This might be an unexpected entry; but one of the women I find most inspirational is Ingrid Newkirk; founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) - the largest animal rights organisation in the world.

Newkirk was born in Surrey, England and was brought up in Europe and then in India. She was always drawn to animal, often rescuing abused animals and strays in her childhood.

Newkirk founded PETA - which has more than 2 million members and supporters and numerous celebrity ambassadors - in 1980 with animal rights activist Alex Pacheco and has achieved countless successes and victories for animal rights and welfare ever since.

PETA puts its effort into campaigns and undercover investigations on four core issues - opposition to factory farming, fur farming, animal testing, and animals in entertainment, thought it also campaigns for many other causes including ones against fishing, the killing of animals regarded as pests, the keeping of chained backyard dogs, cock fighting, dog fighting, and bullfighting.

Newkirk built this organisation from the ground up, and has done a phenomenal amount of good for animal rights, working relentlessly towards a more compassionate society, for me, she is endlessly inspirational.

Photos: david_shankbone (Flickr)