“We cannot tackle our problems alone, as shown by issues such a climate change and biodiversity. This is why it is so important for us to empower women as actors in the global world, to have networks, and to exchange experience on practical problems and potential solutions.”

- Angela Merkel is the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. She is best known for being elected the first female chancellor of Germany and for being one of the lead architects of the European Union. Ms Merkel is former research scientist, who has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005 and the leader of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000.