Thursday, November 12, 2026

7:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.

Continental Breakfast 
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building
 

7:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.

Fellows Alumnae Breakfast
Governor's Square 15, Concourse Level, Plaza Building
 

7:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building
 

7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Pop- Up Shops
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building
 

8:30 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.

Official Conference Opening
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

Welcome Remarks:

• Kimberly Cooper Jaqua, Global Board Chair, International Women’s Forum
• Jeanne Saunders and Barbara Faulkenberry, Co-Chairs, IWF World Leadership Conference
• Governor Jared Polis, Governor, State of Colorado
   

9:10 a.m. – 9:55 a.m.

Plenary 1: In the Game
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

Women’s roles in sports have changed dramatically over the past decade. From rising attendance and new media rights deals, to the growth of athlete-investors and diversified ownership groups, sports are becoming more global and dynamic. Women leaders are increasingly central to this shift—not only on the field, but in boardrooms and ownership groups across the ecosystem. What is driving this moment of growth, how is investment reshaping the game, and what will it take to turn momentum into lasting change? 

Speakers:

• Lara Murphy, Co-founder, President and CEO, Calgary Wild FC (IWF Canada)
• Jen Millet, President, Denver Summit FC

Moderator:

• Lara Abrash, Chair, Deloitte US (IWF New York)

9:55 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Coffee Break
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Plenary 2: A Volatile Climate
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

Since 1995, more than 9,700 extreme weather events have led to 832,000 lives lost and nearly $4.5 trillion in direct economic losses. Hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, drought, and rising temperatures continue to drive significant human and financial risk across the globe. In Colorado, these dynamics are reflected in recurring drought conditions that contribute to water scarcity, as well as wildfire risk and wind events that are disrupting human health, energy systems, and infrastructure. 

What can leaders do to manage current disruptions and confront longer-term climate pressures? 

Speakers:

• Ester Calavia, Managing Director, Climate Practice, Willis Towers Watson
• Yana Gevorgyan, Director General, Group on Earth Observations (IWF Switzerland) 

11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Plenary 3: Across the Universe
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

For centuries, space exploration has captured the imagination. Historically, space exploration was driven by governments, scientists, and a select group of astronauts. Today, advances in technology have opened a new era of discovery. Private companies are launching satellites, planning missions to the Moon and Mars, and developing technologies that shape communications, navigation, climate monitoring and national security. 

As access to space expands, so do the opportunities and challenges.  The possibility of a sustained human presence beyond Earth is increasingly realistic. The decisions being made today will shape how space is explored, governed, and used for generations to come. 

What does this mean for innovation, security, and humanity’s place in the universe?

Speakers:

• Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis Launch Director, NASA
• Lakiesha Hawkins, Director, Human Exploration Development and Operations Office, NASA MSFC (IWF Alabama)
• Debra Facktor, Head of U.S. Space Systems, Airbus U.S. Space and Defense, Inc. (IWF Washington, DC)

Moderator:

• Cady Coleman, Astronaut, Speaker, Author - Exploration Leadership (IWF Massachusetts) 

11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Break and Turn the Ballroom for Lunch

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Luncheon: Plenary 4: Feed the Future
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

Colorado is consistently ranked among the United States’ healthiest states, yet ensuring equitable access to nutritious food can be inconsistent both here and around the globe. Nutrition, beginning in childhood, is a foundational driver of health, shaping physical development, cognitive performance, and long-term risk of chronic disease.

How can leaders leverage food systems, culture, education, and community environments to shape health outcomes?
 

Speakers:

• Ertharin Cousin, CEO and Managing Director, Food Systems for the Future
• Jennifer Rood, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director, Pennington Biomedical Research Center
• Valerie Segrest (Muckleshoot), Native Nutrition Educator; Food Sovereignty Advocate; CEO, Old Growth Solutions

Moderator:

• Amanda Jenkins, Senior Vice President, Health & Wellness Operations, Walmart US

2:15 p.m.

Behind the Scenes Bus Departures 
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Behind the Scenes Tours 
Scheduled Return By 5:00 p.m. 

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 

Sponsor Reception 
Parlur, First Floor, Tower Building 

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Dine Around Reception 
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

Grab a drink and connect before Members depart for Dine Arounds. Please refer to the back of your badge for your bus departure time.

6:30 p.m. 

Guest Dinner Departure 
Plaza Building, Hotel Main Lobby

6:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 

Dine Around Bus Departures 
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

6:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. 

Guest Dinner 
Ellyngton’s at The Brown Palace Hotel

If you are joining the conference but are not an IWF member, we invite you to join us for a special dinner.

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 

Member Dine Arounds  

It would not be an IWF conference without our beloved Dine Arounds. You will have the opportunity to meet and connect with your IWF sisters from around the globe in small groups. The dinners will be hosted around the city by Members of IWF Colorado. 

Friday, November 13, 2026

7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. 

Continental Breakfast
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building
 

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 

Special Interest Group Breakfast: Philanthropy
Grand Ballroom 1, Level 2, Tower Building 

Special Interest Group Breakfast: Higher Education 
Windows, Level 2, Tower Building 

Special Interest Group Breakfast: Geopolitics  
Grand Ballroom 2, Level 2, Tower Building 

IWF Special Interest Groups are by members and for members. These volunteer-led convenings are designed to engage members around a particular topic of interest.   

7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

IWF Registration Desk
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Pop-Up Shops 
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Day 2 Opening
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building

9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Plenary 5: Trust at the Tipping Point
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

Join us for a detailed look at the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer as we explore evolving attitudes toward institutions, leadership, and societal change. This year’s data highlights shifting dynamics of insularity—where trust is increasingly moving from “we” to “me”—and what that means for collective action, credibility, and leadership today. 

The session will also explore insights through a gender lens, offering a deeper understanding of how trust is experienced and expressed across different communities, and what leaders can do in response to this changing landscape. 

Speaker:

• Tess Peterson, Senior Vice President of Thought Leadership Research, Edelman Trust Institute
   

9:45 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.

Plenary 6: Post Election Readout
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building  

In the wake of the November 2026 elections, Betsy Fischer Martin sits down with political journalist Jonathan Martin for a timely read-out of the results and their implications for the United States and the world. The conversation examines what the results signal about the state of democracy, polarization, and public trust, how political coalitions are shifting, and what issues should be top of mind for leaders in the months ahead. 

A Conversation:

•  Jonathan Martin, Columnist, Politico
•  Betsy Fischer Martin, Director, Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School (IWF Washington, DC)
  
   

10:25 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Coffee Break
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Transition to Breakouts 

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout 1: AI Optimization in Work and Life
Grand Ballroom 1, Level 2, Tower Building

Designed for leaders who are not yet actively using AI, this session will explore the opportunities and risks that come with increasingly powerful AI and data tools. The discussion will focus on organizational risks, the personal vigilance required in navigating an AI-enabled world, and opportunities to leverage AI while preserving the human expertise and judgment essential to directing these powerful technologies effectively.

Speaker:

• Audrey Mothupi Palmstierna, CEO, SystemicLogic Group (IWF South Africa)

Breakout 2: The Art of Songwriting 
Windows, Level 2, Tower Building 

Songwriting sits at the intersection of personal expression and shared experience. It is the ability to capture something deeply human in a few lines or a single refrain. This conversation with Tricia Walker explores how songs are written, refined, and brought to life, and how music continues to evolve as an art form and industry. 

Speaker:

• Tricia Walker, Singer/Songwriter, Director Emerita, DMI Entertainment Industry Studies, Delta State University (IWF Mississippi)

Moderator: 

• Alisha Sweeney, Host and Local Music Director, Colorado Public Radio 

Breakout 3: Legacy of Leadership Colorado
Grand Ballroom 2, Level 2, Tower Building 

Women in Colorado exemplify rugged individualism and have long charted new paths in leadership across the state, giving Colorado an outsized influence on women’s leadership in the United States and beyond. For 50 years, many of these women have been part of IWF Colorado. 

IWF Colorado was chartered in 1976 as the second forum of IWF. As Colorado marks 150 years of statehood and IWF Colorado celebrates its 50th anniversary, this session reflects on the enduring role of women’s leadership in shaping the state’s civic, economic, and cultural life. 

Speaker:

• Dr. Nicki Gonzales, Vice Provost and Professor, Regis University

Moderator:

• Frédérique Irwin, President and CEO, National Women’s History Museum (IWF Washington, DC)

12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Transition to Plaza Ballroom 

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Closing Luncheon: Plenary 8: Brands that Breakthrough  
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

In a crowded global marketplace, turning an idea into a global brand is both an art and a discipline. It requires sharp differentiation and the ability to build trust at scale. 

This session brings together founders and CEOs to explore what it really takes to create a breakout brand.

Speakers:

• Merrilee Kick, CEO, GourmetLand (IWF Dallas)
• Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO, ECOS (IWF Southern California)

Moderator: 

• Karen Caplan, Owner, Karen Caplan Consulting (IWF Southern California)

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Speaker Meet and Greet 
Plaza Court 8 & Governor's Square 10, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Special Interest Group: AI & Data 
Grand Ballroom 1, Level 2, Tower Building

The second convening of the AI & Data Special Interest Group (SIG) will provide an opportunity to connect with like-minded IWF members who are interested in sharing knowledge and building a community focused on advancing AI and data. The session will include expert presentations and interactive elements.  

IWF Special Interest Groups are by members and for members. These volunteer-led convenings are designed to engage members around a particular topic of interest.   

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Special Interest Group: Healthcare  
Grand Ballroom 2, Level 2, Tower Building

IWF Special Interest Groups are by members and for members. These volunteer-led convenings are designed to engage members around a particular topic of interest.   

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Special Interest Group: Law  
Windows, Level 2, Tower Building  

IWF Special Interest Groups are by members and for members. These volunteer-led convenings are designed to engage members around a particular topic of interest.   

4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Elly’s Ladder Learning Session  
Director’s Row J, Lobby Level, Plaza Building
 

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Elly’s Ladder Reception 
Windows, Level 2, Tower Building 
 

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Gala Reception 
Plaza Foyer, Concourse Level, Plaza Building
 

7:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

IWF 2026 International Hall of Fame Gala  
Plaza Ballroom, Concourse Level, Plaza Building 

Celebrate our honorees and experience the magic of IWF as you enjoy dinner and dance the night away with your IWF sisters.

Hall of Fame Honoree:

• Doris Kearns Goodwin, Presidential Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning Author
• Fireside Chat Conversation Moderated by: Andrea Dukakis, Colorado Matters Reporter, Producer, Host, CPR News

Women Who Make A Difference Honorees:

• Margaret Hilary Marshall, Senior Counsel, Choate Hall & Stewart LLP, Retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts (IWF Massachusetts) 
• Julie Goldstein, Director of Strategic Planning, Goldstein and Lee, P.C. (IWF United Kingdom) 
• Donna Lynne, CEO, Denver Health (IWF Colorado)
• Beverley Baxter, Retired CEO, Committee of 100 (IWF Delaware) 
• Olga Sinclair, Artist, Cultural Ambassador, and Founder, Olga Sinclair Foundation (IWF Panama) 

Mistress of Ceremonies:
•    Kim Christiansen, 9NEWS Anchor

Saturday, November 14, 2026
 

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Elly’s Ladder Exclusive Event 
Denver Art Museum 

We will host our second in-person Elly’s Ladder exclusive event on Saturday, November 14, when we gather at the Denver Art Museum for a private viewing of the exhibit, DIVA.

DIVA highlights more than 200 extraordinary objects and over 50 iconic costumes worn by some of the most influential artists in history, including Dolly Parton, Marilyn Monroe, Aretha Franklin, Cher, Grace Jones, Madonna, Tina Turner, and Lady Gaga, exploring how these cultural icons used fashion, performance, and fearless self-expression to redefine entertainment and inspire generations. Organized by London's Victoria and Albert Museum, Denver is the exhibition's only U.S. destination, making this a rare opportunity to experience one of the world's most celebrated fashion and cultural exhibitions.

Breakfast bites and drinks will be served. The museum is within walking distance of the Sheraton hotel. Following the conclusion of private access, IWF members will have general admission tickets to the rest of the museum when it opens to the public at 10:00 am. This is only for Elly’s Ladder donors. If you wish to bring a guest, they must be a non-IWF member. This event is free of charge for Elly’s Ladder donors.

Looking for assistance with registration? Contact us at: iwf@executivevents.com or +1 (866) 216-8040 [toll free]. We will respond to you within one business day.