STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Idaho Astronaut and Teacher in Space Barbara Morgan will be among those headline the 8th annual Conversations with Exceptional Women Sept. 8-9 at The Argyros in Ketchum.
She will be joined by Janine di Giovanni, a war correspondent now reporting on the war in Ukraine and leading The Reckoning Project, which is collecting testimony about Russian war crimes and atrocities.
Other speakers include:
- Fiona Hill, a witness in the November 2019 House hearings during the first impeachment of Donald Trump and a former official at the U.S. National Security Council specializing in Russian and European affairs
- Dr. Ellen Ochoa, astronaut and first female director of the Johnson Space Center
- Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize recipient for her work banning anti-personnel landmines
- Gina Bennett, who recently retired from CIA where she issued the first report warning of the growing danger of Osama bin Laden and is featured prominently in the forthcoming documentary on the 75th anniversary of the CIA.
- Amy Andersson, the 2022 Grammy-winning conductor who founded Orchestra Moderne NYC and who produced a live-to-picture symphony production featuring the music of eight female composers celebrating global activists fighting for social justice, environmental causes and the right of girls to an education
- Dr. Joanne Freeman, Yale historian, Alexander Hamilton expert and author of “The Field of Blood,” which looks at historical turmoil in the White House and Congress
- Dr. Caroline Heldman, national television commentator who specializes in the presidency, media, gender and race
- Christine Walker, whose film credits include “Stay Then Go,” “The Turin Horse,” “Darling Companion,” “The Convincer,” “Howl,” “Life During Wartime,” “Older than America” and “American Splendor.”
- Lili Bernard, a Cuban-born actor and artist who accused Bill Cosby of drugging and raping her in the 1990s.
- "Fair Play," Jennifer Siebel Newsom's new film, which follows three families trying to balance their lifestyle. It features Melinda Gates.
The theme this year is “On the Shoulders of Giants.”
“I will have more speakers later,” said David Adler, who founded the event on behalf of his Alturas Institute. “I think we have an incredible lineup.”
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today at https://ci.ovationtix.com/35937/production/1133046