Somerville College Celebrates the Laura Liswood Archive of Women World Leaders

The Laura Liswood Archive of Women World Leaders is an important resource documenting the evolution of the world’s only organisation dedicated solely to elevating the experiences and insights of women heads of state and government. Established in 1996, the Council of Women World Leaders‘ mission is to promote good governance, enhance the experience of democracy, and increase the visibility of women who lead at the highest levels. On 17th October 2025, we welcomed founder of the archive Laura Liswood and former Prime Minister of Canada, the RT Hon Kim Campbell, to a fireside discussion with new Principal Catherine Royle in order to celebrate the preservation of this important archive at Somerville. The event offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on the history and future of women's leadership, as well as to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Margaret Thatcher, Somerville alumna and the UK’s first woman prime minister.