Reem Al-Hashimi

Saudi Arabian architect of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 women's empowerment initiatives

Reem Al-Hashimi is a pioneering Saudi Arabian diplomat and reformer instrumental in advancing women's rights through the Kingdom's Vision 2030 plan. As Minister of Culture from 2019-2021, she oversaw policies allowing women to drive, attend sports events, and access public services independently. Her 2017 appointment as CEO of the General Authority for Culture marked the first time a woman led a major Saudi ministry.

Al-Hashimi's 2018 initiative Saudi Women First established women's leadership programs in key sectors including aviation and technology. She co-authored the 2019 National Transformation Plan's gender equality framework, which increased female workforce participation from 22% to 35% by 2022. Her TED talk "Cultural Evolution in the 21st Century" explores progressive reforms in conservative societies.

Al-Hashimi's diplomatic career includes roles as ambassador to Italy and permanent representative to UNESCO. She founded the Future Female Leaders Foundation in 2020 to mentor young Arab women. Her reforms have been covered by Al Jazeera, Reuters, and the New York Times. In 2021, she received the Global Women's Leadership Award from Harvard Kennedy School.