John Dau

Born in war-torn South Sudan, John Bul Dau is one of 27,000 boys driven from their villages when the northern Arab government attacked the ethnic minority population of Southern Sudan in 1987. He is a genocide survivor who uses his experiences to speak on leadership, resilience, and overcoming adversity.

Dau is based in Virginia, USA. He serves as founder and president of The John Dau Foundation, focusing on providing healthcare in South Sudan by building medical clinics and training community health workers. His commitment to humanitarian efforts extends through his work with the South Sudan Institute and other initiatives that aim to support his home country.

In 2006, he was featured in the award-winning documentary film "God Grew Tired of Us," and authored a memoir of the same name, published by National Geographic in 2007. His literary contributions also include the book "Dinka: The Pillars of Wisdom." As a human rights activist and entrepreneur, Dau has received numerous awards, including the National Geographic Emerging Explorers Award. He was also named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader for 2008. Dau completed his associate degree at Onondaga Community College and earned a BA in policy studies from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship in May 2011. His leadership and dedication to improving the lives of others are evident across his diverse roles and continued advocacy.