Maria Leister - World Women Summit

Maria Leister

Summit Host, COO of Pocket Project, Education Director Harvard Program on Refugee Trauma, Strategic Leadership for Humanitarian Crises

Beyond Borders – Understanding the Journey of Climate Migrants

Highlights from this session:

Maria's advocacy for climate migrants is not only deeply touching, but also does it bring awareness to a topic that is so often overlooked when we talk about climate crisis. She explains the concept of bioethics that is on the cutting edge of our time's legal disputes around climate migration. And she beautifully reminds us that as part of humanity we have commitments towards each other, commitments that we can and should face each and every day as individuals, communities and societies.

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Learn more about

Maria Leister

Maria is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Pocket Project and serves as a Director at the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, advocating passionately for trauma-affected refugees and addressing global forced migration challenges. Her extensive program leadership experience, including roles at Harvard Law School's criminal defense program and strategic planning in the private sector, uniquely position her to establish culturally responsive service networks.

Maria's background in law and profound understanding of mental health trauma inform her impactful work and scholarship. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Harvard Medical School’s Center for Bioethics, Maria earned her JD from Indiana University and completed a fellowship at Harvard University’s Office of the President, enriching her interdisciplinary approach to addressing humanitarian crises.

Aleksandra Hirszfeld