Anaïse Kanimba is a global development expert and human rights activist. She is a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which her father, Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of the movie Hotel Rwanda and recipient of the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, saved more than 1,200 people. Anaïse co-led with her sister Carine Kanimba an international campaign to secure the release of her father, who was detained illegally in Rwanda between August 2020 – March 2023. In this role, Anaïse advocated and wrote about wrongful detention, transnational repression, and autocratic leadership for a range of publications, including The Washington Post, the Daily Beast and CNN. In addition to dedicating her time to social justice, Anaïse works at Ridgely Walsh, a boutique public affairs firm that advises transformational companies and causes.