Former President of Ireland, Chair of The Elders & Former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change
One of the world鈥檚 most respected advocates for climate justice and Ireland鈥檚 first woman President, Mary Robinson leads 鈥擟limate Justice, a center for thought leadership, education and advocacy for the poor and disempowered in the world that are disproportionately threatened by climate change. A sought-after speaker whose TED Talk received a standing ovation, President Robinson has moved audiences around the world with her passionate and hopeful call for all nations to work together to fight for a sustainable future. Her new book, Climate Justice, has received glowing reviews from former world leaders and the environmental and human rights community. Barack Obama, awarding Robinson the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, praised her as an 鈥渁dvocate for the forgotten and the ignored鈥�, noting that she has 鈥渘ot only shone a light on human suffering, but illuminated a better future for our world.鈥�
Mary Robinson first rose to international prominence as . She is widely regarded as a groundbreaking and transformational leader who elevated the public role of the Irish presidency, helping to shape modern Ireland in a period of rapid and unprecedented economic growth. From 1997-2002, , also transforming that office through highly visible public advocacy. She is a founding member and currently the , an independent group of global leaders formed by Nelson Mandela to tackle the world鈥檚 most pressing problems and leads 鈥� Climate Justice. President Robinson served as the UN Secretary-General鈥檚 Special Envoy on Climate Change, sounding the alarm as extreme weather events dramatically affected the world鈥檚 most vulnerable populations. She served as Vice President of the Club of Madrid, chair and co-founder of the Council of Women World Leaders, serves on numerous boards including the European Climate Foundation and chairs the newly formed Centre for Sport and Human Rights. She was honorary president of Oxfam International from 2002 to 2010 and has chaired numerous bodies, including the GAVI Alliance which vaccinates children worldwide. Since 1998, Robinson has also served as Chancellor of The University of Dublin (Trinity College). A committed European, she has been active in European Community and Irish parliamentary committees. In her earlier career, Robinson was a crusading lawyer for women鈥檚 and human rights, arguing landmark cases in European and Irish courts.听
She has taught at Trinity College and Columbia University, served in the Irish Senate for twenty years, and co-founded the Irish Centre for European Law at Trinity College. A graduate of Trinity, King鈥檚 Inns Dublin and Harvard Law School, she holds honorary doctorates from more than 40 of the world鈥檚 most elite universities and is the recipient of the Indira Gandhi and Sydney Peace Prizes.
Earning consistent praise as an unforgettable keynote speaker, President Robinson brings the thought leadership of a former head of state, a grandmother鈥檚 passionately felt concern for the future and the compelling stories of the thousands she has met traveling the world as a champion for climate justice, human rights, gender equality, and corporate responsibility. Known for touching hearts, expanding mindsets and sparking meaningful conversation, Mary Robinson frames humanity鈥檚 most daunting threat in highly solvable terms, leaving audiences hopeful and inspired to change the course of our planet鈥檚 future.