Leslee was voted by the NY Times the No 2 Most Impactful Woman of 2015 (second to Hillary Clinton), and has been awarded the prestigious Swedish Anna Lindh Human Rights Prize (previously won by Madeleine Albright). In 2019, she received the Activism in Arts and Education award from the UN Women for Peace Association, UN Association USA’s Global Citizen of 2019, and the Gandhi Foundation International Peace Award. She has also been named Safe’s Global Hero of 2015, and Global Thinker by Foreign Policy. A BAFTA and multi-award winning filmmaker and Human Rights Campaigner, Leslee’s documentary “India’s Daughter”, has been critically acclaimed around the globe, won 32 awards (including the Peabody Award and the Amnesty International Media Award for Best Documentary 2016) and sparked a global movement to end violence against women and girls. The searing insights yielded by the 2 and a half year journey making “India’s Daughter”, led Leslee to turn her back on filmmaking and devote herself to Think Equal.

Ruby has extensive experience at Think Equal, including coordinating projects, managing the partnerships and fundraising department, and currently managing our Africa and Eastern Europe programmes on an internal secondment. Ruby has an MA in International Political Economy and a BA in International History from The London School of Economics and Political Science. Throughout her studies and career, Ruby has maintained a keen interest in global systems and development, with her interest in education catalysed by its ability to create better outcomes for people and wider societies. On a personal level, Ruby loves exploring the Peak District on her doorstep in Sheffield.

With a passion for managing and implementing projects that create a meaningful impact, Tinotenda possesses a diverse skill set and experience in project management. Having completed her Master of Management Degree in Development and Economics at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, she has successfully coordinated and executed a diverse range of projects spanning from non-profit organisations, corporate social responsibility, and in international organisations such as UNHCR. This and many other valuable experiences have equipped her with a solid foundation in project planning, implementation, and monitoring while honing her ability to forge strategic partnerships and drive the delivery of impactful programs. As Africa Programme Coordinator at Think Equal, her key priority is to facilitate efficient project management and build collaborative partnerships that contribute to achieving project goals across the African continent.

Natalia has a degree in Psychology and is currently doing a Master’s in Transpersonal Psychology. Her background creatively combines children’s book illustration and design, education and technology. After participating in making +10 educational and literacy projects with the UNHCR, the Panamanian government and independent authors, she believes art and education are the sunflowers of the present. She is the guardian of Think Equal’s program materials and oversees the charity’s Digital Department.

Bianca’s career is marked by a passion for organisation and a deep appreciation for working with people. Throughout her journey, Bianca has honed her skills in coordinating and executing projects, ensuring they are delivered efficiently and effectively. Her dedication to HR stems from her genuine interest in fostering positive workplace environments and nurturing the growth and development of individuals within organizations. She strongly believes in the power of compassion and empathy in both personal and professional interactions. She is excited to bring her skill sets to the organisation as a Global Coordinator for Think Equal.

Memory has 15 years of experience in project planning, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), program management, and development communication. She has successfully led teams in implementing programs and projects focused on human rights, leadership, gender justice, and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), particularly addressing sexual violence. As an Organizational Development Specialist, Memory has a proven track record in managing organizational change, fostering effective teams, and developing policies and Information Management Systems (IMS). Memory is passionate about mental health and its radical safeguarding, promoting well-being within organizations and communities. She is also dedicated to climate justice and actively supports efforts to preserve the environment. Her academic background in Journalism and Media Studies, Project Management, Systems Family Therapy, Feminist Leadership for Justice, Equity and Ecology, Conflict Transformation, and Peacebuilding further enhances her expertise. Additionally, she is currently pursuing legal studies, expanding her knowledge and skills in the legal field.

Vanessa has over five years of experience in primary education and is a qualified teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Sunderland, as well as a postgraduate degree in Education with QTS from Middlesex University.

Vanessa’s unwavering commitment to equality and education is evident in all aspects of her work. During her time in schools, she made it her mission to foster safe and nurturing learning environments for children to flourish. She firmly believes that the early years are critical in shaping a child’s social and emotional development.

In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, exploring museums and visiting theatres.

Alhagie Taal is a Gambian by birth and lives in The Gambia.
He obtained a Higher Teacher’s Certificate (HTC) and a Bachelor’s in Education. Currently, he is working on his Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) research. He taught in different upper and senior secondary schools nationwide for over six years. Also, he served as a Cluster Monitor and Early Childhood Focal Point, respectively, for over five years in the Regional Education Directorate 2 under the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE). His core mandates in these positions were monitoring, supervising, and supporting school administrators and
teachers in teaching and learning matters, policy compliance, and other Education-related issues. He became the liaison officer between schools under his purview, the Regional Education Directorate office and, by extension, MoBSE. In addition, he assisted the Human Resources Focal Point in the region with teacher recruitment, posting, and other HR functions. During his leisure time, he loves watching and playing football.

Thelma is a seasoned Marketing and Communications Professional with a rich background in executive assistance, boasting over seven years of experience in nurturing startups and scale-ups. Based in Accra, Ghana, her expertise spans project management, community engagement, and digital marketing, alongside her adept handling of executive-level administrative duties. Thelma’s contributions have consistently led to notable increases in brand awareness and market expansion for various organizations.

Thelma skillfully blends her marketing acumen with executive support skills, demonstrating a unique ability to manage high-level tasks while driving strategic marketing initiatives. Her approach combines strategic planning with innovative marketing techniques, optimizing competitive advantages in rapidly evolving environments. Thelma’s blend of marketing savvy and executive assistance prowess makes her an invaluable asset in any dynamic professional setting.

I started studying film in the Czech Republic, where I studied Multimedia at the College of Arts and Management in Brno. I continued my studies in London at Middlesex University, graduating with a BA in Television production. I have always been interested in documentary filmmaking as I love the idea of creating programmes which are not only entertaining but also have educational value. I also love video editing because I like to see projects coming together. I love to find the story in the footage. I truly believe that with factual pieces, it is the editor who puts the story together. Sometimes in the editing process, you find such a strong piece of information that completely changes the narrative, and you end up with a completely different story than you thought you had at the beginning. I find that fascinating, and it motivates me to be creative and look at things from different perspectives.

Ms Manjushree Patil is the Founder and Director of Aatman Academy, a customized learning and specialized instruction school for students with Learning Disabilities (LD) and Differences, and the Country Director of Think Equal India. A two-time TEDx Speaker, a TEDx performer and a recipient of the ADA Anniversary Fellowship on Inclusive Education in 2017 by the US State Department of Education at the University of Minnesota, Ms Patil has also been selected for the Fulbright Distinguished Awards International Fellowship (2021-22), awarded by the USIEF and the US Dept. of States Teachers Exchange Branch, at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. With over three decades of experience in the field as a teacher and a teacher educator, Manjushree has been an Advisor, Consultant and Chief Trainer for a year-long state-wide programme on Inclusive Education with the Gov. of Maharashtra, impacting more than 500,000 teachers from 36 districts of Maharashtra. Manjushree has been an Indian classical vocalist from a very young age and is now a music composer.