Women Leaders - Global History Makers

From political game-changers to athletes, here’s a look at some trailblazing women who made history with their achievements last year.

Ayesha Malik

Judge

Nationality: Pakistani

As Pakistan’s first female Supreme Court Judge, Malik sits alongside 16 male colleagues on the country’s highest court. The 56-year-old’s appointment in January 2022 made Pakistan the last country in South Asia to elect a woman to its highest court. Malik worked at two law firms before becoming a high court judge in the eastern city of Lahore in 2012.

Dina Boluarte

Politician

Nationality: Peruvian

Boluarte became the first female President of Peru on December 7, 2022, after her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was ousted in an impeachment trial. The 60-year-old lawyer shot to prominence alongside Castillo as the vice president and Minister of Development and Social Inclusion in a 2021 election victory for the far-left Peru Libre party. She has since reshuffled her cabinet and named a new prime minister.

Dunya Abutaleb

Taekwondo player

Nationality: Saudi

After winning bronze at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Korea in June 2022, Abutaleb became the first female athlete from Saudi Arabia to medal at a World Taekwondo Championships. The 26-year-old trains with and against male athletes on her home turf, as there are no female sparring partners. At age 12, her brother’s coach identified her potential and began privately teaching her at home. Abutaleb entered her first competition, Jordan’s Al Hassan Cup, in 2016 and clinched gold.

Hana Goda