Frene Ginwala

Ms. Frene Ginwala "has been Speaker of the National Assembly of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa since 1994. She is also the President of South African Speakers' Forum; Chairperson of the CPA Africa Region; Co-Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the International Parliamentary Union (IPU); and is member of the United Nations Advisory Panel of High-Level Personalities on African Development to the UN Secretary-General.

"Ms. Ginwala has presented at various national, international, and United Nations conferences. She has published widely on anti-apartheid and women's issues. Her publications include: "Indian South Africans," "Press in South Africa" "Workers Under Apartheid," "Sanctions in South Africa in Question," and "Gender and Economic Policy in a Democratic South Africa."

"Upon her return from exile to South Africa in 1991, Ms. Ginwala formed the task force to establish the ANC Women's League in South Africa. She also helped to set up the Women's National Coalition, which was made up of organisations from across the political spectrum with the aim of drawing up the charter on women and was elected its national convener. In 1994, elected the Speaker of the National Assembly. In this capacity, she has been instrumental in bringing about the many changes in the parliament.

"Before and during her exile, Ms. Ginwala worked in Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and the United Kingdom as an ANC official, a journalist, and a broadcaster."


 * International Advisory Board, Democracy Coalition Project
 * Former Board member, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
 * Cochair, Global Coalition for Africa
 * Advisory Council, Nelson Mandela Foundation
 * Associate (2000), National Institute for Economic Policy