Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender and Development Practitioner, Feminist Activist, Policy Advocate, Leadership Coach, Philanthropist, Image Management Specialist, and Writer. She holds a BA (1984) and MA (1988) in History from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and an MA in Gender and Society (1992) from Middlesex University, UK.

From 1991 to 2001, she served as Director of Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA), an international development organization for African women, with offices in London and Kampala. She co-founded the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and was its first CEO from 2001 to 2010. AWDF has supported thousands of women’s rights organizations across 42 African countries, providing millions of dollars in grants, advancing women’s rights, and strengthening grassroots initiatives and movement building for social justice.

Bisi has held significant leadership roles, including Trustee of Comic Relief (1998-2001), Co-Chair of the International Network of Women’s Funds (2004-2006), and Board Member of the Global Fund for Women (2012-2016). She co-founded the African Grantmakers Network (now the African Philanthropy Network) in 2009.

As First Lady of Ekiti State (2010-2014, 2018-2022), Bisi used her platform to shape legal and policy frameworks and mobilize resources to protect the rights of women and girls. She serves on boards such as the African Women’s Leadership Network, the African Women’s Development Fund, and the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School.

Bisi is the founder of Above Whispers Media Foundation, which offers leadership development and coaching. She is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Leadership Center, King’s College, London.