Inspiring women to present at leadership conference

Posted: February 18, 2011 1:00 p.m.

Author and political consultant Naomi Wolf is one of three keynote presenters at the U of R's annual Inspiring Leadership Conference. Photo: Andre Lambertson

Internationally renowned speakers Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Naomi Wolf and Julia Moulden will share their insights with women from all walks of life at Changing the World through You, the second annual Inspiring Leadership Conference sponsored and organized by the University of Regina. The one-day conference takes place on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Delta Regina Hotel.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali's keynote address is called Any of Us Can Change the World by Daring to Ask Questions. Originally from Kenya, Ali received a Master of Arts degree in political science in the Netherlands. There, she campaigned to raise awareness of violence against women. In 2004, Ali gained international attention following the murder of Theo van Gogh who directed a short film written by Ali entitled, Submission. The film is about the oppression of women under Islam.

Currently, Ali is researching the relationship between the West and Islam as a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC. She established the AHA Foundation in 2007 to help protect and defend the rights of women in the West against militant Islam.

Author and political consultant Naomi Wolf's presentation What's Next in Feminism - The Road Ahead will encourage people to take charge of their lives, voice their concerns and enact change. Her landmark international bestseller, The Beauty Myth, challenged the cosmetics industry and the marketing of unrealistic standards of beauty, launching a new wave of feminism in the early 1990s. A graduate of Yale University, a Rhodes Scholar and co-founder of The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, an organization that teaches leadership to young women, Wolf raises awareness of the pervasive inequities that exist in society and politics.

Julia Moulden tells inspiring stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. She coined the phrase "new radicals", and authored the best-selling books, We Are The New Radicals: A Manifesto for Reinventing Yourself, Saving the World and Green is Gold. Moulden's byline has appeared in a diverse range of publications, including the Globe and Mail. Moulden's presentation is entitled Six Billion Reasons to Get Out of Bed Each Day.

The conference will also include a panel of local leaders chaired by Dr. Lynda Haverstock, president and CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan and former Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to network with like-minded peers and mentors.

To register and for more information, visit: www.uregina.ca/inspiringleadership .