After Dinner Speakers: Noor Jordan, Bob Dole, Tess Daly

Her Majesty Queen Noor was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby on August 23, 1951, to an Arab-American family distinguished for its public service. After receiving a B.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University in 1974, Queen Noor worked on international urban planning and design projects in Australia, Iran, the United States, and the Arab World. Their Majestys, King Hussein and Queen Noor, were married on June 15, 1978. Since 1978, Queen Noor has initiated, directed, and sponsored projects and activities in Jordan to address specific national development needs in the areas of education, culture, women and children’s welfare, human rights, conflict resolution, community development, environmental and architectural conservation, public architecture, and urban planning. She is also actively involved with international and UN organizations that address global challenges in these fields. Queen Noor has played a major role in promoting international exchange and understanding of Middle Eastern politics, Arab-Western relations, and humanitarian and conflict prevention, and recovery issues throughout the world, such as youth drug abuse, refugees, and disarmament. The numerous projects she has initiated in Jordan are administered by the Noor Al Hussein Foundation (NHF) and many have been recognized and supported by the United Nations and other international organizations as development models for the Middle East and the developing world. Queen Noor is an active patron or president of several national institutions working in the areas of women’s welfare, child development, health, humanitarian relief work, environmental and archaeological conservation and protection, the arts, aviation, and sports. The King Hussein Foundation, chaired by Queen Noor, was established by Royal Decree in 1999 as a national and international non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to give meaningful expression to the late King’s humanitarian vision and legacy with emphasis on democracy, peace, education, leadership, health, and the environment. In 1999 Queen Noor established the King Hussein Foundation International to develop international support and partnerships for peace-building initiatives in Jordan, the Middle East and the world. Internationally, Queen Noor is Patron of The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Honorary President of BirdLife International, a board member of World Wildlife Fund International and a board member of Conservation International. She has received the United Nations Environment Program Global 500 Award for her activism in environmental protection, in promoting awareness, and in initiating community action for the preservation of Jordan’s natural heritage. Queen Noor is President of the United World Colleges, a network of 10 equal-opportunity international colleges around the world which foster cross-cultural understanding and global peace. She is Chair of the international advisory committee for the United Nations University International Leadership. Queen Noor is Honorary Chair of the McGill Middle East Program in Civil Society and Peace Building which brings together Jordanians, Palestinians, and Israelis to improve the living conditions of the region’s poor. The Queen is also an Adviser to the global initiative, Women Waging Peace, and Patron of International Alert’s Women and Peace-building campaign, which focus on women’s role and contribution to peace building and conflict resolution. She is also a board member of Seeds of Peace, a board member of Refugees and a member of the International Commission on Missing Persons. Queen Noor is Patron of the Landmine Survivors Network and has assumed an advocacy role in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. In recognition of her efforts to advance development, democracy, and peace, Queen Noor has been awarded numerous international awards and honorary doctorates in international relations, law, and humane letters. For more information and a complete bio, please visit the website of Queen Noor. In her speeches, Her Majesty Queen Noor is a leading voice for the understanding of Middle Eastern politics, Arab-Western relations and global issues. Her Majesty addresses: Peace and Conflict Resolution Social Development Women’s Issues The Environment Education Public Health Children & Youth