DUBAI, 9th February, 2020 (WAM) -- Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President of the United States of America, and Theresa May,  Member of Parliament and Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, are set to deliver keynote addresses during the official opening of Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020, GWFD.

The Forum will take place on 16-17 February, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Organised by Dubai Women Establishment, DWE, the GWFD 2020 is a leading global platform that actively engages leaders and experts from around the world in constructive dialogue to discuss improved policies based on international best practices, foster goal-driven partnerships, and shape sustainable communities.

In her role as Advisor to the US President, Ivanka Trump focuses on the education and economic empowerment of women and their families, as well as job creation and economic growth through workforce development, skills training and entrepreneurship.

An entrepreneur herself, Ivanka Trump has spearheaded a wide range of initiatives and programmes to support women-owned businesses around the world, particularly in emerging markets. She has been instrumental in launching the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, an effort to encourage women in developing nations to participate in their economies. The initiative marks its first anniversary on February 12.

She will also participate in the We-Fi MENA Regional Summit in Dubai, which takes place on the sidelines of GWFD 2020 for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region. The Summit is co-organised by DWE and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, We-Fi, a ground-breaking multi-national partnership launched in 2017 to unlock financing for women-led businesses in developing countries. The initiative is supported by the UAE government, which was among the first contributing donor countries.

The Summit aims to spur action to accelerate women’s opportunity to thrive as entrepreneurs throughout the MENA region; showcase programs, institutions and research that help women entrepreneurs’ access finance, markets, training and mentoring, and enhance policies; and to engage women entrepreneurs to spark inspiration and ideas, through a variety of insightful sessions and workshops.

Mona Al Marri, Chairperson of the Board and Managing Director of DWE, said: "It will be a pleasure to welcome Ivanka Trump to Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 this year. As a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, and a champion of female entrepreneurship, she has established effective partnerships and led a variety of initiatives that have furthered the positive impact of women across the world. Ivanka Trump will bring valuable expertise and insights into boosting support to women-owned enterprises and propelling female entrepreneurs across the region. We look forward to having her at GWFD 2020."

Ivanka Trump will join other high-profile international speakers, including David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, and Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, participating in Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 this month.

Drawing on over two decades of experience in Britain’s Parliament, Theresa May will share her perspectives on female leadership in government and the important contribution of women to political life. The session will be moderated by Lana Nusseibah, UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Theresa May has held several positions within the UK parliament since 1997. She was a member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1999 to 2010, and served as the first female Chairman of the UK’s Conservative Party from 2002 to 2003. She was appointed as Home Secretary in 2010 and became the longest-serving Conservative Home Secretary. Following her election as Leader of the Conservative Party, Theresa May became the UK’s second female Prime Minister in July 2016, a position she held for three years, until July 2019.

A strong advocate for gender parity in UK politics, Theresa May co-founded Women2Win – an organisation committed to increasing female representation within her party, by identifying, training and mentoring female candidates for public office. The initiative was founded in 2005, with the number of Conservative women Members of Parliament increasing from 17 that year to 48 in 2010 and 68 in 2015. Theresa May also served as Minister for Women and Equalities from 2010 to 2012.

H.H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, and President of Dubai Women Establishment, said: "We are honoured to have Theresa May join us at Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 this year. With an extraordinary political career spanning over two decades, which saw her rise to become one of the world’s most influential women, Theresa May is a prime example of female potential and what women can achieve in traditionally male-dominated environments.''

''As a role model for aspiring female politicians around the world, she has championed women and contributed to enhancing female representation within this field, famously stating that ‘a woman’s place is in elected office’."

"We look forward to welcoming Theresa May to GWFD 2020 to learn from her experiences and insights into female leadership, as well as her perspectives on furthering the positive impact of women across the globe," she added.

At a media briefing last week, DWE also announced Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, and David Malpass, President of the World Bank, as high-calibre speakers to be featured at Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020, alongside some of the world’s foremost thought leaders and decision-makers.

Building on its theme, ‘The Power of Influence’, Global Women’s Forum Dubai 2020 will highlight how effective policies and partnerships in four key areas – Government, Economy, Society, and the Future – can further women’s positive impact for a better future.