CREATIVE WOMEN PLATFORM OPENS 'GATEWAY TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE' AT THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT IN LONDON WITH ROYAL RECOGNITION AND GLOBAL IMPACT

London, United Kingdom – 7 May 2025 — Forum Day 1 _

Within the historic chambers of the UK Parliament, the Creative Women Platform inaugurated its highly anticipated Gateway to a Sustainable Future Forum, bringing together a powerful assembly of global voices committed to reimagining the future through creativity, sustainability, and purpose-led innovation.

The forum commenced with a formal welcome from MP Rupa Huq, who honoured the gravity of the moment by acknowledging the UK Parliament as a sanctuary for meaningful dialogue and progressive change—particularly when led by women shaping the global discourse.

In an address both visionary and heartfelt, Olga Balakleets, Founder and CEO of Creative Women Platform, opened the event by recounting the platform’s growing global footprint—from Davos to Milan, Cannes to Riyadh. With passion and conviction, she articulated the forum’s purpose:

“We want all of you to learn from this Forum—ideas that could solve your personal challenges, provide business solutions, and, more importantly, make a significant impact on today’s society... We, as female leaders, must lead the way!”

A highlight of the evening was the keynote by Her Royal Highness Princess Noura bint Saud bin Naif AlSaud, a visionary creative economy strategist and Founder of AlMashtal and Rukun Creative Exchange. Her Royal Highness shared her commitment to building resilient ecosystems through culture, innovation, and systems thinking—aligned with the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. In recognition of her transformative work across the region, she was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award by the Creative Women Platform.

Islée Oliva Salinas, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Creative Women Platform and globally respected impact investor and advocate for sustainability, captivated attendees with her poetic yet strategic address. She called upon participants to “soar with the eagles,” and to place nature at the heart of economic models, urging deeper investment into bio-circular local economies and scalable, nature-based solutions.

Following this, Viola Edward, Partner and Executive Director of the Creative Women Platform and Co-Founder of GRIT Academy, celebrated the sisterhood at the core of the Forum. She encouraged guests to embrace collaboration as the seed of change, and to honour resilience, wellness, and creativity as driving forces of female-led leadership.

Rebeca Riofrio, Executive Director of the Creative Women Forum in Saudi Arabia and Chairwoman of the UK Parliamentary Society for Arts, Fashion & Sport, delivered a welcome keynote on Women in Sustainability. With clarity and compassion, she highlighted the disproportionate yet transformative role women play in environmental leadership.

“Every conscious choice is an act of care—for ourselves and for the Earth... Let us move forward together, lifting each other up and showing what it truly means to live with care, creativity, and purpose.”

Also offering a warm welcome was MP Sir John Whittingdale, a longstanding supporter of the Creative Women Platform and a respected figure in British cultural policy. Having served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 2015 to 2016, MP Whittingdale reflected on the platform’s enduring contribution to empowering women across the creative industries. His words echoed both pride in its progress and optimism for its future, remarking on how creativity, when fuelled by collaboration and conscience, becomes a cornerstone for sustainable change.

The forum also welcomed globally respected experts, creatives, and thought leaders who enriched the evening with insights from their diverse fields, here some of the speakers on this day:

• Ann Dunkin, External Fellow and Distinguished Professor of the Practice at Georgia Institute of Technology, offered insights into the intersection of public policy, technology, and infrastructure as tools to drive sustainable transformation on a global scale.

  
  

  

  
  

• Marine Tanguy, Founder of MTArt Agency, spoke passionately about the urgency of visual literacy and the responsibility of creatives to shape cultural narratives that resonate with environmental awareness and social change.

  
  

  

  
  

• Also addressing the audience was Nandita Sahgal, Impact Asset Manager and Non-Executive Director, who brought a financial lens to the forum’s sustainability goals. With over 25 years of experience across Asia and emerging markets, Sahgal emphasised the pivotal role of climate-focused capital in achieving meaningful energy transition. Speaking from her deep expertise in renewables and Article 9 funds, she stated:

“Impact investment must go beyond returns—it must restore balance. The economy and the environment are not separate conversations; they are part of the same equation.”

• Liz Perkins, News Editor at The Sunday Telegraph, reflected on her journalistic work exposing systemic injustices and underscored the media’s power in advancing gender equity and catalysing policy reform.

• Jacqueline Bourke, Creative Director for EMEA at Getty Images, drew attention to the influence of authentic visual content in shaping public perceptions and deepening engagement with sustainability.

  
  

  

  
  

• Alysia Helming, Founder of EarthStudios and clean energy pioneer, shared her pioneering efforts in building net-zero content production ecosystems and scaling sustainable investment platforms.

  
  

  

  
  

• Farah Shammas, Managing Director of St Raphael Resort and Marina, highlighted best practices in sustainable luxury hospitality, sharing her personal journey as a plant-based wellness advocate and author.

  
  

  

• Marie Noëlle Keijzer, Co-Founder & CEO of WeForest, shared powerful insights into nature-based climate solutions. As a leader who has overseen the planting of over 109 million trees and the restoration of more than 86,000 hectares of land, Keijzer highlighted the irreplaceable role of reforestation in carbon sequestration and social regeneration. Her message was clear and urgent:

  “We cannot restore the climate without restoring our forests—and we cannot restore our forests without restoring the dignity of the communities who protect them.”

  
  

  

  
  

• Tessa Clarke, Co-Founder and CEO of OLIO, captivated the room with her grassroots solution to global food waste and the extraordinary ripple effect of small-scale, neighbour-driven sharing networks.

  
  

  

  
  

• Jill Douka, Founder of Global Academy Coaching, illuminated the power of personal development in enabling leaders—particularly women—to scale impactful businesses while living with purpose and clarity.

  
  

• Following this, Laura Timm, Special Advisor to the Creative Women Platform and Greater London Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, extended her remarks with a focus on business resilience and inclusive growth. A multi-award-winning entrepreneur and strategist, Timm underscored the critical role of small and medium-sized enterprises in the sustainability conversation. Her message was clear:

“Scaling with purpose is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity. The future belongs to businesses that align profit with planet, and progress with people.”

• Pernilla Corizza, Founder of Honor Your Leadership, inspired attendees with a forward-thinking approach to psychological safety, inclusive team dynamics, and purpose-led mentorship for sustainable systems change.

  
  

  

  
  

• Maxim Jago, Founder of The Creativity Conference and futurist filmmaker, offered a compelling exploration of the role of immersive storytelling and emerging technologies in reshaping global consciousness. Drawing on his experience as a UN speaker and advisor to organisations such as Adobe and Microsoft, Jago urged creatives to embrace ethical innovation as a driving force for a more harmonious, tech-integrated future.

As the evening drew to a close, what remained was a palpable sense of possibility—a recognition that sustainable progress is not bound by discipline or geography but is instead amplified through diverse voices, meaningful alliances, and courageous creativity.

The Gateway to a Sustainable Future Forum continues through 9 May with a series of panels, workshops, and a gala at Plaisterers’ Hall. It stands as a resounding testament to the power of unity, female leadership, and the boundless potential of ideas rooted in care—for community, culture, and the Earth.