Dr. Alaa Murabit

A leading global health, sustainable development, women's rights, and peace and security expert, Alaa Murabit is a medical doctor, she is a UN High-Level Commissioner on Health, Employment, & Economic Growth, and one of 17 Global Sustainable Development Goal Advocates appointed by the UN Secretary-General. She currently serves as Health Director at the Gates Foundation, overseeing global health policy & advocacy. With 14 years of experience, Alaa has shaped policies in 193 countries and impacted billions of lives. Recently named a Canadian Meritorious Service Cross, 2021 Harvard Radcliffe Fellow, and 2022 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader for her work at the intersections of global security, health, gender, faith leadership, and sustainability.

Alaa founded Voice of Libyan Women at 21 in 2011. Her leadership in bringing coalitions of faith actors together to challenge the suppression of women's rights perpetuated by religious text interpretations, particularly in conflict and fragile settings, was cited as a “turning point in women’s rights globally” by Human Rights Watch. Her TED Talk, "What My Religion Really Says About Women," viewed seven million times, was selected as Talk of the Day, one of four moving TED Talks by The New York Times, and one of 12 TED Talks That Define the Future of Feminism.

Recently named a Harvard Radcliffe Fellow for her work “Architects of Peace: Redefining the Role of Women in Today’s Growing Security Agenda.” Alaa is an MIT Media Lab Director's Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, Malala Fund board member & Gavi alternate board member. She served as executive director of Phase Minus 1, providing thought leadership in inclusive security and emerging security threats from 2016 to 2020. In 2019 she founded Co-agency, an accelerator for emerging women’s leadership in security, health, peacebuilding, and policy.

Alaa is the recipient of 100+ honors and awards, including Canadian Meritorious Service Cross, New York Times Trust Women Hero, BBC Top 100, Forbes 30 Under 30, Nelson Mandela International Change-maker, 2019 Top 20 Most Influential People in Gender Equality Policy globally, Harvard Law Woman Inspiring Change, a 100 Most Influential Women in History by the Canadian Government, Canada’s 2021 Woman of Impact, 2021 CNN Leader, 2021 Wikipedia Global Leader, 2022 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, 2023 Vanity Fair Global Goals Leader.

Alaa has an M.D. from the University of Zawia and an MSc in Intl Strategy and Diplomacy (distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science.