Sylvia Beales

Director, BealesGelber Consult
London

Sylvia Beales is a successful analyst, communicator and advocate, with a track record in high level policy analysis, public affairs and political relations on the topics of inclusive social development, global ageing, social policy, social protection, gender, inclusion, and human rights. She has developed a wide portfolio of partnerships built up over her 35 years working within the NGO sector and with organisations of the United Nations.

Sylvia was the international policy lead for the 2008 revision of the African Union Social policy framework, co-manager with the UNFPA of the global publication ‘Ageing in the 21st Century, a celebration and a challenge’, securing input from 13 UN agencies and older people from 36 countries, and was co-leader of three editions of the Global Age Watch Index 2013-15.

With in- depth expertise on Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals and intergovernmental negotiations, Sylvia is the founder and active member of the Stakeholder Group on Ageing, which speaks for the community of ageing on the SDGs at the United Nations. Sylvia was one of five civil society representatives selected to speak at the 2015 UN General Assembly. Sylvia is a distinguished ‘Fellow’ of the International Council of Social Welfare (ICSW), and an advisor to Widows for Peace and Democracy (WPD).