Laura Bush, Former First Lady of the US, Awarded at Concordia Summit

Laura Bush, the former First Lady of the United States, was awarded with the 2021 Leadership Award on Wednesday at the Concordia Summit taking place in New York.

The annual Summit, taking place in parallel with the UN General Assembly, has become a reference point for the global agenda as leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries from across the world analyze and provide solutions for current issues.

Laura Bush, an advocate for literacy, education, and women’s rights, pursues her work on global healthcare innovations, and empowering women in emerging democracies through the George W. Bush Institute.

“Today, as we witness the tragic events unfold in Afghanistan, we’re reminded of how fragile freedoms can be for women and girls. We know that a country cannot be peaceful and prosperous if half of its population is left out or does not have equal access, rights, or protection,” Bush said.

“When women and girls hold equal and active roles in societies, communities not only thrive, but entire countries are more secure and stable. And that’s why through our work at the Bush Institute, President Bush and I remain dedicated to advancing the status of women and children worldwide,” she added.

CEO of LEGO, Niels Christiansen, and Monica Ramirez, Founder & President of Justice for Migrant Women, were also awarded at the Summit. Each trailblazer has dedicated their life to promoting public-private collaboration in hopes of creating a more equal future, an announcement said.

The Concordia Leadership Award recognizes global leaders within the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who inspire others through their ability to turn vision into impact.

Voted on by a subcommittee of the Concordia Leadership Council, recipients possess a commitment to catalyzing positive social and economic change while promoting effective public-private collaboration to create a more sustainable future.

Past recipients include: Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart; Christiana Figueres, Founder of Global Optimism; António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; and, Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Concordia’s Leadership Award Committee is chaired by Anita McBride, Concordia Leadership Council Member and Former Assistant to President George W. Bush & Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, who commented:

“The Leadership Award Committee has undertaken a rigorous nomination and selection process. I am honored to chair this committee and I’m delighted to announce three distinguished individuals as this year’s recipients. Each, in their own right, showcases exemplary leadership in their field and is charting the path for lasting and positive change in people’s lives.”

Concordia Summit founded in 2011

The Concordia Summit was founded in 2011 by Matthew A. Swift and Nicholas M. Logothetis, a member of the Greek diaspora.

In 2011, the modest launch of the first Concordia Summit in New York City attracted mostly friends and business partners of the founders. Ten years later the Concordia Annual Summit in New York has become one of the most important events that run in parallel to the UN general assembly and the organization is now facilitating impactful year-round events around the globe.

The major themes of this year’s Summit are:

• environmental sustainability,
• global trade, manufacturing and supply chains,
• human rights and social progress,
• economic empowerment and financial inclusion,
• technology and digital transformation,
• cultural diplomacy and youth advocacy,
• democracy, security and geopolitical risk,
• health disparities, recovery and resilience.

For the full list of speakers please see here