High-Level Panels & Conferences – Folly Bah Thibault

High-level Panels
& Conferences

Much sought-after Moderator and Keynote Speaker. Her insightful interview technique and her in-depth knowledge and analytical assessment of current global issues has made her very much in demand with international institutions such as the United Nations, the African Union and at international conferences. Recent events include hosting Education Above All events, plenaries and dialogues at Qatar Foundation’s WISE 19. Moderating high-level events at the annual United Nations General Assembly gathering in New York.

WISE 2019, Qatar Foundation, Doha, November 2019

The World Innovation Summit for Education is the biggest international gathering of experts and researchers, aimed at transforming education through innovation. At Wise 2019, Folly moderated Education Above All Foundation’s “EAC’s Zero Strategy” plenary, with speakers including Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, Grammy-award winning artist Shakira Mebarak and Graca Machel, an international advocate for women’s and children’s rights.

Spotlight Initiative, United Nations General Assembly, September 2019

The UN General Assembly is the opportunity to engage with leaders, policymakers and activists on some of the most urgent issues the world faces. Folly attended the 74^th annual meeting in New York where she moderated the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative High-Level Panel which aims to end ALL forms of violence against women and girls by the end of 2030. The event was attended by Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and civil society leaders and women’s rights activists from all over the world.

Let’s Talk, Nairobi Summit, International Conference on Population Development, November 2019

The groundbreaking international conference on population development held its 25th anniversary in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Folly hosted a signature session of the summit- Let’s Talk- inspired by Russian supermodel and Philanthropist Natalia Vodianova. The session was attended by some of the most influential people in the fashion and media industry who gave their insights on how we can use the power and influence of creative industries to tackle stigma and taboo around women’s health.

Women in Power, March 2019

As a member of the UN General Assembly President’s Group of Gender Equality Leaders, Folly attended the Women in Power event at UN headquarters in New York. The high-level event brought together senior leaders and other participants from governments, the UN system, private sector and civil society to identify the barriers that hinder women’s participation and leadership, and to share the best practices that can accelerate women’s empowerment.

African Union Summit, Niger, july 2018

At the African Union Summit in Niamey, Niger, Folly moderated a high-level event on ending child marriage and promoting girls education, organised by the First Lady of Niger, Dr. Lalla Malika Issoufou. The subject of child marriage is particularly significant in the Sahel region where 40% of young girls are married before the age of 18. The event brought together African first ladies, policymakers and women’s rights activists from around the continent who encouraged initiatives that promote education and the involvement of men in opposing child marriage.

Migrants' Voices, International Organization for Migration, Geneva, december 2013

The UN Migration Agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading inter-governmental organisation in the field of migration, dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. In its “Migrants’ Voices” series, IOM seeks to shine a light on the real and lived experiences of migrants. In this session, Folly Bah Thibault shares her own migration story.