Lesley ABDELA is a partner in Eyecatcher Associates / Shevolution and is chief executive of Project Parity in East Sussex. She has over twenty years experience in the fields of gender and democratic development, and since 1992, has worked in over thirty countries as an expert advisor to governments and international organisations, NGOs, and the private sector. Ms. Abdela develops strategies and designs training programs and materials to help build systems where women and men work in equal partnership in work, life, and politics. Her award winning work in the fields of gender, human rights, human resources, and democratic empowerment have been widely recognised. In addition, Ms. Abdela is a journalist, broadcaster and speaker on the international circuit. She is acompanied by her partner Tim Symonds.