This year’s application cycle has been the most competitive selection on record for the UK delegates. With over 150 applicants and only 50 candidates making it through to the assessment centre - only 7 spots were available across the two delegations. It is with great honour and pleasure that we can announce the 2020 G7 and G20 youth delegations for the UK below.
G7 YOUTH DELEGATES
VIRGINIA STUART-TAYLOR - HEAD DELEGATE
Virginia is an EU Negotiations Advisor in the UK Civil Service, a Digital Ambassador for global children’s charity Plan International, and an Ambassador from two One Young World summits in Johannesburg and Dublin. She currently lives and works in London, but has lived in 6 other countries across Europe, South America and Asia, has visited over 65 countries, and writes the award-winning travel blog www.TheWell-TravelledPostcard.com.
Now in the public sector, she's worked on UK Government foreign policy and diplomatic engagement at DExEU, DIT and Defra, and she recently completed a Double Masters in European Politics, Society and Culture at universities in the Netherlands and Sweden, using her thesis to research the impact of Brexit on EU27 citizens living in the UK. Prior to this she worked in the private sector, in management, strategy and global partnerships roles on O2/Telefonica's European Graduate Scheme in London and Madrid. She also led a team of International Citizen Service volunteers on a DfID-funded sustainable development project in rural Nepal following the 2015 earthquake, for the charity Raleigh International.
She's passionate about tackling gender inequality in the UK and abroad, empowering young women to reach their potential through mentoring, organising Women in Leadership events, fundraising for Plan International and raising awareness of their campaigns to advance girls' rights and education in developing countries.
MOHAMED ABDELRHMAN
Mohamed is a Management Consultant for a boutique consultancy, specialising in Digital Transformation, moving companies forward parallel to technological advancements. Prior to this, he spent time on the Civil Service Fast Stream at the Ministry of Justice, working on governance and funding of numerous branches of the MoJ. He also has experience at the Bank of England, Lloyds of London and the Institute of Economic Affairs.
Additionally, he holds a position as a mentor to both college and university students, providing advice and expertise on academia, CVs and professional careers, helping to guide the next generation of talent.
Mohamed has a keen interest in the economic development of third world countries, poverty alleviation and inequality reduction. He has sat on campaign committees for numerous charitable efforts on behalf of Human Appeal, Muslim Aid, Human Aid and Islamic Relief, amounting to in excess of £100,000. Holding a First-Class degree in Economics from SOAS, University of London, Mohamed focused on development issues within Asia and Africa. This led him to launch a blog entitled Afconomics which focuses on the state of the African economy from the perspective of young, African economists.
JAMES FORSEY
James is an adaptable and technically capable consultant with a varied background in detailed engineering design, consultancy and project economics experience. Vast experience in the Infrastructure sector, trained Civil Engineer with proven technical ability in design and analysis of systems, led on many major Infrastructure developments in the UK and overseas. Additional experience in development engineering, strategic advisory on infrastructure projects, infrastructure economics, project management and engineering analysis. James is passionate about implementing the principles of the circular economy in the world economy, particularly with a focus on construction, this has formed most of his work and research in his current role in Africa (Kenya and Uganda primarily).
ZOE MARTIN
Zoe is a first year apprentice economist in the Government Economic Service, currently working in the Ministry of Justice. She works within Youth Justice and is driven to provide young people across the country with the best opportunities, regardless of their background. She is a technically capable and adaptable young person, who is always striving to go above and beyond to meet her goals. Previously playing football full time, along side her studies, showed her determination and resilience when overcoming knee reconstruction surgery to brought this opportunity to an end. Now on a mission to make a difference to society and create opportunities to become a future leader, Zoe’s passion lyes within making sure no young voice is overlooked when implementing policy to make change to current economic and social issues.
G20 YOUTH DELEGATES
FATIMA ZAMAN - HEAD DELEGATE
Fatima is an Advocate at the Kofi Annan Foundation, working on building peace, security and overcoming extreme violence in conflict. Her work involved advising the 7th Secretary General of the United Nations and working with key stakeholders to enhance and uphold human rights. She has extensive knowledge and experience of working in this field at the local and international level. Ms. Zaman is also a member of the Inaugural Class of Obama Scholars, selected by President and Mrs Obama to receive a prestigious, one-of-a-kind leadership scholarship from the Obama Foundation. She was also named as the Chairman's Asian Woman of Achievement, with judges commending her for her internationally groundbreaking work on bringing improvements to peace, security and countering violent extremism in conflict countries. In the laudatio, judges earmarked her as a future Nobel Prize winner.
TONI FOLA-ALADE
Toni is in his Final Year studying Politics and International Relations at St John’s College, University of Cambridge. He was the President of Cambridge University African-Caribbean Society 2018-19 and co-founded the Motherland Conference which hosted the Vice President of Malawi, Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University, Stormzy and many other notable leaders. He is a member of the Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Group on the Legacies of Enslavement, examining the university’s historical links to slavery. He has interned at Goldman Sachs and is a future trainee at Clifford Chance LLP. He is also a Trustee of The World Reimagined, a mass participation art project; a One Young World Ambassador; and a founding member of DoGood Africa, a social enterprise which focusses on capacity building for community initiatives in Africa.
LOLA OLAORE
Lola is an experienced product professional who works with organisations to shape and build customer-centric products. She is passionate about the empowerment of girls/women and the Future of Work and has founded thinkHER ambition, a training and skills development consultancy that specialises in upskilling young females aged between 14-19 to create the next generation of female leaders.
Lola also co-founded Now You’re Talking, a female millennial community which connects like-minded future leaders to opportunities and resources. She is a passionate career coach and a mentor to millennial women.
Lola is the recipient of Yahoo Finance Future Female award which celebrates 50 inspirational women across the globe. She has been recognised by the Financial Times as EMpowers top 50 inspirational Ethnic Minority Future Leaders and is a One Young World Ambassador.
She has also served as a Youth Advisor for LifeSkills by Barclays and a Digital Pioneer for the Mayor of London’s Digital Talent Programme.
