Maria Fernanda Espinosa

Ecuadorian diplomat advancing gender equality through international policy reform

Leadership in Global Governance

Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés is a transformative figure in international diplomacy, serving as first woman to lead the UN General Assembly (2018-2019). Her post-2020 initiatives focus on gender equality frameworks and climate justice for marginalized communities. She currently chairs the High-level Political Forum.

Innovation in Policy Design

Espinosa pioneered the Global Equality Metrics, a data-driven tool adopted by 45 nations to track gender disparities in education and economic participation. Her 2022 report Women in Climate Leadership influenced COP27 negotiations in Egypt.

Education Advocacy

Her Maria Fernanda Espinosa Foundation operates 150+ STEM schools for girls across Latin America, with partnerships including UNESCO. The foundation's Digital Literacy for All program has trained 100,000+ young women since 2020.

Recognition & Legacy

In 2024, she was awarded the Glasgow Climate Leadership Award. Her memoir Walking the Tightrope of Power became a bestseller in Spanish-speaking countries, inspiring a new generation of female leaders.