Seodi White is the Senior Gender and Law Expert on Justice, Legal Reforms and Constitutions at UN Women Headquarters in New York City. In her role she provides technical support and policy advice on legal reforms or repeal of discriminatory laws, providing substantive input including presentations on rule of law and access to justice. She is also currently reviewing the progress toward implementation of the Strategy for Equality in Law for Women and Girls by 2030.

She is a multidisciplinary trained lawyer. She obtained her Law Degree from the University of Botswana, where she is admitted to practice as an attorney. She has a master’s degree in Gender and Development from the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. During her 30 year career, she has worked across the spectrum of Private Law Practice, International Development consulting, Women’s Rights Activism and Research, Public Service Management and Public Sector Reform.

She formed the Women and Law in Southern Africa Malawi Office (WLSA Malawi) in 1998, where she oversaw implementation of research, training and advocacy programmes with results including reforms in national law, including the passing of the “Prevention of Domestic Violence Act 2006”. From 2017 to 2020, she was Chief Director responsible for Public Sector Reforms in the Office of the President and Cabinet, and she successfully led the public sector reforms programme in the government of Malawi and as well as in State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). She also advised the former President of Malawi and Cabinet on strategic public sector reform policies.

Seodi is a published author and has published in internationally renowned Journals, such as the International Journal of Human Rights and The International Journal of Social Science. She has worked as an international development consultant in Malawi, Liberia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and has also supported several international development institutions, including the UN.