Zeinab Badawi

Zeinab Badawi is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist, and author renowned for her insightful global reporting and deep expertise in African affairs. As President of SOAS University of London and former presenter of BBC World News programmes including HardTalk and Global Questions, she has earned international recognition, including the British Academy's President's Medal and the Sir Brian Urquhart Award for distinguished service to the UN. Through her acclaimed 20-part BBC television series on African history and her forthcoming book, An African History of Africa, Zeinab equips audiences with nuanced perspectives on global politics, cultural understanding, and leadership, inspiring more informed and empathetic approaches to international engagement.

Over four decades in broadcasting, Zeinab Badawi has interviewed world leaders, reported from conflict zones, and created groundbreaking documentaries that reshape how global audiences understand African history and politics. Born in Sudan and educated at Oxford University, where she studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics, she later earned a master's degree with distinction in History and Anthropology of the Middle East from SOAS, University of London. Her career began at Yorkshire Television in 1982, before moving through the BBC and ITN, where she co-presented Channel 4 News and later fronted live political programming from Westminster. At BBC World News, she became the face of programmes including HardTalk and Global Questions, earning International TV Personality of the Year in 2009 and establishing herself as one of Britain's most respected international journalists.

Zeinab's commitment to telling African stories with depth and authenticity led her to produce and present a landmark 20-part television series on African history through her own production company, a project that challenged prevailing narratives and centred African voices and perspectives. Her expertise has been recognised through numerous honours, including the British Academy's President's Medal for services to broadcasting and education, and the Sir Brian Urquhart Award for distinguished service to the United Nations. In 2021, she was appointed President of SOAS University of London, a role that reflects her dedication to scholarship, cultural understanding, and educational excellence. She currently serves on the boards of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Royal Opera House, and chairs the Royal African Society. Her first book, An African History of Africa, is set for publication in 2024, offering readers an accessible and authoritative account drawn from her extensive research and reporting.

Through her speaking engagements, Zeinab helps audiences develop more nuanced perspectives on international affairs, leadership in complex environments, and the importance of informed global citizenship. She combines journalistic rigour with cultural insight, enabling organisations to better understand geopolitical shifts, navigate cross-cultural communication, and approach international engagement with greater empathy and effectiveness. Whether addressing corporate leaders, educational institutions, or public audiences, she delivers practical frameworks for understanding our interconnected world whilst inspiring more thoughtful and inclusive approaches to global challenges. Her ability to translate complex political and historical contexts into actionable insight makes her an invaluable voice for any organisation seeking to expand its global perspective and strengthen its capacity for meaningful international dialogue.