Helen Clarke, former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Those of you who are lucky enough to be delegates traveling to Liverpool for the NFWI Annual Meeting are in for a treat!
The speakers for this year’s meetings have been announced:
Sarah Clarke OBE – Black Rod
Sarah Clarke OBE is a British administrator. Since 13 February 2018, she has served as the first female Black Rod in the 650-year history of the role. She is also the first woman to hold the posts of Serjeant-at-Arms for the House of Lords, Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and to be appointed an Officer of the Order of the Garter. As well as the key ceremonial role of banging on the Commons door at the State Opening of Parliament, Black Rod controls access to the House of Lords.
Sarah Clarke has previously worked in senior roles at four Olympic Games (including London 2012), the London Marathon and UK Sport. She also previously ran the Wimbledon tennis Championships.
Helen Clarke – Prime Minister of New Zealand (1999 – 2008)
Helen Clark served three successive terms as Prime Minister of New Zealand between 1999 and 2008. She was the second female to hold the position. During her time as Prime Minister, she led on many governmental issues and policies. She led policy on a wide range of economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues.
In 2009, she became the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator until 2017 and she was the first woman to lead the organisation. Helen was the Chair of the United Nations Development Group. This Group includes all the Heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.
In 2019, Helen Clark became patron of The Helen Clark Foundation.
Representatives from Scottish Women’s Institutes & Federation of Women’s Institutes Northern Ireland
This year we are delighted to announce that we will be joined by Anne Kerr, President of Scottish Women’s Institutes and Margaret Broome, Federation Chairman of Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland.
This will be an exciting opportunity to learn about the Women’s Institutes in Scotland and Northern Ireland and extend our hands of friendship.