In 2008, an initiative of Reporters d’Espoirs and the Women’s Forum with the support of Amex, Women Actors for Leading Change offers opportunity to 5 exceptional women coming from the 5 continents to present their work implementing changes in their countries. Visible strong authentic leaders, focusing on diversity and inclusion, they develop winning strategies and drive innovation and change, and will interact with the participants on the WALC Corner.

• Sandra Aguebor is creating new opportunities for economic and social independence for Nigerian women by helping them join professions traditionally dominated by men.


• Jeroo Billimoria launched Childline, the India’s first attempt at making street children's quick access to supports, such as police assistance and health care, as easy as dialing a number.


• Brazilian Pediatrician Vera Cordeiro brought together doctors, nurses, and members of the civil society to create Renascer, which works with severely ill children of poor families to ensure that they receive nutrition, sanitation, and psychological support post-hospital discharge for a full recover.


• In Turkey, Selma Demirelli has founded the first women’s housing cooperative that empowers women to own property and to experience full citizenship and financial stability.


• Carla Gómez Monroy is Head of One Laptop per Child Europe, an American organization whose mission is to deliver low-cost, mesh-networked laptops en masse to children in developing countries.

In 2007, an initiative of both Reporters d’Espoirs and the Women’s Forum with the support of Groupe Caisse d’Epargne, WALC offered opportunity to 4 exceptional women to present their work in helping women in their own country. Genius “actors for leading change”, the selected women interacted with the participants of the Women’s Forum and served as role models in motivating them to bring change around them. 

The women selected were :

• Gilliane Le Gallic (France), founder of « Alofa Tuvalu », an association helping the inhabitants of this archipel in the Pacific to set up initiatives to preserve the environment.


• Nora Khan (Bangladesh), Executive Director of « Friendship », a NGO looking after 50,000 patients per year on a boat transformed into a hospital. The NGO is also actively involved in education and environment.


• Dora Nkem Akunyili (Nigeria), Director General of Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), an association fighting again counterfeit medicine.


• Anne-Christine Bandin (France), president and co-founder of Approche, an association to fight against poverty and for insertion in Val de Marne department (supported by Caisse d’Epargne)."