Ambassador Azizah Baroud

LEAD INTEGRITY mourns the passing of one of the global giants of faith-inspired women's leadership. In the last hours of Thursday June 19, Ambassador Azizah Baroud, passed away after a long struggle with cancer. A seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Baroud served from 2017 to 2020 as her country’s (Chad's) Ambassador to the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) and Permanent Representative to the European Union, and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, as well as as Permanent Representative of Chad to the United Nations in New York. 

A believer in dedicated service to her country, she held a number of senior positions within the Government, including Minister for the Economy, Development Planning and International Cooperation, Adviser to the President of the Republic, and Minister for Public Health and National Solidarity. 

In addition to her lifetime of excellence in institutional service, Ambassador Baroud was a friend in the real sense of the world. When I joined Religions for Peace as Secretary General, she was one of the first I asked to serve as my Advisors, and in spite of some institutional challenges given her governmental position, she did not hesitate. When we set up LEAD INTEGRITY Ambassador Baroud was part of the visioning and extensive discussion leading up to our founding. Her wisdom and support have been invaluable in deciding the rationale and modus operandi of this first women of faith-led global consultancy. Our world has lost a light of a leadership defined by integrity of person, faith and profession. But her strategic sense of outreach and her legacy of public service for the common good, will ensure that her wisdom and inspiration will live on.