Women and Leadership in Diplomacy

Although women still hold only about 21% of ambassadorial posts worldwide, recent years have seen notable progress. This panel brings together senior officials, leading practitioners, and international scholars to examine women’s leadership in diplomacy, foreign affairs, and multilateral organizations. Drawing on AGDA’s Women in Diplomacy Index and LSE/IDEAS’s Strengthening the Representation of Women in Diplomacy Report, the discussion will explore persistent gender disparities, variations across countries and regions, and the impact of structural reforms. Panelists will also share professional experiences and policy solutions to advance women’s leadership and shape a more accessible and representative global diplomatic landscape. Speakers Karen Smith, Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science Nouf Al Hamly, Advanced Sciences and Technology Advisor, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sara Chehab, Acting Graduate Programmes Director & Senior Research Fellow, Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy Moderated by Henriette Mueller, Assistant Professor of Gender, Governance and Society, NYUAD Casted by Ouided Bouchamaoui, Nobel Laureate (2015) and Director of the Art & Humanities Institute for Peace, NYUAD