Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. She is a global finance expert, an economist, and an international development professional with over 40 years of experience working in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America. She is a firm believer in the power of trade to lift developing countries out of poverty and assist them in achieving economic growth and sustainable development. As Finance Minister, she was involved in trade negotiations with other West African countries and contributed to the overhaul of Nigeria's trade policy enabling it to enhance its competitiveness.

As Minister of Finance in Nigeria, she spearheaded negotiations with the Paris Club of Creditors that led to the wiping out of $30 billion of Nigeria's debt, including the outright cancellation of $18 billion.  Okonjo-Iweala has been listed in the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World