María Fernanda Espinosa

María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés is the CEO of GWL Voices for Change and Inclusion and the President of Cities Alliance. She served as the first Latin American woman to preside over the United Nations General Assembly (2018-2019) and has been a key figure in climate diplomacy, advocating for global action on climate change, biodiversity, and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Espinosa has also held significant diplomatic roles as Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the UN in both New York and Geneva. Her leadership in advancing gender equality, multilateralism, and peace has earned her the Brian Urquart Award for Distinguished Service to the UN and the 5th Sun Award for her contributions to Indigenous Peoples’ rights.