Betty Makoni (BA Gen, BA Special Hons) is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Girl Child Network Worldwide. Recently she was selected to be in the team of UK experts for Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. She joins the team as a Gender Based Violence expert. In her many high profile titles, millions across the world passionately call her CNN Hero as she was the top in 2009 category for Protecting the Powerless and was honoured by UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman. Betty Makoni has over 44 global awards for excellency, innovation and passion for girls and women`s rights. Newsweek named Betty Makoni amongst 150 women who shake the world IN 2011. Betty Makoni is an Ashoka Fellow and belongs to Global Network of social innovators who have changed lives in their communities and beyond. Recently she was crowned Pan African Princess by a True Royal and Direct Grand Daughter of Oba Christopher Adedoyin Anoko Akarigdo II of Sagamu, Remoland, Nigeria, West Africa to be Yeye Ashiwanju Omoba of Afrika-The Mother and Leader of African Princesses.

Betty Makoni might be the highest honoured and awarded African woman in the world with 32 local, regional and global awards for innovation, commitment and passion for her work to protect over 300,000 girls in Zimbabwe. United Nations Red Ribbon award honoured Betty Makoni and Girl Child Network as having the most innovative strategy for gender equality. Betty Makoni is an Ashoka Fellow and singled out as one of the investors in poor and marginalised women and girls deserving of this life honour as a fellow. News Week named Betty as one of the 150 women who shake the world, alongside US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. An Honorary Decade Child Rights Hero award (2011) that Betty Makoni received alongside President Nelson Mandela, who won the award, also shows the impact Betty Makoni has made globally.
Betty Makoni has inspired millions around the world to replicate the Girl Child Empowerment Model that she developed. Besides her work with Girl Child Network Worldwide and building many Girl Child Networks in Africa and throughout the world, Betty Makoni is a mentor, coach, and trainer for women and girls who want to do similar work.
Betty has a lifetime of volunteerism and service to many causes and has served on Oxfam Novib and UNAIDS Round Tables. She sits on many boards of high profile organisations like RESTORED UK and serves as Ambassador and Patron of Africa Achievers A