Dr. Rama Mani

My vision is to see the power of love replace the love of power, so that the world becomes a safe and loving home for everyone. My vision is to see today’s: “dystopia of I, me and mine” transformed into an: “OUR-topia of we, us and ours”.

Vita

Dr. Rama Mani believes passionately in the combined power of creativity, compassion and consciousness to transform the world. Rama is an expert in international peace and security, a poet and performance artist.

Based on her experience in governance, peace building and human security over the past 25 years, she developed ‘Theatre of Transformation’ to transform critical global crises through the power of art, story-telling and inclusive dialogue. Her interactive performances in collaboration with UN agencies and diverse international and corporate organizations activate audiences to co-create a positive future, while raising funds to support the peace missions and humanitarian initiatives she undertakes.

With Prof. Jean Houston and Dr. Scilla Elworthy, Rama is the Co-Founder of ‘Rising Women, Rising World’, a counsellor of the World Future Council, and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford’s Centre for International Studies.

Dr. Mani was formerly the Executive Director of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (Sri Lanka). She served as Director of the Global Peace and Security Course at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Africa Strategy Manager for Oxfam GB, and Senior External Relations Officer of the Commission on Global Governance.

Rama has partnered with and advised United Nations agencies, and served on several international boards, including the Advisory Board of NATO Defence College, and UNESCO-CISH International Centre for Human Sciences (Lebanon).

Vision

As the world spirals into ever-accelerating crisis that pushes human existence on earth to the brink I feel called and compelled to focus my entire energy on making ‘theatre of transformation’ available wherever there is a need in order to effect transformation in the midst of crisis, division, and profound suffering. In particular, today I am targeting global and corporate leaders, in order to support the emergence of visionary leadership for the future of life on earth; women and youth, to champion change makers who are already innovating new possibilities; and people affected by crises and conflicts, to learn from and honour the wisdom of victims and survivors.

Awards & Achievements

Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Cambridge, UK

M.A. in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University, USA

Peter Becker Peace Prize, Germany (2013) for the combined impact of her scholarship and peace activism. Rama grew up in India. She is a French national and Indian overseas citizen.