Middle East: Islam and Muslim Women
One of HWA’s newest exclusive speakers, Ayaan Hirsi Ali is an award-winning humanitarian and courageous freedom fighter, standing as one of the most influential and outspoken political figures of our time. Ayaan gained international attention following the murder of Theo van Gogh, who had directed her short film Submission, about the oppression of women under Islam. The assassin, a radical Muslim, left a death threat for her pinned to van Gogh’s chest. Named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People,” Ms. Hirsi Ali speaks about the importance of freedom of speech and the defense of the principles of the Enlightenment, the need to reform Islam, and the rights of Muslim women. Ms. Hirsi Ali will be a guest on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher this Friday night at 11 p.m.
Africa: Mediation and Medicine
Returning this week to celebrate its implementation, Secretary-General Kofi Annan mediated Kenya’s electoral peace deal in February, ending the post-election crisis that threatened to take the country to the brink. Secretary General Annan garners tremendous praise for his engagements; here is the most recent feedback we have received from his event with Schiffrin Barroway: “Secretary-General Annan was simply excellent. He exceeded my expectations, which were high to begin with, and captivated and inspired the audience. The feedback we received from the delegates at the seminar was universally positive. His speech and the Q&A were excellent, he was extremely friendly and gracious during the cocktail hour and he stayed at the dinner much longer than he was obligated to.”
“Medicine can serve as a currency for peace throughout the world, bringing hope to those in despair and forging new alliances in even the most remote corners of the globe,” says Senator Bill Frist, who will be traveling to Africa this summer for a medical mission. This message was a part of his recent speech at Indiana University, which has been receiving terrific reviews: “I really enjoyed the lecture; [Senator] Frist not only made his point with shocking statistics and compelling personal experiences, but also offered students ways to make a difference. He answered questions with detail and seemed to genuinely appreciate the students' feedback,” and “Medicine as a conduit for peace is something that should be discussed much more widely. You are a very engaging lecturer.”
Latin America: The Next China?
“People were blown away by his speech.” (PrePaid Media) Audiences around the world are responding President Vicente Fox’s skill as a speaker and his business-centric approach to developing nations for trade and the opportunities available for corporations. President Fox draws quite a crowd – “The event was a great success! We had one of our highest turn-outs, with almost 4,000 attendees." (Augustana College) – and speaks with refreshing candor on hot global topics like immigration, the war in Iraq, racism, globalization, the role of the United Nations, free trade, religion, gender equity, indigenous rights and the moral imperative to heal the global divide between rich and poor nations. A few of his most recent engagements include Merrill Lynch, Commonfund and World Affairs Council-Oregon. Next month he will be addressing the audiences of KPMG, NAFSA: National Association of International Educators and AMR Research, among others.
Foreign Policy Editor-in-Chief Moises Naim’s bestselling book Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy has been turned into a documentary premiering tonight on PBS! The National Geographic Special, Illicit: The Dark Trade, is not just about smuggling or crime, it’s about how these criminal networks are changing the world. Illicit trade is redefining economic relationships, borders and the role of workers, managers, armies and governments. “Moisés Naím always surprises us with his unique perspective on the factors that shape the international business climate. We have enormous respect for his analytical skills and admire his ability to convey complex ideas in fascinating ways.” (Strategic Investment Group Inc.)
Europe: What’s Next For the EU?
What will change when France takes over the EU in July? Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is renowned for his ability to analyze events and markets on an international scale. He recently received high marks for his recent engagement with Datamatix: “He is a strong lecturer and a powerful man in politics, not to mention one of the kindest and most professional men I've ever met.” One of my colleagues who worked on this event noted that Prime Minister de Villepin was very accommodating and cooperative, even agreeing to an additional tour put together by the sponsor. This week Prime Minister de Villepin is speaking at the Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade, a three-day event addressing a wide range of political, economic, developmental and human rights issues including energy security, international cooperation, free trade, common markets, regional and international stability.
One of the most influential political figures of Eastern Europe, Aleksander Kwasniewski has been mentioned in the media as one of the potential candidates for the EU's first president after the the EU suspends the current rotation of countries heading the Union. We have received wonderful feedback from his speaking engagements, including: “President Kwasniewski – as you had promised – blended remarkable insights and a great sense of humor. He was a perfect close to our meeting,” (Commonfund) and “President Kwasniewski was charming, statesmanlike, shrewd in his observations and his speech was considered by all to be one of the true highlights of the Conference. President Kwasniewski combined great wisdom with practical observations and good humor.” (Sachs International)
