Wednesday, May 27

4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Opening Remarks: Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Japan

Shiza Shahid is an advocate for the empowerment of girls around the world through increased access to education.

An entrepreneur and social activist, she is the cofounder and ambassador of the Malala Fund, the organization representing Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist who was shot by the Taliban in 2012 for her campaign for girls’ education. Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, making her the youngest ever peace prize winner.

While growing up in Pakistan, Shahid volunteered her time in women’s prisons and at a relief camp following a devastating earthquake in 2005. She also started a summer camp in Pakistan in 2009 to empower and advocate for young girls and their education.

Citizen Diplomacy

International education is critical to fighting global poverty. When women and girls are given equal access to education, we all benefit. International education and exchanges are such compelling foreign-policy tools to foster the kind of shared experience needed for a more peaceful world.Shiza Shahid

A graduate of Stanford University, Shahid was previously a business analyst at McKinsey & Company in the Middle East.

Shahid was recently named one of TIME magazine’s “30 Under 30 World Changers” and to the Forbes “30 Under 30″ list of social entrepreneurs.