(CU)_She has led the development of a transformative model for girls’ education and has pioneered award-winning strategies to achieve an unprecedented uplift in leaning among marginalised girls. Driven by the principle that the experience of the poorest, most marginalized girl is an important barometer for the education system, this inspiring lady was recently awarded the world’s largest education prize, Yidan Prize for Education Development, for her contribution to female education.

Lucy Lake joined the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) in 1994 as Director of Programmes & Deputy Executive Director. She led the development of the initiative to enable its clients, as educated young women, to take the reins and lead change for the young generation of girls. Following her appointment as chief executive of CAMFED in 2012, Lake led the organisation’s major growth, being recognised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for best practice in taking development innovation to scale.

Her award-winning strategies are benefiting over six million young people, laying the foundation for a new generation of young women leaders who are now at the forefront of a pan-African movement for girls’ education. Lake is also a founding member of the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative, a global partnership hosted by UNICEF, aimed at advancing gender equality in and through education. In 2019, the 49-year-old philanthropist was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours in recognition for her service to education and development, equity and social justice.

Commenting on Lake’s efforts to break barriers in education for young girls, Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said: “Lucy’s unremitting focus on ensuring the most marginalized girls have the opportunity to realize their potential through education and move centre stage, has unlocked an unrivalled pipeline of leadership that will transform education for future generations.”