INTRODUCTION:
Health emergencies amplify existing gender inequities while frequently excluding women and marginalized communities from decision-making. In conflict, displacement, and humanitarian crises, women are disproportionately affected—yet also sustain care systems, community protection, and frontline response. Feminist leadership offers a practical governance and equity framework for emergency public health.

METHODS:
This oral presentation synthesizes feminist public health theory with applied examples from crisis settings including Gaza, Afghanistan, and DR Congo. It presents a leadership framework grounded in intersectionality, care ethics, community accountability, and anti-violence approaches. Key domains include emergency governance, workforce protection, service delivery, and public health financing.

RESULTS:
Feminist leadership contributes measurable improvements in emergency response through: (1) inclusive governance structures with women and youth as decision-makers; (2) stronger protection and mental health supports for frontline workers, especially women; (3) prioritization of sexual and reproductive health services and violence response pathways; and (4) community-owned risk communication strategies that build trust and reduce stigma. Barriers include patriarchal institutional norms, tokenism, and gender-blind funding streams in humanitarian systems.

CONCLUSIONS:
Feminist leadership is not symbolic—it is a necessary strategy to strengthen emergency health systems, improve equity outcomes, and enhance accountability. Public health institutions must invest in feminist and youth leadership pipelines and embed gender-transformative governance across preparedness and response.