Take a sneak peek at 10 Counsellors from the world of acting, sports, politics, and more, joining us at #OYW25.
Terry Crews, Actor, Activist, and Former American Football Star
Terry Crews is a multi-talented and inspiring actor, artist, former NFL player, and a fearless advocate for survivors of abuse.
Best known for his standout roles in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Everybody Hates Chris, he’s equally recognised for using his platform to champion mental health, gender equality, and personal empowerment.
Terry became a Counsellor in 2018 at the Hague and has been an invaluable member of our Community since. He took to the One Young World stage in 2018 to share his own experience of the #MeToo movement, and in 2021, sparked conversation about masculinity and sexism.
Whether on screen or stage, he leads with authenticity and purpose. A powerful voice for change, Terry is redefining what it means to be strong.
Adwoa Aboah, International Fashion Model and Founder, Gurls Talk
International fashion model, actor, and Gurls Talk founder Adwoa Aboah is returning to the One Young World Summit.
Adwoa Aboah has been on the cover of some of the world's biggest brands, including Vogue, TIME, and ELLE. Outside of her life in front of the camera, she is a passionate mental health advocate. In 2015, Adwoa founded Gurls Talk, an organisation creating safe spaces both on and offline where girls can access mental health resources and share their experiences.
In 2023, Adwoa joined us at the One Young World Summit Belfast with two of her Gurls Talk Ambassadors to discuss how we dismantle mental health stigma and why it’s important to have safe spaces to discuss mental health.
Kat Graham, Award-Winning Actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Kat Graham is an accomplished actor, best known for her stand-out role in The Vampire Diaries, and UNCHR Goodwill Ambassador. She is dedicated to using her celebrity status and platform to advocate for human rights, especially for refugees.
Since beginning her work with UNHCR in 2013, Kat has travelled to the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, the Melkadida refugee camp in Ethiopia, and to Central America to raise awareness about the millions of people displaced in these regions who are in search of a better life.
When she joined us at the One Young World Summit Belfast, Kat spoke on a panel with UN Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at UNHCR, Gillian Triggs, on the challenges refugees face, particularly in the context of climate change and rising populist rhetoric.
We are thrilled to have Kat Graham join us for the One Young World Summit Munich, 2025.
Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Co-Founder and CEO, Rappler
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and co-founder and CEO of Rappler, Maria Ressa, will be attending her second One Young World Summit in 2025.
Maria focuses critical attention on the breakdown of our global information system and how connected groups can work together to defend democracy. Her organisation, Rappler, is a digital-only news site leading the fight for press freedom in the Philippines. As Rappler's CEO, Maria has endured constant political harassment and arrests by the Duterte government, and has been forced to post bail 10 times to stay free.
Maria has received numerous accolades for her courage and journalistic integrity, including the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
Watch Maria’s speech from the One Young World Summit Montréal/Tiohtià:ke to get a sense of what to expect from her in Munich.
Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Tawakkol Karman is a Nobel Peace Laureate and powerful advocate of democracy, human rights and women’s empowerment in Yemen and beyond.
TIME Magazine described her as a 'Torchbearer of the Arab Spring' and named her both one of the 100 most influential women defining the last century and one of the Most Rebellious Women in History. She is a journalist, activist, and founder of Women Journalists Without Chains.
Known as the “Mother of the Revolution,” Tawakkol has been inspiring our Community to raise their voices and empower their Communities since 2018 when she attended her first One Young World Summit in Bogota.
We were privileged to have her at the Summit last year in Montréal/Tiohtià:ke, and this year again at the One Young World Summit in Munich.
Francois Pienaar, South African Rugby World Cup Winner
Francois Pienaar understands the importance of good leadership. In 1995, he captained a divided South Africa to victory in the Rugby World Cup, a feat so great that it inspired the Oscar-nominated movie “Invictus,” with Matt Damon portraying Francois.
Off the pitch, Francois is a successful businessman, television commentator and a philanthropist. In 2003, he founded the MAD Leadership Foundation to provide long-term support through education and mentorship for young South African leaders, empowering them to reach their full professional and personal potential while becoming agents of change in their communities.
Find out more about Francois’ inspiring career by watching him in conversation with fellow rugby legends Tendai Mtawarira and Hugo MacNeill at the One Young World Summit Belfast.
Tendai Mtawarira, South African Rugby Star and UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador
Tendai Mtawarira, better known as The Beast, is back for his fourth One Young World Summit.
Most recognised as one of the most iconic players to have ever represented the Springboks, Tendai is a Rugby World Cup Champion, having played over 100 test matches.
After retiring from the world of rugby in 2019, Tendai founded his non-profit organisation, The Beast Foundation. Through programmes such as Lead Like a Girl and the Annual Rugby Bootcamp, The Beast Foundation is dedicated to empowering African youth through sports, education, and life skills development.
Whether on the pitch or in the boardroom, Tendai is a powerful leader and will be sharing his wisdom on the One Young World Summit stage in Munich.
Her Excellency Toyin Saraki, Founder and President, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa
We are thrilled to have Her Excellency Toyin Saraki join us in Munich for her second Summit.
As the Founder-President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Her Excellency Toyin Saraki has been advocating for women’s and children’s health for two decades, focusing on reproductive, maternal, and child health; ending gender-based discrimination and violence; and improving education and community livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa.
At the One Young World Summit Montréal/Tiohtià:ke, Her Excellency Toyin Saraki joined our Ambassador and founder of Project Oscar, Oscar Anderson, on stage to announce the launch of Project Oscar in Lagos State. Watch their session from the Summit below.
Kimberly Teehee, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Cherokee Nation Businesses
Powerhouse politician Kimberly Teehee will be rejoining One Young World in Munich.
In 2019, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. named Kimberly as the tribe’s first delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, where she spoke in the US Congress on behalf of the Cherokee Nation. She previously served Barack Obama as the first-ever senior policy advisor for Native American Affairs in the White House Domestic Policy Council for three years.
In Montréal/Tiohtià:ke, Kimberly attended One Young World’s inaugural Indigenous Youth Day and spoke at the Summit on how we can secure greater political representation for Indigenous people. We are thrilled to have her rejoin us for the One Young World Summit Munich, 2025.
Mark Tewksbury, Olympic Champion Swimmer and Vice President, Canadian Olympic Committee
Olympic champion Mark Tewksbury is back at One Young World for #OYW25.
During his 16-year swimming career, Mark achieved 21 national titles, seven world records, and Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals. When he publicly came out in 1998, he was one of the first openly gay Olympic athletes in the world. Since then, he has been an advocate for the global 2SLGBTQ+ movement, speaking out about discrimination and homophobia in sports and pushing for inclusivity in the Olympic movement.
Since retiring from the pool, Mark has become one of the most sought-after inspirational speakers and has brought his Great Traits leadership training programmes to thousands of corporate audiences worldwide.
From co-hosting our opening ceremony in Montréal/Tiohtià:ke to being part of panel discussions on how sport can help build peace, Mark has been a long-time supporter of One Young World, and we are thrilled to have him join us in Munich.