Founded in 2005 by Aude Zieseniss de Thuin, the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society is an independent global forum of feminine inspiration, recognized among the top 5 global forums worldwide, dedicated to building and implementing a more balanced world for all. The Forum is a platform of debate, sharing, brainstorming and action where women are given pride of place for speaking out on all major societal issues that count today and will count tomorrow. <br />In September 2009, Publicis Groupe has acquired a majority stake in the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society. <br />For its 5th edition of the Women’s Forum welcomes 1 200 high-level participants, amongst whom Irina Bokova, Director General-designate of UNESCO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Managing Director of the World Bank, Louise Arbour, President of International Crisis Group, Melanne Verveer, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Hind Khoury, Delegate General for Palestine in France, Olubanke King-Akerele, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Vice-President of South Africa, Katrin Juliusdottir, Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism of Iceland, but also Anne Lauvergeon, Laurence Parisot, Fadela Amara, Anne-Marie Idrac, Dominique Reiniche, Maria Nowak, Carlos Ghosn, Bruno Lafont, Bernard Fornas, Christine Ockrent, Arielle Dombasle, Irène Frain, Elif Shafak, Rokia Traoré…