Gearing up for 2020

2020 marks the beginning of a new decade with important milestones which can change society, for the better. International organisations need to get ready for the challenge.

The startling results of the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders 2019 call for a new focus.Following her precious work as Chair of the WPL Board, Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, Senior Advisor on Women’s Leadership at UN Women, will take on the role of Chair of the Board of the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders, and focus specifically on the Forum’s growth and the partnerships in Iceland (with the Government, the Parliament, and other public and private institutions), while remaining a member of the WPL Board. As incoming Chair of the Forum’s Board Hanna will ensure sufficient attention dedicated to the Forum, a platform which was created less than three years ago and that is now rallying the support and the contribution of many partners all around the world.

Seizing the momentum created by the important achievements WPL marked in 2019, and looking at the opportunities of the new decade ahead, WPL is making a couple of organisational changes to ensure the organisation can better serve its objectives.

Lucia de Luca, in her new role as Managing Director of Communications and Programme, will ensure that communications contribute to the shaping of more topical programmes for the various WPL events, by providing timely readings of societal and political trends and demands. Lucia will also continue to convey the achievements of the organisation, an essential part of her communications role.

The presence of WPL at the G20 in 2019 calls for Rick Zedník, Managing Director, to focus its work on WPL Summits and key international events. In 2019, the Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders reached new heights, attracting over 500 leaders — including Presidents, Prime Ministers, CEOs, a Nobel Peace Laureate and Time’s 2018 Person. Dee Thomsen and Dominic Nieper, Managing Directors, will ensure the organisation is geared up to respond to the higher level of conversations and attention the 2019 Forum has generated.

For an overview of the structure of the WPL Secretariat, have a look here