Ann Cotton OBE

Ann Cotton’s journey from English teacher to global advocate for girls’ education is a testament to her vision, determination, and unrelenting commitment to social justice. Born in Cardiff, Wales in 1949, Ann began her career teaching marginalized students in London, where she witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education. This experience ignited her lifelong commitment to securing educational opportunities for those lacking the power to advocate for themselves.

The pivotal moment in Ann’s career came in 1991. As a graduate student of the London University’s Institute of Education, she travelled to rural Zimbabwe to investigate the barriers preventing girls from attending school. In spending time on the ground with families, teachers, and tribal leaders, Ann came to realize that it was poverty that forced families to limit their daughters’ progression to secondary school, a finding that challenged the received wisdom that cultural norms were the primary obstacle.

Spurred by this understanding, Ann committed to doing all she could to address this inequity. In 1993 she founded the Campaign for Female Education, which became known as CAMFED. Starting with grassroots fundraising, the organisation initially supported the education of 32 girls in Zimbabwe. This small but significant beginning laid the foundation for what would become a transformative movement for girls’ education across Africa.

In 2006, Ann was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to education in Africa. She also received an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Cambridge University and an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the Open University. In 2014, Ann was honoured with the WISE Prize for Education. Ann is a respected speaker on international platforms, including the World Economic Forum. She is a Skoll Awardee and an Honorary Fellow of Homerton College at the University of Cambridge.