International Speakers by Topic

Richard Dreyfuss
Oscar winner Dreyfuss has taught at Oxford, studied a wide range of subjects from history to politics, and is a driving force in the movement to bring civics back into the classrooms as well as creating a knowledgeable and engaged citizenry in America.

Goldie Hawn
Hawn's Academy Award-winning roles and lasting impressions have gained her adoring audiences worldwide. A woman of many talents, she is not only a gifted actor and celebrity speaker, but also a creative director, savvy producer, successful entrepreneur, respected CEO, and loving parent. Managing to balance her life with such extensive responsibilities, she understands the importance of appreciating the simple joys of a hectic lifestyle.

Bridget Brennan
Bridget Brennan is a pioneer in developing marketing and sales strategies that appeal to the world’s most powerful consumers as the founder and CEO of Female Factor, a consulting firm that helps companies understand the lens through which women view a brand, product, service, or retail environment.

Mr Ted Childs
As IBM's Vice President of Global Workforce Diversity, Childs oversaw IBM's model workforce diversity programs and policies. Called "perhaps the most effective diversity executive on the planet," by Hewitt Magazine, he helps companies, organizations, and communities understand the importance of diversity education to succeed in today's global environment.

Natalie Cole
An eight-time Grammy winner, Cole has led a remarkable life, relying on the power of friends, family, and faith to become a true survivor. With honesty, grace, and humour, she shares her personal journey and the lessons she learned, advising us to make the right choices for a better life.

Summer Rayne Oakes
Eco-model and author of Style, Naturally, the first global guide to sustainable beauty and fashion, Summer Rayne Oakes is one of the new Discovery Channel’s Planet Green eco-lifestyle channel's resident experts and host. As a model, she has dedicated her career to "cause-related modeling," or working with more environmentally and socially-conscious companies and brands, which has earned her the moniker of "The Eco-Model."

Dr. Oscar Arias
Awarded the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in ending political violence in Central America, Dr. Arias champions such issues as human development, democracy, and demilitarization, and has travelled the globe spreading his message of peace.

Mr. Ted Childs
As IBM's Vice President of Global Workforce Diversity, Childs oversaw IBM's model workforce diversity programs and policies. Called "perhaps the most effective diversity executive on the planet," by Hewitt Magazine, he helps companies, organizations, and communities understand the importance of diversity education to succeed in today's global environment.

Mr. John Passacantando
As Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, Passacantando leads the fight for clean air, clean water, and survival of the planet. Offering a chilling “State of the Planet” address, he does his job well, raising awareness, proposing solutions and actions that will spur everyone to work harder and smarter to save our planet.

Ms. Robin Raskin
Raskin has been translating technology into consumer friendly terms for more than 25 years. Today, as a writer, new media consultant, and speaker she spends a great deal of her time focusing on family life in a digital world. She is the author of six books about parenting in the digital age, for publishers including Random House, Simon and Schuster and Hyperion. Her most recent book, A Parents’ Guide to College Life provides parents with practical answers to 180 “must ask” questions.

Bill Parcells
One of the most successful coaches in NFL history, Bill Parcells recently led the Dolphins from 1-15 to the playoffs in one season, a turnaround unheard of in business. As a keynote speaker he shares his proven leadership style by drawing on the teambuilding and management experience gleaned from three turnarounds. Motivational, decisive, and straight to the point -- Parcells always takes charge, driving home his points in the best-selling books Finding a Way to Win: The Principles of Leadership, Teamwork, and Motivation .

The Right Honourable Jenny Shipley
Shipley has held many distinguished positions throughout her career in politics. Most notable was her role as the first female Prime Minister of New Zealand, which she held from 1997 to 1999. As Prime Minister, Shipley was the first woman to chair the highly successful APEC in New Zealand in 1999, advancing the free trade agenda, promoting economic cooperation, forging new tourism agreements and advancing positive regional relationships while actively promoting the export and tourism sectors..

Dan Rather
For decades, Rather was the face of the news as CBS News anchorman and reporter, he delivered audiences the most defining moments in our recent history. He continues to call them as he sees them as a keynote speaker on media and national issues, and as the host of Dan Rather Reports on HD Net. As a speaker, his breadth of experience in news and politics and characteristic folksy wit always leave the audience informed, awed, and entertained.

Montel Williams
Emmy Award-winning host and executive producer of The Montel Williams Show, Williams established the Montel Williams MS Foundation to further the scientific study of multiple sclerosis after being diagnosed with the disease in 1999. Best-selling author of Mountain, Get Out of My Way and Bodychange, he is recognized for his spirited interview style.

Jay Leno
As the legendary host of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, his “everyman” style and personality have helped him earn millions of fans worldwide. He has been touted as one of the nicest entertainers in show business and the hardest working -- a winning combination for the man who says, "Anyone can have a life - careers are hard to come by!"

Juan Williams
Prize-winning columnist and editorial writer for The Washington Post, Juan Williams is also NPR’s Senior Correspondent and a keynote speaker on issues including diversity, ethics, leadership, media and national issues. There are few voices as clear and intelligent on the power of diversity within today's business, political and cultural climates.

Anousheh Ansari
She captured headlines around the world as the first female private space explorer, and earned a place in history as the first astronaut of Iranian descent. She is CEO, Chairman, and co-founder of Prodea Systems, a company which will significantly change the way all consumers interacts with the Internet and integrates digital technology and data into their lives.She currently works to enable social entrepreneurs to bring about radical change globally, with organizations such as ASHOKA, which supports social entrepreneurship around the world, including the Middle East and Central Asia.

Jeffrey Baxter
Grammy Award-winning rock guitarist with the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan, Baxter is now an advising member of Congress, the defence industry, and the military. Baxter teaches audiences what he has taught leading Pentagon and government officials - challenging old assumptions and adapting to change.

Rick Belluzzo
A 30-year tech industry veteran and former president and COO of Microsoft, Belluzzo is the CEO of Quantum Corporation, a data protection business. Belluzzo is responsible for guiding the company's business strategy and direction. Rixks presentations include: Corporate culture: The Value, The Challenge and the impact and The Human side of Transition: Getting people to accept tough change.

Shirin Ebadi
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 defence of human rights in Iran. One of the most intelligent, passionate, and respected voices of dissent from within this complex nation, she speaks to the world about democracy and the fundamental rights of women, children, and all individuals.

Gerald Levin
Gerald M. Levin, until May of 2002, was the Chairman and CEO of Time Warner Inc., at that time the world's largest media and entertainment company, with industry-leading businesses in publishing and news, cable networks, filmed entertainment, cable systems, music and interactive services.

Matthew Bogdanos
His resume would put Indiana Jones to shame. An officer on the Marines, former middleweight boxer, and holder of degrees in law and the classics, the 47-year-old New Yorker handled the case against Sean "Puffy" Combs as a prosecutor in the Manhattan D.A.'s office. Recalled to active duty after September 11, the reservist searched for terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq before investigating the theft and destruction at the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad. Some 5,000 artefacts have been recovered under his supervision.