In July 1960, at the age of 26, Jane Goodall, Ph.D., DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, traveled from England to what is today Tanzania and bravely entered the little-known world of wild chimpanzees. She was equipped with nothing more than a notebook and a pair of binoculars. But with her unyielding patience and characteristic optimism, she won the trust of these initially shy creatures. She managed to open a window into their sometimes strange and often familiar-seeming lives. The public was fascinated and remains so to this day. Today, Jane’s work revolves around inspiring action on behalf of endangered species, particularly chimpanzees, and encouraging people to do their part to make the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment we all share. The Jane Goodall Institute works to protect the famous chimpanzees of Gombe National Park in Tanzania, but recognizes this can’t be accomplished without a comprehensive approach that addresses the needs of local people who are critical to chimpanzee survival. Our community-centered conservation programs in Africa include sustainable development projects that engage local people as true partners. These programs began around Gombe in 1994, but have since been replicated in other parts of the continent. Likewise, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, which Jane started with a group of Tanzania students in 1991, is today the Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program for young people from preschool through university with nearly 150,000 members in more than 130 countries.

Avon Mattison is a Peacebuilding and Inter-Organisational Consultant, Advisor and Mentor with over three decades’ experience. She works with innovative leaders, groups and organisations on the “frontline” building Cultures of Peace inter-generationally and inter-culturally for future generations. She is Founder and President of Pathways To Peace (PTP), an international peacebuilding, educational and consulting organisation.

PTP has Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is an official Peace Messenger of the United Nations (UN). PTP is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, non-partisan organisation. Avon is also a Partner in the consulting proprietorship, Pathways Consulting. She is originator of Creative/Integrative Decision-Making(sm) in 1961, a process applied to the purpose, principles and organising strategies in diverse fields. A U.S. Foreign Service diplomat for three years serving the European Community, Avon has served as special advisor to United Nations Conferences, renowned international leaders, and emerging youth leaders.

A Summa Cum Laude graduate in political science and international communications. She serves on the Advisory Councils/Boards of several international organizations and has been quoted in numerous publications worldwide.

Through Pathways To Peace, she created the CULTURE OF PEACE INITIATIVE (CPI), in 1983 in colleagueship with former UN Assistant Secretary-General Robert Muller. This local/global Peacebuilding Initiative unites the strengths of over 4,000 international organisations and focuses co-operative activities. Avon coordinates PACEM – Pathways Consulting, Educating and Mentoring. www.cultureofpeaceinitiative.org

As a global interfaith leader and Chair of the world's largest grassroots interfaith organisation, operating in 94 countries, Kiran has addressed the UN General Assembly on women’s empowerment and community challenges through impactful actions. Kiran’s social entrepreneurial skills have substantially improved lives through her ethic of selfless community service transcending all boundaries of diversity. Honoured with the MBE at the age of 29, for exceptional voluntary community service, Kiran is one of a mere handful of young female global interfaith and community leaders . Kiran has shown outstanding international leadership and activism to promote equity and understanding, whilst addressing community challenges through interfaith action and social justice at the grassroots level as a Magistrate. Kiran promotes women's empowerment through her commitment to providing women with the opportunity and support to create a more peaceful and harmonious world. She carries this out through talks and forums, national and international conferences, cultural exchange programs and community projects. The result of this is more and more women around the globe are able to come forward and play an active role in community and civic life. As a global inspirational speaker, Kiran continues to speak at high-level platforms to promote youth and women’s empowerment and action.

Bill Yotive is Project Manager for the Global Teaching and Learning Project of the Education Outreach section of the United Nations Department of Public Information. He has been a key liaison between the United Nations and the NGO community for the International Day of Peace since he began with the UN CyberSchoolBus in 2001. Prior to his work at the United Nations, he served as Research Director for Sesame Workshop (formerly The Children’s Television Workshop) for eleven years. 

Rick Ulfik is Founder of We, The World and the WE Campaign at WE.net. We, The World develops global networks of collaboration and action to create a peaceful, caring, sustainable world. Advisors and supporters include Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall, Deepak Chopra, Daniel Ellsberg, Riane Eisler, Bill McKibben, Robert Thurman, Hazel Henderson, Tavis Smiley and 70 others. Rick is Co-Founder and Principal Organizer of 11 Days of Global Unity - 11 Ways To Change The World, a platform to promote the work of change agents worldwide, annually with as many as 700 associated events in over 60 countries. 11 Days goes from September 11th through September 21st, the International Day of Peace. Rick is a Nonviolent Communication Workshop Facilitator and leader. Rick co-produced “Visual Voices” a 13-part TV Series that was broadcast on the Dish Network and available in over 15 million homes. Rick is also an award-winning composer and keyboard player who has written music for ABC TV, NBC, CBS, radio, the Olympics, feature films, commercials, records, other media, and has performed with Queen Latifah, Phoebe Snow, Carlos Santana and Judy Collins. Rick serves every year as an Emmy Awards Judge for News, Documentaries, and Music.

Dorothy J. Maver, PhD, is an educator and peacebuilder whose keynote is inspiring cooperation on behalf of the common good. Dot is a Founding Trustee and board member of the National Peace Academy USA, and is a co-founding board member of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures of Peace, and was the founding executive director of the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. Her work in education, politics and grassroots community organizing is focused on applied peacebuilding utilizing a shared responsibility and shared leadership model.

From 2005–2007 Dot served as Executive Director of The Peace Alliance and Campaign for a US Department of Peace, and prior to that she was the National Campaign Manager for Kucinich for President 2004. In the world of fast-pitch softball, Dr. Dot is known for her revolutionary fast-pitch hitting technique, The Maver Method: Secrets of Hitting Success. She is co-author of the book Conscious Education: The Bridge to Freedom; is a Fellow with the World Business Academy, and serves on the boards of Lifebridge Foundation, River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding and Garden of Light. Dot also serves on the United Nations International Day of Peace NGO Education Peace Team, the International Cities of Peace Advisory Council, the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence Advisory Board, The Shift Network Summer of Peace Wisdom Council, and is an advisor to the Compassion Games.

Lisa co-founded Peace Day Philly, a local initiative for the International Day of Peace, in 2011. The initiative became a formal NGO in late 2013. Lisa is a Philadelphia native and social worker by training who has worked in various social services, educational, cross-cultural, mental health and public health programs in Philadelphia. She also has experience in the creative arts and non-profit programming. Since early 2012, Lisa has served as Co-Chair of the CITIES Peace Team - a global group of Peace Day organizers, and is a member of the International Day of Peace NGO Committee. She is also a United Nations NGO Representative for the World Peace Prayer Society.

J. Frederick Arment is director of International Cities of Peace and a founder of the Dayton International Peace Museum. His new book, The Elements of Peace: How Nonviolence Works, grapples with the great diversity of peacemaking and how the virtues a person possesses determines which of of the thirty methods they choose to pursue in their activism.

Rev. Deborah Moldow is an ordained interfaith minister committed to assisting in the transformation of human consciousness that will lead to a culture of peace. She is the Representative to the United Nations of the World Peace Prayer Society, which promotes the universal prayer, “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” At the United Nations, she co-chairs the International Day of Peace NGO Committee and facilitates the United Religions Initiative multi-faith cooperation circle. Deborah is Co-Director with Diane Williams of the Evolutionary Leaders circle, a project of the Source of Synergy Foundation that brings together visionaries committed to the acceleration of the conscious evolution of humanity in these critical times. Rev. Deborah also leads monthly Interfaith Sundays at the Chapel at Croton Falls, NY. Her newest project, the Garden of Light, provides an online platform for the emerging global spirituality. www.revdeborah.com http://worldpeace.org www.gardenoflight.org