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On the 30th of April, we hosted a conversation with The Honourable Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for South Africa and a founding member of IWF South Africa.

Minister Pandor has been tirelessly advocating for a collaborative global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With cases continuing to rise in many countries, she will share her perspective on how this pandemic not only impacts South Africa and the African Union, but how it is reshaping the world order. Dr. Pandor is currently leading the charge of repatriating South African citizens who have been stranded around the world as a result of COVID-19.

Just in time to celebrate both Earth Day and the Hubble Space Telescope's 30th anniversary, our conversation with Kathy reviewed the transformative power of satellite imagery and the importance of the Hubble Telescope for everything from global defense to economic activity. She offered her perspective on the environmental impact of the pandemic, having served as the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

On April 16, IWF hosted Massachusetts Women's Forum member and Mother of Mindfulness, Dr. Ellen J. Langer, for a virtual presentation on the prevalence of mindlessness and how it creates limits of our own making for our health and well being.

As climate change continues to affect our communities and livelihoods, it's become increasingly important to change how we treat the planet on which we live. We have been inspired by climate activists all over the world doing just that, including Vanessa Nakate of Uganda. Originally part of our program in London, Vanessa and her fellow climate justice warriors have had to change how they fight for change in this new normal.

Vanessa was the first “Fridays For Future” climate activist in Uganda and Founder of the Rise Up Movement, which has since spread to other African countries. Her work includes raising awareness about the danger of climate change. In this edition of In the Lead, Vanessa tells us about how climate change disproportionately affects African nations, how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed climate activism and how we can sustain the environmental progress made so far.

Our virtual COVID-19 briefing with IWF member and U.S. Congresswoman Donna Shalala, took place on Thursday, April 9. Donna provided an up-to-the-minute insider’s perspective on the global COVID-19 pandemic, including what the world can expect in the weeks and months ahead.