Home About Our 2026 Luncheon Speakers

About Our 2026 Luncheon Speakers

President Bush

43rd President of the United States and

Founder of the George W. Bush Presidential Center

George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009, advancing a domestic agenda

that included education reform through the No Child Left Behind Act, tax cuts that contributed to sustained job growth,

expanded free trade, modernization of Medicare with a prescription drug benefit, and environmental initiatives such as

emissions reduction and marine conservation. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, he led a global strategy

to combat terrorism, building international coalitions, removing hostile regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq, supporting emerging democracies worldwide, and launching major global HIV/AIDS and malaria initiatives that saved millions of lives. Raised in Midland, Texas, Bush earned degrees from Yale University and Harvard Business School, served as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard, worked in the energy sector, co-owned the Texas Rangers, and was elected Governor of Texas in 1995. After leaving office, he and his wife Laura founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, and he has since authored four bestselling books while remaining engaged in leadership, policy, and humanitarian efforts.

Laura Bush

First Lady of the United States (2001-2009)

Laura W. Bush, former First Lady of the United States, is a leading advocate for literacy, education, women’s rights, and global health. After leaving the White House, she and President George W. Bush founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, where she serves as Chair of the Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative, promoting access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for women and girls
worldwide. As First Lady, she brought international attention to human rights abuses, particularly the oppression of women in Afghanistan and Burma, and championed education and literacy through initiatives such as the National Book Festival. A former teacher and librarian, Mrs. Bush has also led major public health campaigns addressing heart disease, breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and malaria, is the author of two bestselling books, and continues to serve on numerous national and cultural boards.