The Council of Women World Leaders is pleased to share the news that 10 of its members have been named to Forbes’ annual list of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.” This year’s list includes Council members Michelle Bachelet, President of the Republic of Chile; Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President of the Argentine Republic; Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland; Sheikh Hasina, Former Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia; Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Republic of the Philippines; Mary McAleese, President of the Republic of Ireland; Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Yulia Tymoshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine. The Forbes list is comprised of women who are household names in their industries or regions—they run countries, big companies and influential nonprofits. The rankings are based on influence, determined by visibility (by press mentions) and the size of the organization or country led by these women. For the fifth year, Council Secretary General Laura Liswood assisted Forbes in compiling this list of the world’s most powerful women.
