Barbara Ward Lecture 2027: Winnie Byanyima
The Barbara Ward Lecture 2027 will be given by UN Under-Secretary-General Winnie Byanyima.
2027 lecturer Winnie Byanyima (Photo: UNAIDS)
Join us on 26 January 2027 for a lecture by Winnie Byanyima, UN Under-Secretary-General and executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the latest in our Barbara Ward Lecture series to celebrate outstanding women in development.
In honour of IIED founder Barbara Ward’s pioneering work in sustainable development and the inspiration she gave to many in the field, IIED invites members of the current generation of outstanding women in development to present their thoughts on the pressing issues of our time.
In early 2027, we are honoured to welcome Winnie Byanyima as our lecturer.
A globally respected leader and advocate for social justice, equality and sustainable development, she leads the UN's efforts to end the AIDS pandemic by 2030 and has been at the forefront of global action on poverty and inequality for decades.
She previously led Oxfam, was UNDP’s director of gender and development and served as a parliamentarian in Uganda, setting up the first ever women’s caucus.
At a time of profound global challenges and shifting development priorities, Byanyima's perspective will bring valuable insight into the connections between inequality, health, gender justice and sustainable development.
Throughout her career, she has championed the rights of women and marginalised communities, while advocating for more equitable and accountable systems at national and global levels. Her leadership reflects many of the values at the heart of IIED's work and our ‘Manifesto for a thriving world’, which calls for transforming systems, strengthening accountability, and fostering cooperation across borders and communities.
Byanyima has also been appointed to lead IIED’s board of trustees, taking over from the end of January 2027.
After her lecture we will have time for audience questions, followed by an informal drinks reception.
Apply to attend
Anyone interested in attending the Barbara Ward Lecture 2027 can sign up to our waiting list through the form below. Given the limited capacity, please only apply if you are able to attend in person.
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A milestone year
This year, IIED celebrates 20 years of the Barbara Ward Lecture and the milestone of welcoming its 10th speaker, recognising two decades of outstanding women leaders shaping the development sector. Previous speakers are:
- Former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson
- Connie Hedegaard, European commissioner for climate action
- South African MP and Minister Lindiwe Sisulu
- Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- Fatima Denton, director of the Special Initiatives Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)Debra Roberts, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group 2 on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability
- Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and member of The Elders
- Rebeca Grynspan, general-secretary of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and
- Mafalda Duarte executive director of the Green Climate Fund
About attending
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This event will be recorded to be distributed publicly afterwards. By registering for this event, you agree to give your consent for this.
Will there be livestreaming?
No, this event is in-person only.
Can the media attend the lecture?
If you are a journalist or represent a media outlet and wish to attend, please contact IIED press officer Jon Sharman via [email protected].
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Contact
Larissa Schneider-Kim ([email protected]), IIED internal communications and events manager
