María Teresa Fernández de la Vega is Permanent Counsellor of the Spanish State Council. As a judge, she was member of the General Council of the Judiciary Authority. She was also Member of Parliament, Secretary General of the Socialist Parliamentary Group in Congress. Between 2004 and 2010 she was Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Spain, Minister of the Presidency and Spokesperson of the Government. She was the first woman to hold these responsibilities.

Committed with gender equality and an active supporter of the feminist movement throughout her career, she has been also a member of the Global Civil Society Advisory Group of UN Women. At present, she is a strong advocate for African women as a powerful drive of the development of Africa.