Global Issues
Global Leaders
Former Foreign Minister of Russia
Speaker Andrey Kozyrev was the foreign minister of Russia under President Boris Yeltsin from October 1991 to January 1996. |
Foreign Relations Expert & Fmr. Consul General of Israel
With nearly two decades of experience in foreign affairs, Ambassador Alon Pinkas has devoted his career to Israeli international relations. |
First Female President of Malawi
Called one of Africa's most powerful women by Forbes, President Joyce Banda is a champion for women, children, and the underprivileged. |
Nobel Laureate & Former President of the Soviet Union
One of the 20th century's most pivotal leaders, Pres. Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary leadership and the democratic reforms that ended the Cold War. As a keynote speaker he... |
First Female President of Liberia
Africa's "Iron Lady," President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the first woman to lead an African nation. She won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. |
Nobel Laureate & Global Leader
The former President of Poland, speaker Lech Walesa won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending Poland's Communist leadership. |
First Female President of Ireland & UN Special Envoy
The first female president of Ireland and former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, speaker Mary Robinson is a global humanitarian and renowned world leader. |
Nobel Laureate
The founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, speaker Muhammad Yunus is a Nobel Peace Prize winner who is respected for his work toward eradicating world poverty. |
Former Director-General, World Health Organization
Former prime minister of Norway and director-general of the World Health Organization, speaker Gro Brundtland has dedicated herself to making the world a better place. |
Former Chairman, Federal Reserve
A legend in economics and finance, speaker Paul Volcker has spent his illustrious career in top positions with the US federal government and on Wall Street. |
First Female Prime Minister of Canada
An inspirational example of and respected advocate for the advancement of women, speaker Kim Campbell offers unique insights on leadership in her trademark open, engaging style. |
Former President of Costa Rica & Nobel Laureate
A former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Laureate, speaker Oscar Arias has traveled the world championing such issues as democracy, demilitarization and peace. |
Nobel Peace Prize-Winning Iranian Activist & Lawyer
An extraordinary woman of many firsts, Iranian lawyer and activist Ebadi has made history as the first Muslim to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous defense of human rights in Iran. One of the most... |
Former Representative to the UN
After a long diplomatic career as the former Permanent Representative to the United Nations from Pakistan, Ambassador Munir Akram shares his insights with global audiences. |
Messenger of Peace
Speaker Jehan Sadat authored A Woman of Egypt, recounting her life as the First Lady of Egypt and her marriage to the assassinated Anwar Sadat. |
Former President of Colombia
Former Colombian President César Gaviria --known in Latin America as a conflict mediator, advocate of democracy, staunch supporter of regional integration and defender of human rights-- also served as the first... |
Former Prime Minister, New Zealand
Speaker Jenny Shipley advanced the free trade agenda and promoted economic cooperation as prime minister of New Zealand. She supports women's rights and philanthropic projects. |
European Politician & Finance Expert
Speaker Pedro Solbes served as the European Commissioner of Economic and Monetary Affairs, overseeing the euro's integration across the EU. |
Former German Chancellor
Rising through the ranks of the West German government as a proponent of European unity, Kohl was the longest serving German Chancellor of the 20th century. As an epic statesman, the architect of German unity, and a... |
Nobel Peace Prize Winner
As President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari helped steer the nation in its accession to the EU. He is known for his efforts in international peace mediation and conflict... |
