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WEEK ONE SPEAKER: Angela Nikolić-Duarte

THEME: Human Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's): Goal 3, Goal 4, Goal 5

DATE: Wednesday, February 26th 2025; 12:00-1:00PM UK Time.

Legal Consultant | Business & Human Rights Expert

With over 14 years of experience in business and human rights, Angela Nikolić-Duarte is a seasoned legal consultant, having worked extensively across Latin and North America. She specializes in legal compliance, corporate accountability, and due diligence—ensuring businesses adhere to international labour standards, tax regulations, and human rights obligations. She has also led the development of legal compliance software to enhance corporate responsibility.

Angela has contributed to global human rights advocacy, working with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. She supported UN treaty bodies in their direct dialogues with States Parties on conventions protecting migrants, persons with disabilities, women, and victims of enforced disappearances.

Academically, Angela holds an MSc in Law and Accounting from the London School of Economics and an LLM in Economic Law from Javeriana ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½. Currently, she is pursuing an LLM in International Human Rights Law at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Law, UK. Her research and publications focus on gender equality, employment law, and international labour standards.

Angela’s expertise in legal frameworks, human rights, and sustainable development will be a key highlight of this seminar, where she will provide critical insights into the role of legal compliance and advocacy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

View/Download the flyer on Advocacy and Social Action Development Program Week 1 [PDF]

WEEK TWO SPEAKER: Victoria Jory

THEME: Leadership, Importance of Developing a Network, Project Management and Building Strategic Partnerships

Strategic Engagement Director | Global Partnerships & Impact Leader

Victoria Jory is the Strategic Engagement Lead at The Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR), bringing over 22 years of experience in global partnerships, strategic engagement, and purpose-driven initiatives. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations and leaders worldwide, fostering deep collaborations, leading high-impact global events, and driving initiatives that create meaningful change.

Victoria spent 14 years at Standard Chartered Bank, where she held several leadership roles, including Events & Engagement Lead for the European CEO and Director of Global Impact for Group Sustainability. She led two of the bank’s flagship global initiatives:

• "Seeing is Believing" – Raising USD 104 million to combat avoidable blindness globally.
• "Positive Living" – Advancing education and awareness on HIV and AIDS.

She also played a pivotal role in establishing the Standard Chartered Foundation, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to sustainable social impact.

Before joining AIR, Victoria led global partnerships and events at Women's World Banking, where she championed initiatives to empower women through financial inclusion. Her expertise in stakeholder engagement has seen her manage collaborations with MTV Staying Alive Foundation, Orbis International, The Royal Family, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, and Standard Chartered’s high-profile partners. She has also worked on impactful events and initiatives with Liverpool Football Club, The British Museum, and The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai.

Victoria’s core philosophy is to use her skills not just to grow professionally but to create lasting impact. She firmly believes that every connection presents an opportunity to drive positive change. She lives just outside London with her husband, two daughters, and their Miniature Schnauzer!

View/Download the flyer on Advocacy and Social Action Development Program Week 2 [PDF]

WEEK THREE SPEAKER: Heritage Sanmi-Lawal

THEME: Advocacy, Rights of Minorities, Women and Children

Gender & International Development Consultant | Human Rights Advocate

Heritage Sanmi-Lawal is a Gender and International Development Consultant with over seven years of impactful advocacy, she has dedicated her career to gender equality, community development, and social justice.

As the founder of Her Dream Initiative, she has engaged over 4,000 women and girls across 21 countries, using podcasts, articles, advocacy campaigns, and outreach programs to drive meaningful change. In 2023, her organization became a Charity Partner of Thrive Future CIC UK, launching the Sexual Violence Survivor Guide to educate girls on sexual violence reporting and combat rape culture.

Her contributions have earned global recognition. In November 2024, she was named Winner of the Empowering Change Award by the Global Youth Awards and recognized as one of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Young Women by Women Who Win Africa. She has also been honored as a Global Leader by the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Oxford & St. Gallen Symposium’s Global Leadership Challenge, and as a Gapx Young Female Rising Star.

Heritage’s influence extends to high-level global platforms. She is an Ambassador for the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative on Campus Sexual Violence Prevention, a Youth Advisor at Plan International Nigeria, a distinguished YALI Fellow, and a two-time delegate at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67 & CSW68).

With a Master’s in International Human Rights Law from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Leicester, Heritage continues to spearhead transformative initiatives, shaping global conversations on gender justice, youth empowerment, and human rights advocacy.

View/Download the flyer on Advocacy and Social Action Development Program Week 3 [PDF]

WEEK FOUR SPEAKER: Dr. Obinna C. Edeji

THEME: Climate Action and the Role of NGO's in Partnership with National Human Rights Institutions (NHIs)

Human Rights Lawyer | Legal Expert & Consultant | Law Lecturer

Dr. O.C. Edeji is a distinguished Human Rights Lawyer, Legal Consultant, and Lecturer in Law at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Buckingham, where he leads LLB and LLM modules in International Human Rights Law. A qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court, he holds an LLM from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Aberdeen and a PhD from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Exeter, specializing in human rights, education, and sustainable development.

As Principal Partner at O.C. Edeji & Co, he has led high-profile cases across customary, high, and appellate courts, shaping legal practice through constitutional litigation and judicial advocacy. His extensive research and numerous publications contribute to policy development, and as Editor of the Lord Denning Law Journal, he plays a key role in advancing legal scholarship.

A sought-after legal consultant and speaker, Dr. Edeji is committed to human rights protection, legal education, and global justice reforms. His work continues to influence the next generation of legal professionals and drive impactful legal change worldwide.

WEEK FIVE SPEAKER: Rose Heathcote

THEME: Sustainability and Sustainable Enterprise

Global Expert in Lean and Sustainability Transformation

Rose Heathcote is an internationally recognized speaker, lecturer, author, and advisor, specializing in the synergy between lean methodologies and sustainability thinking. With nearly 30 years of global experience, she has worked across multiple industries and public sectors, guiding organizations from micro-enterprises to multinational corporations across Africa, the UK, Asia, the Middle East, South America, Europe, and India in driving meaningful, lasting transformation.

Rose has held key leadership roles, including CEO of the Lean Institute Africa and Head of Sustainable Enterprise at the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ of Buckingham. Her work focuses on integrating operational excellence with environmental and social responsibility, helping organizations build resilient, high-performing, and sustainable enterprises.

As a Chartered Environmentalist and full member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), she actively bridges the gap between sustainability ambitions and real-world implementation. She is also the author of several influential publications, including Clear Direction, Making a Difference, and Becoming a Sustainable Enterprise, which explore the practical application of lean and sustainability principles.

Rose is committed to advancing the global sustainability agenda by equipping organizations and professionals with the tools, strategies, and mindset to achieve long-term environmental, economic, and social impact.