Micheal Ighodaro (he/him) is a thought leader, public speaker, and global human rights advocate. Micheal is a senior public health and rights expert with over a decade of expertise in strategy, analytics, and program management. He has worked domestically and internationally (in more than 20 countries) and has extensive expertise in translating advocates’ demands into policy and health programs. Michael worked as a social worker at Housing Works, bringing HIV education to the streets. He joined with ACT UP NYC and became a leading voice to bring attention to anti-LGBTQI laws and human rights abuses, extortion, attacks, and murders of activists in his home country of Nigeria. He co-organized a Global Day of Action at the Nigerian Embassy in New York City and other cities to stand against homophobia. He then joined AVAC where, as program manager, he worked as a team member on the multi-million-dollar COMPASS Project to increase the activist impact of civil society groups and coalitions in Malawi, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe . He founded Global Black Pride, the first celebration of the international Black LGBTQI community, and Global Black Gay Men Connect, and served as co-chair of the board of Outright Action International.