GALVESTON, TX – January 17, 2019 – The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce officially announces former First Lady Laura Bush as the keynote speaker at the 12th Annual Galveston Women’s Conference to be held on Thursday, May 9, 2019 at Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston.

Laura Bush served as First Lady from 2001 to 2009 during the presidency of her husband, President George W. Bush. She is an advocate for literacy, education and women’s rights. After leaving the White House, President and Mrs. Bush founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas. The Center is home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute, a public policy center established to solve today’s most pressing challenges by developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action.

As Chair of the Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative, Mrs. Bush promotes access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for women and girls around the world. The Women’s Initiative programs work to equip and empower the next generation of women leaders in North Africa, the Middle East, and Afghanistan. They work with first ladies around the globe to improve the lives women and children everywhere and develop policies and research that advance women’s leadership, spotlighting their stories.

As First Lady, Mrs. Bush advocated for education reform and promoted the well-being of women, families, and communities. She highlighted the importance of preparing children to become lifelong learners, convening in 2001 a White House Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development. Mrs. Bush has visited schools around the world and met with students in nations from Afghanistan to Zambia, with a particular focus on the education of girls and women. Mrs. Bush worked with the Library of Congress to create the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. in 2001. The National Book Festival continues today and annually attracts more than 120,000 Americans. The Texas Book Festival in Austin was founded in 1996 by Mrs. Bush while she was First Lady of Texas. At the Bush Institute in Dallas, President and Mrs. Bush’s Education Reform initiative works to improve student achievement through effective school leadership, middle school transformation, and the use of accountability.

As First Lady, Mrs. Bush advocated for education reform and promoted the well-being of women, families, and communities.

Because heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women, in 2003, Mrs. Bush partnered with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to launch The Heart Truth campaign. The Heart Truth campaign aims to raise awareness among women about their risk for heart disease. In 2006, she helped launch the first international partnerships for breast cancer awareness and research.

Mrs. Bush is the author of the bestselling memoir, Spoken from the Heart, and co-author of the bestselling children’s book, Our Great Big Backyard. She serves on many boards, including the National Advisory Board for the Salvation Army, the Council for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Board of Trustees for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the SMU Board of Trustees.

The Galveston Women’s Conference is an all-day conference featuring dynamic speakers, an incredible vendor market, fitness breaks and more. The event aims to educate women about health and women’s issues, equip them with skills to be successful in life and business, inspire them to be their best, and renew their spirit.

Stay tuned for details about additional speakers, pre-conference events and more! For more information, visit GalvestonWomensConference.com or contact Frances Moody at 409-763-5326 or fmoody@galvestonchamber.comClick here to register.