International Women's Day: 25 SOAS alumni to be inspired by

1. Zeinab Badawi

Zeinab Badawi is a celebrated Sudanese-British journalist born in Sudan in 1959. She pursued her education and earned an MA in Middle East History and Anthropology, graduating in 1988-89 from SOAS. Badawi has worked in various capacities, including as a news presenter, radio personality, and journalist. She made history as the first presenter of the ITV Morning News. Badawi co-presented Channel 4 News alongside Jon Snow from 1989 to 1998 before joining BBC News. During her time with BBC News, she presented World News Today, which aired on both BBC Four and BBC World News, and hosted Reporters, a weekly program featuring reports from the BBC. Zeinab served as the Royal African Society's previous chair. She is also a member of the African-Europe Foundation's high-level group and was appointed by the Queen to the Board of Historic Royal Palaces. She founded and is a trustee of BBC Media Action, the BBC's charitable arm. She is currently serving as the President of SOAS since October 2021.

2. Romila Thapar

Romila Thapar is an Indian historian and professor emerita at Jawaharlal Nehru University. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Panjab University and her doctorate from SOAS in 1958. Thapar is known for her research on ancient India, particularly on the history of the Mauryan empire. Her interests also extend to the study of ancient Indian society, religion, and culture. She has been awarded numerous accolades for her contributions to the field of history, including the prestigious Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity, and the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards.

3. Fatima Bhutto

Fatima Bhutto is a Pakistani author and columnist born in exile in Kabul. She graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University, with a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies and an MA in South Asian Studies at SOAS. In 2005. Bhutto tells the tale of her family, whose strength and tragedies have been essential to the history of contemporary Pakistan, in her memoir Songs of Blood and Sword: A Daughter's Memoir, published in 2010. She has also contributed essays and articles to numerous journals, such as The Guardian and Literary Hub, as well as two novels, The Shadow of the Crescent Moon (2015) and The Runaways (2019). For the latest information about her work, follow her on social media.

4. Jung Chang

Jung Chang is a Chinese-British writer whose books have been translated into over 40 languages. Her best-known work is the memoir Wild Swans, which tells the story of three generations of women in her family during the tumultuous years of China's 20th century. In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, Chang spoke about the impact of the famine caused by Mao Zedong's Great Leap Forward on her own family and on the Chinese people as a whole. She also discussed her latest book, Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister, which tells the story of three influential Chinese women during the early 20th century.

5. Freya Madeline Stark

Freya Madeline Stark's passion for travel began at the age of thirty-four, after being raised in Italy. She was inspired by T.E. Lawrence and went to Lebanon in 1927 to learn Arabic. Although she had no formal education as a child, she learned French, German, and Italian through her travels with her artist parents before attending the University of London in 1912. She later attended the School of Oriental Studies in London. Stark became an expert on the Middle East and was awarded medals from the Royal Asiatic Society in 1934 and the Royal Geographic Society in 1942. During WWII, she used her knowledge of the Arab world to help in a successful anti-Axis propaganda campaign. Stark's books, including The Valley of the Assassins (1934) and Beyond Euphrates (1951), are highly regarded.

6. Tessy Antony de Nassau

Tessy Antony de Nassau is a humanitarian, activist, and former member of the Luxembourgish Grand Ducal Family. After serving in the Luxembourg Army, she became a peacekeeper with the United Nations and served in Kosovo. She is the founder of Professors Without Borders, a nonprofit organisation that provides access to higher education for underserved communities around the world. Tessy is also a speaker and advocate for mental health awareness and gender equality.

7. Jemima Goldsmith

Jemima Khan, also known as Jemima Goldsmith, is a well-known figure in the entertainment industry. She is not only a screenwriter, producer, and the founder of Instinct Productions but also a UNICEF UK Ambassador. Khan gained public attention at age 21 when she married the renowned retired cricket star and later Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. After their divorce, she turned towards journalism and held positions such as the former associate editor of the New Statesman and European editor-at-large for Vanity Fair. As a UK Ambassador to UNICEF, Jemima utilises her fame to raise awareness and funds for children's issues worldwide. One of her recent works is the screenplay for the British romantic comedy film, "What's Love Got to Do with It?" directed by Shekhar Kapur and featuring Emma Thompson and Shazad Latif. You can follow Jemima Khan on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.

8. Mette-Marit

Mette-Marit, Norway's crown princess, studied at the University of Oslo and later earned a degree in Social Anthropology from the SOAS in 2002-2003. In 2006 she was made a special representative for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. She is also a patron of the Norwegian Red Cross and the Norwegian Council for Mental Health. 

9. Samia Nkrumah

Samia Nkrumah is a Ghanaian politician and the daughter of Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah. She is the former Chairperson of the Convention People's Party, one of the oldest political parties in Ghana. In 2008, Samia was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Jomoro Constituency, becoming the first woman to do so in the Western Region of Ghana. She has advocated for women's rights, environmental conservation and socio-economic justice. Follow her on Twitter for updates on her work and activism.

10. Catherine West

Catherine West is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green since 2015. Prior to entering politics, she worked as an international relations officer and as a councillor for the London Borough of Islington. As an MP, West has focused on issues such as housing, human rights, and social justice. She has also been a vocal supporter of the campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union. In addition to her parliamentary work, West is involved in a range of community organizations and campaigns, including those related to mental health, climate change, and gender equality.

11. Gita Sahgal

Gita Sahgal is a British-Indian writer, journalist and human rights activist. She received her Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Social Sciences from the University of Delhi and later earned a Master's degree in Social Anthropology from SOAS. Sahgal has worked as a senior researcher and writer at Amnesty International and was the head of the Gender Unit at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International. She is the founder of the Centre for Secular Space, an organization focused on promoting secularism and universal human rights. Sahgal has written extensively on issues such as religious fundamentalism, women's rights, and racism, and is a regular commentator on television and radio programs.

12. Suki Kim

Suki Kim is a Korean-American writer and journalist. She was born and raised in South Korea and moved to the United States in her early twenties. Kim is the only writer ever to have lived undercover in North Korea to conduct immersive journalism. Kim has authored several books, including The Interpreter, The Korean Language in America, and Without You, There Is No Us: Undercover Among the Sons of North Korea's Elite. She has been a contributing editor for The New Republic and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Harper's, and many other publications. Kim has received numerous awards for her writing, including the Guggenheim Fellowship and the Fulbright Fellowship.

13. Ghida Fakhry

Ghida Fakhry is an award-winning journalist and presenter with over 25 years of experience in international news. She has worked for major global news networks such as Al Jazeera English, CNN International, and BBC World News. Throughout her career, Fakhry has covered major events including the Arab Spring, the U.S. presidential elections, and the Syrian conflict. She has also interviewed several world leaders and politicians. Fakhry was born in Lebanon and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from the Lebanese American University and an MA in International Relations from SOAS.

14. Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah

Shaista Suhrawardy Ikramullah was a prominent Pakistani diplomat, politician, and writer. She was born in Kolkata in 1915 and received her education from the University of Calcutta and the University of London. In 1940, she married S. M. Ikramullah, who also later became a diplomat. She was the first Muslim woman to represent Pakistan at the United Nations and served as Pakistan's ambassador to Morocco, Tunisia, and Ireland. She was also an accomplished author, with her books including "From Purdah to Parliament" and "Memoirs of a Rebel Princess." She was an advocate for women's rights and played an important role in shaping the political landscape of Pakistan.

15. Petra Stienen

Catharina Petra Wilhelmina Johanna Stienen is a Dutch politician, writer and former diplomat. An Arabist by occupation, she was elected in June 2015 as a member of the Senate representing the Democrats 66 political party. Having been based in Egypt and Syria during her diplomatic career, she is known for her political commentary on the Arab world, particularly during the Arab Spring.

16. Emma McCune

Emma McCune was a British aid worker and author who became known for her work in Sudan during the civil war in the 1990s. She started working for the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and later married one of its commanders, Riek Machar. Her memoir, "Tears of the Desert: One Woman's True Story of Surviving the Horrors of Darfur," was published posthumously in 2003. McCune tragically died in a car accident in Kenya in 1993.

17. Mia Kang

Mia Kang is a British-Korean model, actress, and Muay Thai fighter, born in China in 1988. She has appeared on the covers of several magazines, including Maxim, FHM, and Harper's Bazaar. Kang started modelling in 2010 and has since worked for major brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Levi's. She has also acted in several TV series and films. In 2016, Kang became a Muay Thai fighter after dealing with body image issues and has since competed professionally. She is a vocal advocate for body positivity and mental health awareness.

18. Inger Andersen

Inger Andersen is a Danish economist and environmentalist who has been the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 2019. She has also served as Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Vice President of the World Bank's Sustainable Development Network. Andersen has been recognized for her work in the field of sustainable development and conservation, receiving numerous awards and honors. Under her leadership, UNEP has launched initiatives focused on climate action, biodiversity conservation, and pollution reduction, among other areas.

19. Ananda Devi

Ananda Devi is a Mauritian writer who writes in both French and Creole. She is the author of numerous novels, short stories, and poems. Her writing often explores themes of exile, marginalization, and violence, and has been recognized with many awards, including the Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie and the Mokhtar Award for World Literature. Devi is also a feminist and an advocate for women's rights, and her writing often centers on women's experiences. She has been a writer-in-residence at many universities around the world, including the University of Iowa and the University of California, Berkeley.

20. Luísa Diogo

Luísa Diogo is a Mozambican economist and politician who served as Prime Minister of Mozambique from 2004 to 2010, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She holds a degree in economics from Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique and a master's degree in development economics from the University of London in the UK. During her tenure as Prime Minister, Diogo oversaw a period of economic growth and development in Mozambique and was instrumental in securing debt relief for the country from international lenders. She has been recognized for her leadership and advocacy for gender equality in Mozambique and Africa.

21. Dreda Say Mitchell

Dreda Say Mitchell is a British author, broadcaster, and journalist. She has written eleven novels, including the Gangland Girls series and the Flesh and Blood trilogy. Her debut novel, Running Hot, won the Crime Writers' Association's John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award, making her the first Black woman to receive the honor. Mitchell's journalism has been featured in several major publications, including The Guardian and The Independent, and she has worked as a radio presenter for the BBC. In addition to her writing and broadcasting career, Mitchell is an advocate for literacy and has served as a judge for literary prizes such as the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing.

22. Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani

Her Excellency Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani is the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York. She has been actively involved in diplomacy and international relations for over a decade, representing Qatar in various capacities. She has been a strong advocate for women's rights and gender equality, and has played an important role in promoting education and empowerment for women in Qatar and the wider Middle East region. H.E. Al-Thani has also been a vocal advocate for sustainable development and environmental conservation, working to raise awareness of the urgent need to address climate change and promote sustainable development policies. Her extensive experience and commitment to these critical issues have made her an important voice in global affairs.

23. Irene Mambilima

Irene Mambilima was a prominent Zambian lawyer and judge, who served as the Chief Justice of Zambia from 2015 until her retirement in 2019. Prior to her appointment as Chief Justice, Mambilima worked as a legal practitioner in private practice and also held various positions in the Zambian judiciary, including serving as a judge in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court. She was the first woman to be appointed as Chief Justice of Zambia and was known for her dedication to upholding the rule of law and promoting gender equality in the legal profession. Mambilima was also actively involved in various international legal organizations, including serving as a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. She passed away in June 2021, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and dedication to the law.

24. Shirani Bandaranayake

Shirani Anshumala Bandaranayake, the 43rd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, held senior positions in academia at the University of Colombo after earning a degree in law, but never practiced as a lawyer. She made history by becoming Sri Lanka's first female Supreme Court Judge in 1996 and later became Chief Justice in May 2011 after the retirement of Asoka de Silva. However, her impeachment by Parliament and subsequent removal from office by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2013 sparked controversy. Two years later, the government of Sri Lanka declared her impeachment unlawful, paving the way for Bandaranayake to resume her duties as Chief Justice on January 28, 2015. She retired from the position the following day, citing her commitment to an independent judiciary in Sri Lanka.

25. Dewi Fortuna Anwar

Dewi Fortuna Anwar is a prominent Indonesian international relations expert who has served as Deputy for Government Policy Support to the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia since October 2019. She received her BA from the International Relations Department at Universitas Indonesia in 1971 and her PhD in political science from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, in 1990. Dr. Anwar was the Director of the Institute of International Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) from 2001 to 2010 and served as Deputy Secretary for Political Affairs at the Secretariat of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) from 1984 to 1986. She has also been a consultant for many Indonesian and international organizations, and has published extensively on Indonesian politics, ASEAN, human rights, and gender issues.