How do we celebrate hard-fought gender equality wins when so many women are struggling to attain and retain power? We will look at the state of women in power and discuss how to accelerate the pace of change.

The POWER, TOGETHER Awards 2024, honour outstanding initiatives where people join forces and use their power to advance society together and achieve great change, were presented during a ceremony at the Reykjavík Global Forum on November 12th 2024, as the Forum convened in Iceland with more than 500 Conversationists.

In this year of elections, citizens of countries representing 49% of the world's population are going to the polls to help decide who should lead and which direction they should go. But in far too many places, democracy is being undermined by armed conflict. And in the vast majority of those hot spots, decisions on war and peace are being made by men -- even though studies show women bear a disproportionately high weight of the consequences. This session brings together women leaders of global stature to discuss how women are increasingly partners in peace, not merely victims or recipients of aid.

Marsha Cooke, Executive Producer, ESPN Films & Storyteller

In the context of increasing pushback on rights, the rollback of systems, legislation, policies and services protecting human and women’s rights and the rise of anti-gender movements, it has never been more crucial for decision-making spaces to be as diverse and inclusive as possible, particularly of those who are often excluded from leadership, including the Global South, LGBTQI+ people, young people and those with other marginalised identities. How can we further strengthen intersectional diversity in leadership and ensure inclusive representation and participation in decision-making spaces?

The world continues to break heat records as COP29 takes place this year in Baku, Azerbaijan. What climate solutions and policies are working well? How do we separate hype from reality in the investment sector? How can we take action to build resilience in front-line and indigenous communities that already receive the most significant impacts of climate change?

Research shows that diverse leadership creates value, innovation and profitability. Yet, investment in women leaders and founders remain significantly underfunded globally. What are the policies that most successfully address reducing the gap by breaking down barriers?

Gen Z and Millennial leaders are attaining leadership roles in ever greater numbers, using next generation tactics and strategies such as social media and the creator economy. Now that they’ve rewritten the rules for attaining leadership, Gen Z and Millennials are redefining the rules of engagement and what it means to be a leader. How will they chart new courses for us all – and especially for gender equality?