Excellencies, honorees, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Good morning.

It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you all to the International Center for Research on Women’s Champions for Change Awards celebration 2017.

A year ago, this month, I was honored to be invited to join the ICRW Leadership Council.  As one of the newer members I would like to offer a special acknowledgment of my fellow Leadership Council members present here today.

I am very proud to support ICRW’s work; I share with the institution a personal belief in universal human dignity and a professional dedication through the mission of my own foundation to work for a world where everyone has the right to belong, to be included, accepted, and to be a valued member of their society. And I couldn’t be more proud that my country, Denmark continues to be a world leader in its commitment to promoting policies and programs that eliminate gender disparities and empower women and girls.

We have come together today because every single one of us is “all-in” for gender equality and we understand that we all have a role to play in advancing this agenda which is so central to sustainable development.

We have gathered because we recognize the value in celebrating the visionary leaders who have done so much to advance our shared agenda, and because we also know the importance of enabling the next generation of trailblazers, those who will drive this critical work forward for decades to come.

We are here because we all know that committing to building an equal future for the world’s most vulnerable and marginalized is more important today than ever before, and because we know that we can only do so when we come together from across sectors and geographies as one community.

And who better than ICRW to bring us together and to help us see that we have the power to make a difference, especially when we have the evidence for what works to make lasting change, as well as the passion to act.

This is what ICRW does: it puts its immense depth of research evidence into action for the global good. ICRW ensures that facts and figures are the foundation for creating powerful solutions and real change for women, girls and at-risk communities around the world.

To all of today’s honorees, congratulations. Whether you are being honored for your many years of outstanding contributions to the global community or you are being celebrated as a rising star who has transformed your personal experience into a dedication to making the world a safer and healthier place. Leadership exists in many forms and at many levels and I commend all of you for your outstanding efforts.

This is now my fourth Champions for Change celebration and I can tell you what an outstanding and prestigious group of leaders this award has honored for over a decade. Our award winners today are no exception and I congratulate them for their years of contribution to the global good through philanthropy, government service and private sector leadership.

For the two remarkable women being recognized for their research and advocacy today, thank you for your courage and commitment, and for making such a positive impact in our world. Your dedication only strengthens our hope of a brighter future.

It is now my pleasure to introduce a transformative leader, a dedicated gender equality champion, and a driving force for impact, the President of ICRW, Dr. Sarah Degnan Kambou.