Former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Former President of Ireland and former chair of UN Commission for Human Rights, Mary Robinson was listed as one of Time’s top 100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world.  Determined to leave this world in better condition than how she found it, she continues to excel in her role as leader, catalyst and communicator, and is one of the leading international keynote speakers of our time.

As an academic (Trinity College Law Faculty 1968-90), legislator (Senator 1969-89) and barrister (1967-90 Senior Counsel 1980, English Bar 1973) she has always sought to use law as an instrument for social change, arguing landmark cases before the European Court of Human Rights as well as in the Irish courts and the European Court in Luxembourg. A committed European, she also served on expert European Community and Irish parliamentary committees.

Mary Robinson was educated at the University of Dublin (Trinity College), King's Inns Dublin, and Harvard Law School to which she won a fellowship in 1967. She holds honorary doctorates from over 40 universities around the world, including Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Oxford, Cambridge, London and Edinburgh.

United Nations for Human Rights from 1997-2002

Chairing the United Nations Commission for Human Rights, Mary Robinson demonstrated skills as an academic, legislator and human rights lawyer to implement social change. As Founder of The Ethical Globalization Initiative, President Robinson remains a courageous defender of fundamental respect for human life, advocating for the integration of human rights, gender sensitivity and enhanced accountability into governing.

President of Ireland from 1990-1997

As the first woman President of Ireland, Mary elevated the country to a new level of international status, by fighting for controversial changes and bridging religious, social and economic groups. She placed special emphasis during her Presidency on the needs of developing countries, linking the history of the Great Irish Famine to today's nutrition, poverty and policy issues, thus creating a bridge of partnership between developed and developing countries.

Projects

Since leaving the UN in 2002, Robinson has been Honorary President of Oxfam International, she is Chair of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)and is also a co-founder and former Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, Vice President of the Club of Madrid, a Patron of the International Community of Women Living with AIDS (ICW). She is also President of the International Commission of Jurists.

She serves on several boards including the Global Compact, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, is a member of the Royal Irish Academy and the American Philosophical Society.

Now based in New York, Mary Robinson is currently the President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. Its mission is to make human rights the compass which charts a course for globalization that is fair, just and benefits all.

Awards

In 2009, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom the highest civilian honour awarded by the United States from President Obama.

In 2004, she received Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award for her work in promoting human rights.

Keynote Speaker

As a political leader of repute, Mary Robinson brings all her skills, talent and experience to the speaking arena.  Mary is one of the outstanding international keynote speakers of our time.

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