Press Release

George W. Bush Presidential Center Announces Theme and Speakers for 5th Annual Forum on Leadership

Media credentials are now open for the Bush Center's fifth annual Forum on Leadership

Dallas, Texas (April 12, 2022)— The George W. Bush Presidential Center announced the theme, Our Nation’s Calling, for the fifth annual Forum on Leadership. Hosted by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, the Forum is a landmark gathering that develops, recognizes, and celebrates leadership by bringing together notable voices for in-depth discussions on today’s pressing issues. The event will be held on April 21 at the Bush Center.

The Forum will feature a keynote conversation about our Nation’s great responsibility with General James Mattis, 26th United States Secretary of Defense, plus a conversation on America’s leadership in global health with Bush Institute Senior Fellow Dr. Deborah Birx, and Dr. Stephen Hahn, Harbinger Health CEO and former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition, the Forum will include a conversation on economic opportunity and higher education with Mitch Daniels, President of Purdue University; and a conversation on the state of our economy with Elaine Chao, 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and Gary Cohn, Vice Chairman of IBM and 11th Director of the National Economic Council.

The gathering will be highlighted by the presentation of the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership to James A. Baker, III, the 61st United States Secretary of State. The George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership is awarded annually to an individual who has made an impact on the global community, has inspired others to action, and has demonstrated a sustained commitment to improving the lives of others.

“We need to support and celebrate leaders who are providing opportunity for all and protecting freedom and democracy in the United States and abroad,” said Ken Hersh, President and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. “The Forum on Leadership spotlights strong and principled leaders who are answering the call to serve.”

At the 2022 Forum on Leadership, the Bush Institute Citation will be presented to Sakena Yacoobi, Afghan Institute of Learning Executive Director, for her work advocating for the women and girls of Afghanistan. The Citation is awarded annually to recognize a leader or organization who has made an impact in their community and has inspired others to take action to solve today’s most pressing challenges.

In addition, the George W. Bush Institute Trailblazer Citation, awarded to an innovator that has effected change in the North Texas region or has otherwise enriched the quality of life in North Texas, will be presented to Daron Babcock, CEO of Bonton Farms, for his leadership and community engagement in North Texas and beyond. 

The Forum on Leadership is by invitation only. For more information, please visit www.bushcenter.org/forumonleadership.

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What:                  George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Forum on Leadership

When:               April 21, 2022

Where:               The George W. Bush Presidential Center; 2943 SMU Boulevard Dallas, Texas 75205 

Members of the media can apply for credentials at www.bushcenter.org/credentials. Additional information regarding credentials confirmation, parking, facility access, interviews and other details will be sent to media representatives who complete the credentialing process on the Bush Center website. All members of the media–reporters, photographers, videographers and crew–are required to have and display credentials in order to cover Forum on Leadership.

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About the George W. Bush Presidential Center

Rooted in the guiding principles of President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush, the George W. Bush Presidential Center engages communities in the United States and around the world by developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. Through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and an Engagement Agenda – the Bush Institute delivers measurable results that save and improve lives. The Bush Center is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which is operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, and the George W. Bush Institute, the nonpartisan, public-policy arm of the Bush Center. The Bush Center is located on the campus of SMU in Dallas, Texas, and also includes a 15-acre park; Café 43, a full-service restaurant; and a Museum Store.