2006 Keynote Speakers

Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund, has been an advocate for disadvantaged Americans for her entire professional life. She has received over one hundred honorary degrees and many awards including the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize, the Heinz Award and a MacArthur Foundation Prize Fellowship.

Linda Ellerbee is a journalist, award-winning television producer, best-selling author, a breast cancer survivor, a mom, and a grandmother. She pioneered the late-night news program "NBC News Overnight," which received the duPont Columbia Award. She later received an Emmy Award for Best Writing on the ABC Program "Our World." Her Lucky Duck Production Company produces "Nick News" for Nickelodeon and is watched by more children than watch all other television news shows put together. Her new book, Take Big Bites: Adventures Around the World and Across the Table, was released in May, 2005.

Mia Farrow is a successful actress, devoted mother and committed spokeswoman for children. The star of such classics as Rosemary's Baby and The Great Gatsby is now devoted to humanitarian efforts and serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. She just returned from her second visit to Darfur.

Farkhonda Hassan, Ph.D., is the Secretary-General of the National Council for Women in Egypt, a Member of the Shura Assembly and Professor Emeritus, American University in Cairo. As scientist, politician and development specialist, she has dedicated her multi-faceted career to serve women’s cause in politics, public services, sciences, information and technology, social work at grassroots level, education and culture and other disciplines. Her affiliations with national and international organizations, research and knowledge institutions have been aimed towards gearing science for the promotion of social development.

Teresa Heinz is the chairman of The Howard Heinz Endowment and the Heinz Family Philanthropies. She is recognized as a premier environmental leader, and she has been a long-time and tireless educator and advocate on behalf of women's health and economic security.