLC, a Senior Fellow and member of the Board of Regents at Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Canada, and a non-resident Research Fellow at the Kosciuszko Institute in Poland. She was previously a Senior Adviser at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Centre. Globally acknowledged as a thought leader in cybersecurity and digital risk management, she maintains relationships with high-level government officials and international bodies such as NATO, the ITU, the OAS, and the World Bank.

Avril Haines has served as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) since January 21, 2021, in the Biden administration.

She is the first woman to lead the U.S. Intelligence Community. When President Joe Biden introduced Haines he referred to her eclectic past. “Brilliant, humble. Can talk literature and theoretical physics, fixing cars, flying planes, running a bookstore-care, all in a single conversation, because she’s done all that,” Biden said. Haines brings extensive experience in national security. Haines previously served as Deputy National Security Advisor and Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the Obama administration. Prior to her appointment to the CIA, she served as Deputy Counsel to the President for National Security Affairs in the Office of White House Counsel. Haines most recently led the Transition’s National Security and Foreign Policy Team and served as a member of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.

Gina Haspel is an American intelligence officer who made history as the first woman to serve as the permanent Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from May 2018 until January 2021.

Haspel earned a degree in languages and journalism from the University of Louisville. Joining the CIA in 1985, Haspel had a notable career with numerous undercover assignments and leadership roles, including Chief of Station in various overseas locations and Deputy Director of the National Clandestine Service. Haspel has received several accolades, including the George H. W. Bush Award for excellence in counterterrorism, the Donovan Award, the Intelligence Medal of Merit, and the Presidential Rank Award.

Jen Easterly serves as the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Prior to this role, she led Firm Resilience at Morgan Stanley, managing preparedness and response to operational incidents and establishing the firm's Cybersecurity Fusion Centre. Easterly’s public service career spans numerous prestigious positions, including two tours at the White House, with her roles ranging from Special Assistant to President Obama to Executive Assistant to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. She also acted as Deputy for Counterterrorism at the National Security Agency. A decorated veteran, Easterly retired from the U.S. Army after over two decades in intelligence and cyber operations, where she established the Army’s first cyber battalion and contributed to the creation of the United States Cyber Command. Her accolades are extensive and include the 2024 George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership and the 2023 Girls Who Code Sisterhood Award. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, she has also been recognised with several fellowships.

Anne Keast-Butler made history as the first female Director of GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters), succeeding Jeremy Fleming.

Keast-Butler joined GCHQ from MI5, where she was Deputy Director General, responsible for MI5's operational, investigative and protective security work. This has included MI5's – and the allies' – preparation for and response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. In her previous Director General role, Keast-Butler was Director General Strategy, leading the enabling functions that support MI5’s operational activities. Prior to this, Keast-Butler spent two years on secondment to GCHQ as Head of Counter Terrorism and Serious Organised Crime and has also spent part of the last decade on secondment in Whitehall. Whilst there, she helped to launch the National Cyber Security Programme. In a speech this year, she emphasised the importance of partnerships “to out-cooperate and out-innovate” the United Kingdom’s adversaries and to stand as a robust line of defence against the misuse of Artificial Intelligence.

Ellen Nakashima is a national security reporter for The Washington Post, where she covers intelligence and national security issues.

Nakashima's investigative journalism has been instrumental in uncovering significant stories, including investigations into cybersecurity threats, foreign influence operations, and intelligence community activities. She has been a member of three Pulitzer Prize-winning teams at The Post, including in 2022 for an investigation of the January 06 assault on the US Capitol, in 2018 for digging into Moscow’s efforts to influence the 2016 election, and in 2014 for exploring the hidden scope of National Security Agency surveillance. She has been a White House correspondent, Southeast Asia bureau chief and co-authored a biography of Al Gore. In one of her recent stories, she revealed that Chinese government-affiliated hackers are said to have collected audio of American calls, including the telephones of former President Donald Trump as well as the Kamala Harris campaign, as part of a wide-ranging espionage operation.

Admiral Lisa Franchetti made history in November 2023 by becoming the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), and the first woman to join the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

A four-star admiral, she is also the first CNO to be commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) programme, receiving her commission through Northwestern University’s NROTC programme. Most recently, Adm. Franchetti served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She also is the former head of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and U.S. naval forces in South Korea and has served as an aircraft carrier strike commander. During her time as commander of the Sixth Fleet, based in Italy, Adm. Franchetti oversaw the first-ever use of Tomahawk missiles launched by a Virginia-class submarine. The missiles were fired from USS John Warner at targets in Syria. Adm. Franchetti laid out a three-year strategic plan for the U.S. Navy earlier this year to grow the U.S. navy, the world’s leading fleet, to an even larger, more lethal force.

General Laura Richardson is the first woman to lead the U.S. Southern Command, overseeing military operations across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Appointed in 2021, she made history as the first woman to hold this post in SOUTHCOM’s 60-year history. One of her notable deployments was during the crisis in Haiti where she played a key role coordinating U.S. military efforts to stabilise the situation and ensure the safety of American personnel. This included deploying U.S. Marines to secure the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince amid escalating tensions with armed groups. Under her leadership, SOUTHCOM has been at the forefront of initiatives against narco-terrorism and drug trafficking and has provided humanitarian disaster relief. Richardson has worked to enhance U.S. economic influence in South America and the Caribbean, focusing on critical infrastructure investment such as deep-water ports and 5G communications.

Senator Tammy Duckworth is an American politician who served in the U.S. military before she was elected as a Democrat to the United States Congress in 2012.

Upon taking her seat in the Senate in 2017 and defeating her Republican opponent by a wide margin, Duckworth became the first Asian American woman from Illinois in Congress. She is a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and a Purple Heart recipient, having lost both of her legs during combat in the Iraq war in 2004. Her recovery and perseverance made her a national figure and a prominent member of the Democratic Party. Duckworth has since been a staunch advocate for veterans' rights, disability protections, and gun-control legislation. She was also a dependable ally of President Barack Obama. In 2018, she had her second daughter, making her the first senator to give birth while in office. In 2021 Duckworth released a memoir, Every Day Is a Gift.

Advocate Shamila Batohi assumed the role of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) at South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority in February 2019.

Her primary focus has been on combating corruption in both private and public sectors, particularly following allegations of state capture during Jacob Zuma's presidency. Among her initial actions, Batohi reversed key decisions from the Zuma era, signalling a new era where impunity is not tolerated. She boasts a distinguished career that began in 1986 as a junior prosecutor in Chatsworth Magistrate's Court, eventually advancing to the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal. In 1995, she joined the Investigation Task Unit established by President Nelson Mandela and later became the first regional head of the Directorate of Special Operations in KwaZulu-Natal. Prior to her NDPP appointment, Batohi served nearly a decade as a Senior Legal Advisor to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Her extensive experience and integrity have been pivotal in restoring trust in the National Prosecuting Authority during a critical period.

Dame Sue Gray made history as the most senior female military officer ever to serve in the British Armed Forces.

She is the first British woman to achieve the rank of Air Marshal in 2019, holding a three-star General rank. Her more recent roles include Director General (CEO) of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA); Air Officer Commanding 38 Group Royal Air Force (RAF); and Director of Combat Air at Defence Equipment and Support in the Ministry of Defence. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours. Gray retired in May 2022 but has since served as Non-Executive Director of the Office for Nuclear. She is a Director/Trustee of the Armed Forces Equine Charity, and a lifelong STEM Ambassador and diversity role model for Defence. Gray is a recipient of three campaign medals; the General Service Medal, the Gulf Medal, and the Iraq Medal. She is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Wendy Noble is the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and is the third woman in its 70-plus year history to hold this position.

She began her NSA career in 1987 as a cryptologic linguist. Throughout her tenure, Noble has served in numerous analytic, technical, and leadership roles spanning target and language analysis, strategy development, joint collection programmes, and liaison operations, serving at both NSA Headquarters and various overseas locations. As the NSA’s chief operating officer, she oversees strategy execution, establishes policy, guides operations, and manages senior civilian leadership. She plays a crucial role in supporting the US defence and intelligence enterprise, informing national security policies, and positioning the NSA as an integrated mission partner to enhance U.S. security against foreign threats. A recognised leader in cybersecurity and digital transformation, Noble is the recipient of multiple awards, including three National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citations, the Tordella Award, and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.

Anne Neuberger is the Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology at the White House, where she leads efforts to advance U.S. national security interests, enhancing cyber resilience, and fostering innovation and collaboration between the private and public sectors.

Neuberger coordinates the interagency response to cyber threats and engages with allies and partners on cyber cooperation. Prior to joining the White House, she led the establishment of the NSA's Cybersecurity Directorate, bringing together thousands of intelligence analysts, cybersecurity professionals, cryptographers, researchers, and technologists. Neuberger previously led NSA’s global intelligence operations and served as a White House Fellow. Neuberger also worked in the private sector in various technology roles.

The Honourable Susan Gordon served as Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence until August 15, 2019.

Prior to assuming that role, she was the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Before joining the NGA, she served as director of the CIA’s Information Operations Centre and senior cyber adviser to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Gordon worked for the CIA for over 25 years. Today, Gordon serves on boards including SecurityScorecard and CACI International. She is a senior advisor for Pallas Advisors, the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, and Primer. She also consults for leading companies, including Microsoft, and continues to participate on government advisory boards on national security and intelligence. In 2024 she received the Intelligence Service Award from the Leadership Council for Women in National Security. Gordon has also received the Distinguished Intelligence and Distinguished Career Intelligence medals, Presidential Rank awards, and the Oliver Baker and William Webster awards.

Jeanne Marie Tisinger is an American intelligence professional with over three decades of experience at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Joining the CIA in 1986, Tisinger became the agency's Chief Information Officer (CIO) from 2011 to 2016, overseeing global IT infrastructure and driving technological innovation to enhance intelligence operations. During her tenure, she modernised the CIA's IT systems, improved cybersecurity measures, and facilitated the transition to cloud computing for better information sharing across the intelligence community. Following her role as CIO, she served as the Deputy Director of the CIA for Support, managing critical support functions such as logistics and human resources. Recognized for her leadership and contributions to national security, Tisinger has received several awards throughout her career, though specific details remain classified. She currently serves as Independent Director for Axiom Space, Synack, and Midwest Reliability Organisation.

Tammy Haddad is the president and CEO of Haddad Media and founder of the Washington AI Network.

Haddad is a veteran executive producer and television news executive who has worked with Washington’s most important media companies including NBC News, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, Politico, and the Washington Post. Haddad is a consultant to political and issue-oriented entertainment TV shows and films. She has worked on the series Succession, Veep, The Brink, and White House Plumbers. Her film work includes Confirmation, LBJ, Oslo, and Game Change. Haddad is the recipient of two John Foster Peabody Awards and the Gracie Award for Excellence in News. Haddad is such a prominent figure in Washington, D.C., that Christopher Buckley featured her as a character in his bestselling novel, Thank You for Smoking, describing her as “a force of nature.”

Kristalina Georgieva is a Bulgarian economist currently serving as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a position she has held since October 2019, making her the first person from an emerging market economy to lead the institution.

Georgieva earned her Ph.D. in Economic Science and an M.A. in Political Economy and Sociology from the University of National and World Economy. Georgieva began her career at the World Bank in 1993, where she advanced through various senior roles, including CEO from 2017 to 2019, during which she also served as Interim President. She has previously held significant positions within the European Commission, including Vice President for Budget and Human Resources and Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. At the IMF, she has been instrumental in steering global economic responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Among her accolades, she was named "European of the Year" in 2010 by European Voice and received the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished International Leadership Award in 2020.

Anna Bjerde is an international development expert currently serving as the Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, overseeing a global operational portfolio valued at approximately $340 billion.

With over 30 years of experience in international development and public policy, she has played a key role in achieving record levels of climate-related project financing and initiatives to provide clean electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. Previously, Bjerde was Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, where she navigated multiple crises and mobilised support for Ukraine. She has also served as Director of Strategy and Operations for the Middle East and North Africa, specialising in sustainable energy infrastructure. An advocate for gender equality, she was named "International Leader of the Year" by Dagens Industri in 2024 and is recognized as one of Sweden's most influential women. Before joining the World Bank in 1997, Bjerde worked as a Senior Strategy Consultant for Gemini Consulting in London and holds a master's degree in business and economics from the University of Stockholm.

Anu Aiyengar is the Head of JP Morgan's global M&A franchise, overseeing strategic mergers and acquisitions activities worldwide.

As the first and only female executive leading such a major franchise at a Wall Street bank, Aiyengar's expertise in financial markets and transactions contributes to bolstering corporate resilience and national economic security. Anu was named to Barron’s “100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance” list and recognised by American Banker as one of the “Most Powerful Women in Finance”. Anu is involved with several initiatives across J.P. Morgan and Wall Street to recruit, mentor and develop women. She holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Chicago.

Lauren Zletz is a Managing Director at Warburg Pincus, based in San Francisco, where she has been since 2015, specialising in technology investments across various sectors, including cybersecurity and real estate technology.

Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, she worked in private equity at Thomas H. Lee Partners and in investment banking at Greenhill & Company. At Warburg Pincus, Zletz co-leads investment activities and serves on the boards of several companies, including eSentire and BriteCore, while also being a board observer at Contrast Security. She has been involved in notable investments such as BitSight and CrowdStrike, and she actively promotes diversity and inclusion within the firm as a member of its Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Zletz holds an AB from Harvard College and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was also CFO/COO and a board member of Women in Management.

Lenna Koszarny is the Founding Partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, a prominent private equity firm investing in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Under her guidance, Horizon Capital has garnered over $800 million for Ukraine in six years, including a notable $350 million fund amidst ongoing conflict. Her leadership has been acknowledged both nationally and internationally. She topped Ukrainska Pravda’s "Top 100 Power Women Leaders" in March 2024 and the "Top 100 Leaders of Ukraine During Wartime" list in November 2023. Forbes Ukraine also honoured her among the "Top 50 Women Leaders Leading Ukraine to Victory" in May 2023. Koszarny is a Member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network and a Founding Member of Ukraine House Davos. Her other roles include Executive Vice-President of the Western NIS Enterprise Fund and Chair of the Board of Directors at the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. On Ukraine’s 29th Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded her the Order of Merit, third level, recognising her contributions to Ukraine's economy and investment landscape.

Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's first female president from 2016 to 2024, emerged as a strategic architect of her nation's security and international standing.

During her tenure, she significantly bolstered Taiwan's defence capabilities, nearly doubling the military budget and focusing on asymmetric warfare to counter regional threats. Ing-wen extended compulsory military service, revamped reserve forces, and invested in domestic defence industries to reduce foreign dependence. Her diplomatic efforts strengthened ties with the United States and other democratic nations, elevating Taiwan's global profile despite challenges in formal recognition. She has been described as the leader who rewrote the book on how to deal with China. When Ing-wen rose to power, she was dismissed as a dull bureaucrat and ridiculed as a “cat lady”—a jibe at her age and unmarried status. Embracing this image, she appeared with her cat, Xiang Xiang, on magazine covers and soon became known as Taiwan’s Iron Cat Lady. Domestically, Ing-wen implemented policies to boost local production and encourage Taiwanese companies to return from mainland China.

Elham Tabassi is the Chief Technology Adviser at the AI U.S. Safety Institute and the Chief AI Adviser at NIST’s Information Technology Laboratory.

She played a crucial role in developing the United States Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework, embraced by both industry and government, and was chosen to join the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Task Force. Her career began at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where she worked on pioneering machine learning and computer vision projects, notably in biometrics evaluation and standards, which feature in over 25 publications. Her innovations have been implemented by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. She has been a member of the National AI Resource Research Task Force, Vice-Chair of the OECD working party on AI Governance, Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, and a fellow of the Washington Academy of Sciences. Tabassi was appointed Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. AI Safety Institute in 2024, managing technical programmes focused on developing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.

Lauren Buitta is the Founder and CEO of Girl Security, dedicated to closing the gender gap in national security.

Her organisation provides educational opportunities and mentorship programmes to empower girls and women in pursuing careers in defence and security, fostering diversity and innovation in the field. She began her career in national security as a policy analyst with the National Strategy Forum.
In 2022, Buitta was named "One of the Most Influential People in Security" by Security Magazine. She was named "One of 50 Women Making the World a Better Place" by Instyle Magazine in 2021 and awarded the 21st Century Leader Award by the National Committee on American Foreign Policy. She is a former Fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Truman National Security Project, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security and a former Emerging Leader with Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Yoko Kamikawa is Japan's first female foreign minister in 20 years.

Yoko’s tenure has included high-profile visits to the Middle East, Ukraine, Europe, and North America, as well as the launch of a Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) task force in January 2024 to promote gender-inclusive security. In Japan, she has held significant roles, including three terms as Justice Minister and as Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs. Kamikawa’s profile has positioned her as a viable candidate for prime minister, particularly as recent corruption scandals have cast doubt over current government leadership. If elected, Kamikawa would be Japan’s first female prime minister. She is known for her efforts to promote female representation in Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party. During a visit to Ukraine, a Russian missile attack took place, forcing her to shelter underground with the country’s foreign minister, an event which she said strengthened her resolve to protect the rule of law in Japan.

Dr. Clare O’Neil, an Australian politician, served as the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security from June 2022 to July 2024.

O'Neil became the youngest female mayor in Australian history at 23 when she was elected mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong in 2004. Before entering politics, she worked as a manager at McKinsey & Company. In 2016, she was appointed a shadow minister, and in 2022, she became Australia's first dedicated Minister for Cyber Security, addressing significant threats during her tenure, particularly in response to the Optus data breach. Her leadership was crucial as she collaborated with the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Cyber Security Centre to manage the crisis. O’Neil was closely involved in the development of the cyber strategy, set to guide Australia to the end of the decade through six key protection “shields,” focusing on businesses, safe technology, threat sharing, critical infrastructure, sovereign capabilities, and global leadership.

Kang Kyung-wha is a prominent South Korean diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2021.

Prior to this role, she was a special policy advisor to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. During her tenure, she was instrumental in integrating climate change considerations into South Korea's foreign policy, emphasising the need for international cooperation on environmental issues. With a distinguished background in human rights and international law, Kyung-wha has championed global initiatives aimed at addressing climate challenges and promoting sustainable practices. Her leadership in various international forums has positioned her as a key figure in advancing South Korea’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. Kyung-wha has been named the new president and CEO of the Asia Society, a global nonprofit institution focusing on enhancing the understanding of Asia. According to the organisation, Kyung-wha's career has consistently championed the values of human dignity and peace, aligning closely with the objectives of the Asia Society, which led to her selection as its new president.

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema is a Tanzanian biodiversity leader and lawyer currently serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a position she has held since 2023.

Mrema earned her Bachelor of Law from the University of Dar es Salaam, followed by a Master of Law from Dalhousie University in Canada and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy. She previously served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) from 2020 to 2022, becoming the first African woman to hold this role, where she played a key part in developing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. With over two decades at UNEP, Mrema has held various leadership positions, including Director of the Law Division and Deputy Director of the Ecosystems Division. She is also a pro bono lecturer and has published extensively on international environmental law. Recognized for her contributions to biodiversity conservation, Mrema has received several prestigious awards, including the Kew International Medal in 2022 and inclusion in TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2023.

María Susana Muhamad is a political scientist, environmentalist, and politician affiliated with the Humane Colombia party.

Since 7 August 2022, she has served as the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development under President Gustavo Petro, focusing on advancing Colombia's environmental policies and addressing climate change. With a degree in political science from the Universidad de los Andes and a master's in sustainable development from Stellenbosch University, Muhamad has held various roles, including Director for Climate Action Planning for Latin America at the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and Secretary of the Environment for Bogotá. She is recognised for her advocacy against fracking, her commitment to animal welfare, and her efforts to promote international agreements on biodiversity and environmental protection. Muhamad is the first Colombian woman awarded by Vital Voices, an American NGO promoting and working with women leaders across the globe. Earlier this year, the Colombian minister was recognised as the Colombian Woman of the Decade by the World Economic Forum.

Claire Coutinho is the Conservative MP for East Surrey, and was the Former Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero from 31 August 2023 to 4 July 2024.

Coutinho previously served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education from 26 October 2022 to 30 August 2023. She also served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions from 21 September to 27 October 2022. Claire was elected Conservative MP for East Surrey on 12 December 2019. During her tenure, she hailed the UK as a leader in offshore wind. Before becoming a minister, Coutinho was an active member of the backbench Tory green caucus, the Conservative Environment Network, and campaigned for “wild belts” — areas of land left aside for nature in planning decisions.

Emma Howard Boyd is Chair of ClientEarth’s Global Board. Former Chair of the Environment Agency, ex-officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and interim Chair of the Green Finance Institute from January 2016 - September 2022.

She is also an Advisor to the Board of Trade, and a UN Global Ambassador for Race to Zero and Race to Resilience ahead of COP26. Boyd serves on several boards and advisory committees which include: The Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (co-Chair) and The European Climate Foundation. She was the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation from 2018 until January 2021. As chair of the London Climate Resilience Review, she said that preparing London for more frequent and extreme environmental risks was “non-negotiable.” The review recommended an official heat plan for London to enable the city to deal with severe floods and heatwaves.