Women leaders from across the United States and around the world gathered on Capitol Hill for the inaugural She Leads the Nations Global Summit and Launch,
which took place, in the US House of Congress in Washington, D.C. Founded by Liz Doyle, She Leads the Nations is the global expansion of She Leads America, a movement established in 2021 to honor women leaders serving across government, media, business, education, healthcare, defense, and culture.
The Global Summit culminated in an official Launch & Honoring Reception on February 3, recognizing fourteen exceptional international women leaders whose lives and leadership exemplify courage, faith, service, and influence at the highest levels of society. “These women represent what is possible when faith, excellence, and courage meet,” said Liz Doyle, Founder and Executive Director. “They are shaping nations, defending freedom, serving the vulnerable,
and standing boldly for truth in the public square.” Before calling the world’s first Sufi Opera®️ singer Saira Peter to the stage, Doyle praised her for taking
Shah Latif’s Sufi (spiritual) values of peace and harmony worldwide through music, pioneering the new music genre of Sufi Opera®️, promoting artistic excellence, and tirelessly working to raise up marginalized young women for leadership.
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US Congressman Bill Huizenga (Michigan) opened the awards ceremony, highly commending the initiative and expressing his full support. Upon receiving the award from Founding Director Liz Doyle (USA) and Helena Croft MBE (UK), Pakistan’s pride remarked on her work of taking Sufi (spiritual) melodies to
vulnerable women and children, affirming their dignity with the hope and joy that comes from God alone. The highly distinguished audience was moved to loud applause, with many approaching afterward to offer personal congratulations and discuss future collaborations. Saira Peter was further praised for her roles as
Director of NJ Arts London (opened by Sir Cliff Richard OBE) and Founder of Saira Arts Academy Lahore (opened by then Fed. Min. Culture Syed Jamal Shah), where she trains young women in opera. In November 2025 she featured her students in her solo concert at Sir Syed Memorial Auditorium, Islamabad.
The Sufi Opera star was specially invited from London to sing in the US House of Congress at the opening ceremony of ‘She Leads the Nations’, where she proudly displayed Pakistani dress, the strength of her voice so impressing her hosts that she was requested to perform twice during the summit. She dedicated
the opera aria ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ (G.F. Handel) to oppressed women worldwide.
A concluding Congressional Breakfast held at US House of Congress , brought together the award recipients, US members of Congress and senior level international government leaders to discuss global issues around the oppression of women SAIRA PETER ‘SHE LEADS THE NATIONS’ AWARD PRESS STATEMENT (CONT.)
Following the highly exclusive summit, on Feb 5 a private tour of the US State Department was provided to selected honorees, where Saira Peter met with White House and other international leaders and discussed the needs of suffering women around the world. That day Saira Peter also held meetings with leaders gathered at the Washington Hilton for the annual Presidential Prayer Breakfast, attended by Pres. Donald Trump, Bilawal Bhutto and other global heads of
state.
Among other honorees from government, diplomacy, defense, medicine, humanitarian work and the arts, were:
- Allison Hooker — 25th Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, US Department of State
(Highest Level Member, US Foreign Service). - Julie Bentz, Major General (Rtd.) — Nuclear security and defense leader; advisor national
security affairs for U.S. presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump; serves
on corporate nuclear and energy boards. - Lisette Bonano, PhD — Decorated U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), with 28 years of
service including Joint Staff and combat-zone leadership - Betty Uribe, PhD — Psychologist and Former M.D., JPMorgan Chase Bank, In Charge of over
1,000 bank branches and $350+ billion in assets. - Päivi Räsänen, MP — Eight-term parliamentarian, Finland, and former Minister of the Interior
- Margaret Jepkoech Kamar, MP — Kenyan senator, academic, and former cabinet minister.
First elected female Deputy Speaker of the Senate of Kenya - Veronica Maina, MP — Special Elect Senator in Kenya’s 13th Parliament and senior legal
professional with over 26 years’ experience
