Speaker Profile

Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is the former United Nations Under – Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, who completed her term in August 2021 after being sworn into office on 19 August 2013. She was awarded her bachelor’s degree in the Arts and Education at the National University of Lesotho
(awarded in 1980). She further obtained a qualification in Gender Policy and Planning from the University College London (in 1988), a master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Cape Town (awarded in 2003), and a doctorate in Technology and Education from Warwick University (awarded in 2013).

As student and in her professional life she was a campaigner against Apartheid and against Gender Discrimination. 

She was a lecturer at a Teachers Training College (1980 – 1981)and a became teacher at the Ohlange High School (1981 – 1983). She then moved to Geneva as the global coordinator of young women’s mobilization at World YWCA, where she worked with young women around the world and established a global programme. She returned to Cape Town where to spearheaded TEAM, an ecumenical organization that focused on building leaders especially women. From there she transitioned to campaign for South Africa’s democratic government as a member of the African National Congress.