Humphrey Public Leadership Awards slated for May 6

Public Leadership Award for International Humanitarianism:
The Honorable Antonio Guterres currently is serving his second term as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is the former prime minister of Portugal. As High Commissioner, he heads one of the worlds’ foremost humanitarian organizations, which has twice won the Nobel Peace Prize. The UNHCR has more than 7,000 staff members working in 126 countries providing protection and assistance to millions of refugees, returnees, internationally displaced people and stateless persons. Before joining UNHCR, Guterres worked more than 20 years in government and public service. In addition to Portuguese prime minister, Guterres served as president of the European Council, co-chaired the first European Union-Africa summit, founded the Portuguese Refugee Council, was part of the Council of State of Portugal, and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Public Leadership Award for International Human Rights and Justice:
Marilyn Carlson Nelson is chairman and former chief executive officer of Carlson, a global travel and hospitality company. Under her leadership, Carlson was the first major North American travel company to take a stand against the sexual exploitation of children in the tourism industry. On behalf of the company, she signed the travel industry’s international Code of Conduct to end child prostitution, child pornography and the trafficking of the children for sexual purposes. Nelson co-founded the Women Leaders and Gender Parity Programme of the World Economic Forum and in 2004 and co-chaired the Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. She has been named among the “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” (Forbes magazine 2004–2006) and “America’s Best Leaders” (U.S. News & World Report 2007).

Public Leadership Award for Responsible U.S. Global Engagement:
U. S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) is an influential, broad-based network of 400 American businesses and NGOs, senior national security and foreign policy experts and diverse range of community leaders who promote increased support for the United States’ diplomatic and development efforts. Based in Washington, D.C., the USGLC advocates a stronger international affairs budget to enhance national security, forward American business interests and improve humanitarian assistance around the world.

Two individuals will accept the award on behalf of USGLC:

Daniel Glickman is vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Aspen Institute Congressional Program, which is a non-partisan public policy education and civility building program for members of the U.S. Congress. Glickman is former U. S. Secretary of Agriculture (1995–2001) and served for 18 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the 4^th Congressional District of Kansas.

Chris Policinski is president and chief executive officer of Land O’Lakes. Policinski has more than 30 years of experience in the food industry and also worked at Kraft General Foods, Bristol-Myers Squib and The Pillsbury Company. He serves on the board of directors for several industry organizations, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association and National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and also is involved in community organizations.

Alumni Public Leadership Award for Social Justice and Inclusion:
Trista Harris is executive director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, a community foundation with a mission to act as a catalyst for social, racial, economic and environmental justice. Harris is known nationally as a passionate advocate for new leaders in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector and is a leading voice for Generations X and Y, working to create professional development opportunities throughout the sector. Prior to joining Headwaters, she worked as program officer at the St. Paul Foundation and for Portico Healthnet, a no-profit organization that provides health care coverage to uninsured Minnesotans. Harris’ work has been covered by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, New York Times, and numerous social sector blogs. She received a Master’s in Public Policy from the Humphrey School in 2000.