Lara Saade is a senior legal and policy advisor specializing in justice reform, governance, rule of law, and gender equality. She currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Minister of Justice in Lebanon, where she provides high-level legal and political counsel, drives national justice reform priorities, and leads coordination efforts with government institutions, the judiciary, and international partners.
With more than 17 years of experience across government, parliament, UN agencies, and international donors, she has shaped key legislative, institutional, and governance reforms - including judicial and criminal justice reform, human rights safeguards, gender-responsive policy frameworks, anti-corruption and transparency mechanisms, and AML/CFT and financial integrity measures. Her work spans policy development, legislative drafting, institutional coordination, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
Lara is also a leading expert in gender equality, women’s leadership, and legal and institutional responses to gender-based violence. As a member of the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), she chairs the Committee on Women’s Participation in Decision-Making and serves as the national focal point for the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
Alongside her policy and advisory roles, she lectures part-time at Notre Dame University and has authored numerous publications on gender equality, constitutional law, justice reform, rule of law and governance in Lebanon and the Arab region.
Ms. Saade holds a Master's in Public Law from Paris Saclay University (France), a postgraduate degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University (USA), and advanced credentials in Political Mediation and Municipal Administration from Lebanese universities. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Law at the University of Rennes (France).
She is fluent in Arabic, English, and French, and has basic Spanish skills.