In celebration of CLGF’s 30th Anniversary, we are honoured to continue to spotlight the inspiring stories of 30 trailblazing women in local government from across the Commonwealth, all members of the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network. These interviews celebrate their groundbreaking contributions to gender equality and their transformative impact on building inclusive, empowered communities.

Florence Namayanja (Uganda)

Mayor Florence Namayanja is the mayor of Masaka City where she leads urban revitalization efforts with a focus on inclusive governance. As the only female city mayor in Uganda she has lobbied hard for capacity building for women's political leadership training as well as systems and programmes that address systemic barriers. Having also been a Member of Parliament, Mayor Namayanja made the shift to local government as it offers the opportunity to directly implement envisioned changes for communities and make decision on infrastructural developments and improved services that have a positive impact the lives of residents.

Read her full interview here

Helena Mensah (Ghana)

Hon Helena Mensah is the Speaker of Ejisu Municipal Assembly and the current president of the Women’s Caucus of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG). Hon. Mensah is a committed advocate for women’s empowerment, actively supporting economic initiatives through the provision of soft loans and skills training. Her election as the first female Presiding Member in a male-dominated assembly was also a significant milestone and she has worked to increase women’s representation in local councils since then including supporting the election of five women as Unit Committee members and mentored young women into student leadership roles.

Read her full interview here

Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel (Saint Lucia)

Since assuming the role of Mayor of Castries in September 2021, Mayor Geraldine Lendor-Gabriel distinguished herself bringing to the role a transformative blend of strategic vision, empathy, and innovation. Her tenure reflects a deep commitment to people-centered governance, sustainable urban development, and regional financial leadership. As Mayor, she has introduced wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving employee welfare, public safety, urban infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. She stresses that women are using their leadership to transform the spaces in which they work, even when they are not the majority, increasingly defining leadership through a different lens—one that places people at the center.

Read her full interview here

CLGF 30th Anniversary Commemoration

The Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG) is championing women leaders from all corners of the Commonwealth. You can also view the full set of interviews on the 30 for 30 page

We are active across social media, and we have a dedicated facebook page where you can network with others interested in women in leadership and women’s political empowerment.