Dr. Leila Hanafi

Meet Dr. Leila Hanafi, an international lawyer, professor, and global advocate for women’s leadership in law, governance, and technology.

Based between Washington D.C. and Rabat, Leila serves as Senior Legal Staff at the World Bank Group, Adjunct Professor of Law at George Washington University, and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the United Nations University. She also leads the World Bank Group Women for Development Alliance, promoting women’s empowerment in rule of law, policy reform, and digital transformation. ✨

As Founder of ARPA International Law Group, Leila has advised organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN ESCWA, driving initiatives that strengthen access to justice, gender equality, and responsible AI governance across Africa and the Middle East. 💯

Leila’s work reflects a powerful belief - that technology and law must evolve together to serve humanity with fairness, accountability, and inclusion.

Through AIgnite Women, she brings her global voice to the mission of building a future where women lead the conversation on ethics, innovation, and justice in the age of AI. 🌍