Bonni Curran Memorial Lecture History
Past Speakers
Each year the Festival presents a lecture by an internationally acclaimed advocate for women and girls. In 2014, it was named in honor of Bonni Curran, who was tragically killed in an accident in 2013.
Bonni was a physician, loving mother and wife, and not only a prominent local philanthropist, but also deeply committed to working on behalf of women and children around the world. She had been a supporter of the festival from its inception. In honoring her memory each year, we are reminded of the impact she had on our community and how much we miss her presence.


2020
Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA and Under Secretary General of the United Nations UNFPA

2019
Mariarosa Cutillo, Chief of the Strategic Partnerships Branch of UNFPA

2018
Maria Cavalcanti, President and Chief Officer of Pro Mujer

2017
Sarah Costa, Executive Director of the Women’s Refugee Commission

2016
Christy Turlington Burns, Founder, Every Mother Counts.

2015
Jill Sheffield, Founder and President, Women Deliver

2014
Meagan Fallone Carnahan, head of Global Strategy for Barefoot College in India

2013
Kate Gilmore, Deputy-Executive Director of UNFPA; former Director, Amnesty-International

2012
Sherin Saadallah, UNFPA Regional Advisor for Arab States

2011
Robert Engelman, Vice President for Programs The Worldwatch Institute

2010
Dr. Hailegiorgis Aytenfisu, Chief Surgeon of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia

2009
Pamela Delargy, Chief, UNFPA Humanitarian Response Unit

2008
Dr. Amreen Husain, fistula surgeon in Eritrea