Edward (Eddie) Ndopu

Described by TIME Magazine as “one of the most powerful disabled people on the planet,” Eddie Ndopu is perhaps best known for his human rights advocacy with respect to advancing disability justice at the forefront of the international development agenda. Working alongside world leaders such as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, Ndopu actively champions climate justice, fights global poverty and demands equity for the world’s most marginalized segments of society in his capacity as one of the UN Secretary-General’s 17 official advocates for the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

In recognition of Eddie’s career as a global humanitarian, which spans more than a decade, he is the recipient of numerous awards, including the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award and the UN’s Global Partnership Award, jointly presented to him by the Republic of South Africa and the United Nations. Ndopu serves on several global boards, including as a member of the board of directors of the United Nations Foundation. He also sits on the advisory boards of The Valuable 500, IMAGINE and Verizon’s Global Advisory Board for Accessibility and Disability Inclusion. He formerly served as a member of both the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council for the New Agenda for Social Justice and the World Economic Forum’s Partnering for Racial Justice in Business Initiative.

Ndopu’s debut memoir, SIPPING DOM PERIGNON THROUGH A STRAW, which chronicles his challenging experience as a disabled student attending Oxford University, was released in August 2023.