Issuu

JANUARY 17, 2026

Sanna Marin EUROPE’S NEXT GENERATION

TONIGHT’S LEAD PATRON

Wells Fargo is a leading financial services company that has approximately $2.0 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance. Wells Fargo ranked No. 33 on Fortune’s 2025 rankings of America’s largest corporations. We are committed to contributing to a strong economy — one that is built on thriving communities. We look for ways to bring the breadth of our company’s resources and expertise to help address community needs and spark transformation. We are focused on three priorities: housing access and affordability, small business growth, and financial opportunity. With a disciplined approach rooted in collaboration with communities, Wells Fargo is going deeper into the complexity of these challenges and using philanthropy to seed innovation. In 2024, the Wells Fargo Foundation invested over $280 million to support more than 2,300 non-profit organizations that aligned with our core areas of focus. With more than 5,000 employees throughout the Commonwealth, our priorities of customer service and philanthropy remain at the heart of all we do. We are committed to making a positive impact by helping people and communities thrive.

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Prime Minister Sanna Marin EUROPE’S NEXT GENERATION JANUARY 17, 2026 OPENING MUSIC

Deau Eyes

OPENING REMARKS Heather Mullins Crislip Executive Director The Richmond Forum WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION PRESENTATION

Anthony Conte Executive Director; Healthcare, Higher Education, and Nonprofit Banking Group Wells Fargo Sanna Marin

INTERMISSION Deau Eyes Submit your questions via Slido AUDIENCE QUESTIONS

Sanna Marin with Heather Crislip

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SANNA MARIN

TONIGHT’S SPEAKER

SANNA MARIN SERVED AS THE PRIME MINISTER of Finland from 2019 to 2023 and is the former leader of the country’s Social Democratic Party. Appointed at age 34, Marin became the youngest serving prime minister in the world when she took office in 2019. She quickly gained international attention for her composed and collaborative leadership style, and she remains a vocal advocate for human rights, civil rights, and democracy. During her tenure, Marin led Finland through several defining global and domestic challenges. Her government was widely praised for its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in limiting loss of life and mitigating economic disruption. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she played a central role in shifting Finnish public opinion and political will toward NATO membership, guiding the country through the fastest accession process in the alliance’s history.

“

I’M IN POLITICS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT THE OLDER GENERATION WASN’T DOING ENOUGH ABOUT THE BIG ISSUES OF THE FUTURE. I NEEDED TO ACT. I COULDN’T JUST THINK, ‘IT’S SOMEBODY ELSE’S JOB’.

Marin’s administration also advanced a number of progressive reforms, including groundbreaking climate legislation that aims for carbon neutrality by 2035, an equitable family leave policy that shares paid time off between both parents, and structural improvements to public health care, education and LGBTQ+ rights. In September 2023, Marin joined the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change as a strategic counselor, where she advises political leaders on governance, technology, climate, and gender equality programs. Her memoir, “Hope in Action,” was released in November. Marin holds a master’s degree in administrative sciences from the University of Tampere and an honorary doctorate from New York University. Tonight, she will share stories from her time in office and present her vision for a stronger, more unified Europe.

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DEAU EYES

TONIGHT’S MUSICIAN DEAU EYES IS A STORYTELLER AT HEART, finding deep connection through songwriting, music, and performance.

She’s shared the stage with artists such as The Head and The Heart, Lucy Dacus, Illiterate Light, Palmyra, Angelica Garcia, Butcher Brown, and has collaborated extensively with Collin Pastore (Lucy Dacus), Scott Lane (Overcoast Sound + Music), McKinley Dixon, Ant the Symbol, and DJ Harrison (Grammy nom., Butcher Brown). A firm believer in deep collaboration, she surrounds herself with a rotating band of artists, always serving the song and elevating the moment. Her 2022 album “Legacies” resonated widely, earning the Newlin Music Prize and landing her on NPR’s Slingshot Artists to Watch list. Named Style Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40” Class of 2023 and their “Best Singer Songwriter” in 2024 and 2025, she is deeply rooted in her creative community, constantly learning, working, and growing alongside fellow artists.

HAVE A QUESTION FOR SANNA MARIN? Head to slido.com to submit a question for the Q&A. You can also endorse questions submitted by fellow audience members, both in the theater and online, to increase the chance of them being asked. Your question is more likely to be selected when you include your name!

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HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNIVERSE OF YOU

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WELCOME TO FINLAND

OR AS THE FINNISH SAY, “TERVETULOA SUOMEEN!” Fast Facts Established: 1917 Population: ~5.6 million Capital: Helsinki Top Languages: Finnish, English, Sámi, Swedish, Russian Currency: Euro (€) GDP: $299.8 billion EU Membership: 1995 NATO Membership: 2023 Government: Parliamentary democracy with a multi-party coalition system Elections: Held every four years using proportional representation Current Prime Minister: Petteri Orpo

FINLAND IS WIDELY PERCEIVED as one of the world’s most stable, equitable, and wellgoverned nations.

ENGLISH (Englanti)

FINNISH (Suomi)

Hello

Hei

Good evening

Hyvää iltaa

It has ranked first in the World Happiness Report for multiple consecutive years and consistently places near the top of global quality-of-life rankings. These rankings are often attributed to the country’s strong social safety net, top education system, universal healthcare, low income inequality, and high public trust.

Please

Ole hyvä

Thank you

Kiitos

Excuse me

Anteeksi

Yes / No

Kyllä / Ei

Prime Minister

Pääministeri

Parliament

Eduskunta

Finland is also recognized as a global leader in gender equality, having been the first country in Europe to grant women full voting rights in 1906. It also ranks among the least corrupt nations in the world.

Government

Hallitus

Democracy

Demokratia

European Union

Euroopan unioni

Future

Tulevaisuus

Richmond Forum

Richmondin Foorumi

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FROM NEUTRALITY TO NATO

FINLAND’S PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE The Past Finland’s geopolitical posture was shaped long before it became a modern state. For centuries, it was ruled by Sweden, then absorbed into the Russian Empire in 1809 as an autonomous Grand Duchy. Independence came in 1917, amid the collapse of imperial Russia, but sovereignty was immediately tested by civil war and, soon after, by global conflict. During World War II, Finland defended its sovereignty against the Soviet Union in two brutal conflicts, the Winter War and the Continuation War. Despite massive casualties, Finland preserved its independence, albeit at a heavy cost, including the loss of historically significant territory. This struggle and its outcomes forged Finland’s strategic thinking for generations. In the Cold War that followed, Finland adopted a posture of military non-alignment paired with diplomatic realism. This approach, often described as “Finlandization,” was a survival strategy to maintain democracy at home while avoiding provocation abroad. Finland’s role as a bridge between East and West was symbolized by the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, a cornerstone of European security and human-rights diplomacy. After the Cold War, Finland deepened its Western integration by joining the European Union in 1995 while continuing to cooperate closely with NATO without formal membership.

The Present That long-standing equilibrium collapsed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Under Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Finland moved with unusual speed and consensus.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in October 2021

Marin’s government concluded that the assumptions underpinning non-alignment no longer held and that NATO membership offered the only credible security guarantee. Finland applied to join the alliance in May 2022 and formally became a member in April 2023. Finland’s accession reshaped Europe’s security landscape by extending NATO’s border with Russia by more than 1,300 kilometers and strengthening the alliance’s northern flank. It also further aligned EU and NATO membership in northern Europe, reinforcing collective deterrence.

The Future Finland’s forward path is now anchored in implementation, rather than debate. NATO integration is ongoing, including planning, exercises, and force reception. New bilateral defense agreements, including a defense cooperation framework with the United States, reflect Finland’s emphasis on interoperability and readiness. Finland is likely to remain a steady advocate for sustained support for Ukraine and for strengthening Europe’s defense-industrial capacity.

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THE WORLD COMES TO RVA

40TH SEASON: GLOBAL HEADS OF STATE AT THE FORUM OCTOBER 13, 1990

NOVEMBER 6, 2010

CHANCELLOR HELMUT SCHMIDT Germany 1974–1982

PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF Liberia 2006–2018

JANUARY 19, 1992

MARCH 15, 2014

PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER United Kingdom 1979–1990

PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN United Kingdom 2007–2010

APRIL 10, 1993

MARCH 12, 2016

PRESIDENT MIKHAIL GORBACHEV Soviet Union 1985–1991

PRIME MINISTER JULIA GILLARD Australia 2010–2013

NOVEMBER 11, 1995

MARCH 25, 2017

PRIME MINISTER BRIAN MULRONEY Canada 1984–1993

PRIME MINISTER EHUD BARAK Israel 1999–2001

FEBRUARY 21, 1998

JANUARY 16, 2021

PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES Israel 1984–86, 1995–96

PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY United Kingdom 2016–2019

NOVEMBER 14, 1998

JANUARY 17, 2026

PRIME MINISTER JOHN MAJOR United Kingdom 1990–1997

PRIME MINISTER SANNA MARIN Finland 2019–2023

FEBRUARY 17, 2001

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU Israel 1996–99, 2009–21, 2022– FEBRUARY 15, 2003

PRIME MINISTER BENAZIR BHUTTO Pakistan 1988–90, 1993–96 MARCH 20, 2004

PRESIDENT MARY ROBINSON Ireland 1990–1997 NOVEMBER 3, 2007

PRESIDENT VINCENTE FOX Mexico 2000–2006 NOVEMBER 1, 2008

PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR United Kingdom 1997–2007

“

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING [FOR A PRIME MINISTER TO DO] IS TO EXERCISE LEADERSHIP IN A WAY THAT ALSO LISTENS TO THE VOICE FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD. P.M. TONY BLAIR AT THE FORUM

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Supporting visionaries We proudly support The Richmond Forum and this evening’s speaker, Sanna Marin, as she reflects on her time as Finland’s prime minister and shares her vision for a more unified Europe.

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A LEGACY OF SUPPORT

40TH SEASON: CELEBRATING OUR LONGTIME PARTNERS REACHING OUR 40TH SEASON would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the Richmond community. Tens of thousands of subscribers have attended Forum programs since we launched in 1987, connecting with one another over their shared love of learning. Thousands of students have joined our audience at no cost, interacting directly with our speakers and igniting their own curiosity. Hundreds of local businesses have invested in our mission, allowing us to bring bigger names to our stage and start powerful conversations that echo far beyond the theater’s walls. Four of those businesses have been with us since the very beginning: Altria Buckingham Greenery, Connie Hom Covington Travel, Josée Covington

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Please join us in thanking these legacy partners for their commitment to sustaining Richmond’s cultural life through their dedication to The Forum for 40 seasons. With them and all of you, unforgettable nights like these are made possible.

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cultural experiences that are relevant to them. From the stage to the screen to exhibition halls and programs in Central Virginia, Altria takes pride in our longstanding support of local arts and all they do to Cultural institutions make our world more fascinating, inviting bring people together. and should allow its residents to access cultural experiences and expressions that are relevant to them. From the stage to the screen to exhibition halls and education programs citywide, Altria takes pride in our longstanding support of local arts and all they do to bring people together.

Altria is proud to support The Richmond Forum.

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2025-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DIRECTORS

Teresa Downs, Chair Altria*

Chris Accashian Bon Secours Health System*

Celia Rafalko Subscriber

Andrea Lynn White, Vice Chair CareScout Insurance*

Corynne S. Arnett Dominion Energy*

Daphne Maxwell Reid Subscriber

William R. B. Hershey, Treasurer Davenport & Company*

Kristen Cavallo The Branch Museum of Design

Lisa Sims Venture Richmond

Jonathan Brabrand, Secretary Professional Restoration Services

Anthony Conte Wells Fargo*

Zack Smith PartnerMD*

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Dr. Ronald A. Crutcher Subscriber

Greg Stivers Subscriber

Kelly O'Keefe, Program Chair Brand Federation*

Eva Hartmann Luna Innovations

Sally Tate Hourigan*

Janet Tope, Investment Chair Subscriber

Steve Humble VPM*

Ashley L. Taylor Jr. Troutman Pepper Locke*

Alison Rogish, Nominations & Governance Chair Deloitte*

Cynthia Joyce CW Advisors*

Maria Tedesco Atlantic Union Bank*

Kevin D. Best, Education Chair Virginia Commonwealth University*

D. Brennen Keene McGuireWoods*

Pient Tran Capital One*

A. Brent King Performance Food Group*

Todd B. Waldo Hugh Helen, LLC

Rick Palmieri Williams Mullen*

Austin Welder Bank of America*

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PRODUCTION TEAM & STAFF THE RICHMOND FORUM STAFF

PRODUCTION

ALTRIA THEATER

Heather Mullins Crislip Executive Director, heather@richmondforum.org

Jacquelyn Craig Production Stage Manager

Steve Sweet Technical Director

Kathryn Blessing Director of Development & Sponsor Events, kathryn@richmondforum.org

Ray Bullock Assistant Stage Manager

Thomas Vecchione Production Manager

Michael Brown Director of Subscriber Services & Operations, michael@richmondforum.org

Boitnott Visual Communications HD Video

Angela Vivaldi Assistant Production Manager

Maggie McVicar Director of Communications, maggie@richmondforum.org Sandra Wheeler Director of Student Programs, sandra@richmondforum.org Lucretia M. Anderson Assistant Director of Student Programs, lucretia@richmondforum.org

Ryan Marasco Production Manager Boitnott Visual Communications Cream Studio Opening Video

Sanchez Tucker Speech & Debate Tournament League Manager, sanchez@richmondforum.org

Carlos Chafin Composer In Your Ear

2025–2026 RICHMOND FORUM SCHOLARS

Heidi Winton-Stahle Makeup

Jake Apelt, Collegiate School

Todd Waldo Online Host

Jake George, Henrico High School Ayani Milligan, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School

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SUPPORT Hope Scott VIP Ground Transportation James Limousine Josée Covington Air Travel Covington Travel P. Kevin Morley Photographer Daphne Maxwell Reid Style Consultant

Indira Mudinur, Maggie L. Walker Governor's School Birdie Weir, Saint Gertrude High School

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SPEECH & DEBATE

A MID-SEASON TOURNAMENT CHECK-IN We are halfway through the 2025-2026 speech and debate season, and boy has the Richmond Forum Speech & Debate Initiative (RFSDI) staff been busy! Our tournament circuit continues to boom, and it takes an expansive team to make it all happen.

How Many People Does it Take to Run a Tournament?

2 Tournament Managers oversee operations 6 “Tabbers” set up rounds in the tournament software and ensure technology runs smoothly

2 Judge Lounge Attendants onboard volunteer judges, answer their questions, and ensure they are fed throughout the day

2-4 Tournament Runners assist with set-up, relay messages, and help keep things moving

3-4 Hospitality Hosts manage food deliveries and serve student meals

2-3 Parliamentarians oversee Student Congress chambers throughout the day

2 Student Meeting Leaders set expectations

40-190 Judges adjudicate student

for the day and answer students’ questions

competitors

1-2

Tabroom Attendants liaise between Tabbers, coaches, and competitors

MEET KYLE MENDEZ, A 1ST-YEAR TABBER. Kyle Mendez is an assistant speech coach at Franklin Military Academy. He enthusiastically began training to assist in Tabroom at the first speech scrimmage of the year and has been a regular Tabber ever since. “As a former speech performer, I was thrilled to find out about RFSDI’s work.” Mendez says. “This is our school’s first year participating in local speech and debate tournaments and I have been more than happy to help coach our speech team. It’s also been fun to see how things work on the tabbing side of the tournaments.”

MEET HAJNALKA WOOSLEY, A 3RD-YEAR JUDGE LOUNGE ATTENDANT. Woosley is the head speech coach at Meadowbrook High School and host of the Annual Speech & Debate Expo at the beginning of each season. She was the recipient of the 2024-2025 Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent’s AllCounty Speech Coach of the Year Award. “I coach to empower and help my students find the courage to speak and fight for their voices to be heard,” Woosley says. “I have the privilege of being called coach by the kindest, brightest, hardest-working young people, who I hope will shape the future with the power of their words and corresponding actions.”

Completed Tournaments Richmond Public Schools Speech Scrimmage 48 students from 10 schools

Speech and Debate Season Openers at Hermitage HS & Collegiate School 352 students from 42 schools

Middle School Tournament (our first ever!) at Brookland MS 46 students from 6 schools

Revolutionary Rhetoric at Colonial Williamsburg & William & Mary 166 students from 26 schools

Christy Ellis Speech & Debate Invitational at Manchester HS & Bailey Bridge MS 477 students from 35 schools

Crimson Wave Speech & Debate Tournament at Petersburg HS & Vernon Johns MS 434 students from 49 schools

Upcoming Tournaments Richmond Forum Speech & Debate League National Qualifier Catholic Forensics League Richmond Public Schools Debate Scrimmage National Speech & Debate Tournament Qualifier National Speech & Debate Association Moody Middle School Invitational Virginia High School League Regional & State Championships

DONATE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS PREPARE TO COMPETE AT NATIONALS!

Our second annual Revolutionary Rhetoric Tournament brought extraordinary energy to Colonial Williamsburg this November, as 166 students from 26 schools — including eight from out of state — stepped into the very rooms where America first argued its way into being. From spirited Student Congress sessions in the Capitol Building to stirring interpretive performances and rapid-fire extemporaneous speaking rounds, students blended historical insight with modern urgency, proving once again that the skills of democracy are learned by doing. With generous support from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, Revolutionary Rhetoric continues to grow in its size and significance, offering young thinkers a rare chance to inhabit the past, challenge the present, and imagine the future with clarity and conviction.

We are proud to support The Richmond Forum. Thank you for bringing exceptional programs that enrich and educate our community.

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2025-2026 PATRONS LEAD PATRON

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MCV Foundation Dr. Andrew J. & Mrs. Patricia Michael Padilla PartnerMD Performance Food Group Company Richmond Ed Fund Sage Wealth Advisors Transact Capital University of Richmond Virginia State University Westminster Canterbury Woodfin Oil Workshop Digital

PRODUCER PATRON

CONTRIBUTOR/FRIEND PLUS

Altria Group Davenport & Company LLC Dominion Energy Genworth Financial Wells Fargo

HOST PATRON

Atlantic Union Bank Bank of America Boitnott Visual Communications Bon Secours Health System Covington Travel Cream Studio Deloitte Services LP Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center McGuireWoods LLP TCV Trust & Wealth Management Universal Corporation VCU Health Virginia Commonwealth University

EDUCATION PATRON

Dr. & Mrs. W. Baxter Perkinson Jr. Trinity Episcopal School

MEDIA PATRON VPM

MUSIC PATRON CW Advisors

PRESENTER

2nd Order Solutions 12 On Your Side ASGN Brand Federation Buckingham Greenery, Inc. Children’s Hospital of Richmond Foundation Cobotiq Columbia Gas of Virginia DLG Strategic Froehling & Robertson Fulton Bank Heritage Wealth Advisors HHHunt Hirschler Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP James River Carriers Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. KPMG, LLP Lakewood Lingerfelt Marks & Harrison

Actuarial Benefits & Design Company COLAB Cornerstone Realty Advisors The Dana Foundation EY Henrico Economic Development Authority In Your Ear Studios J.P. Morgan Mary & Ted Linhart Markel Nelson Mullins VCU School of Business Williams Mullen

FRIEND

Anne & Roger Boevé BrownGreer PLC CEBCO The Change Decision Kevin & Sheila Clasbey, Platinum Premier Drs. Betty Neal & Ronald A. Crutcher Dr. Arpita DePalma, Thought Work MD Endodontic Partners Paulina Hidalgo & Edwin Huertas Gregory Karawan Blair & Bill Martin The Martin Agency Betty & Will McLean Mike Mulvihill & Marcy Walsh Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia Judy & Dave Pahren Mary Ellen Pauli Lisa & Leon Roday Allesandra L. Schroeder Will & Lisa Sims SingleStone Ellen Spong & Gus Epps Emily Smith Tredway S. Spratley & Janine M. Collins VAMAC, INC. Warren Whitney Wells Coleman Adrienne Whitaker Vanessa & James Wigand Dr. Robert Winn

PREMIUM SUBSCRIBERS

Nupa Agarwal, Esq Razi Ali and Sumayra Mohiuddin Sherrie Armstrong Corynne Arnett Ginger Bacon Sharon V. Baker Melody Barnes Kevin D. Best Richard & Sidney Bland Scott & Winn Bleicher Gina Bond & Sandy Barnes The Branch Museum of Design Sonia Phipps Brokaw Donna & Robert Brown Don & Donna Burgess Susan Caley Jean Marshall Carter Will Caudle & Dr. Leanne Yanni Samantha & Jimmy Chou Julie Christopher & Marge Connelly Candace & Bob Cody Angela & Ted Cox Mr. & Mrs. John H. Cronly III Tanya & Brad Cummings Bill & Gale Cushing Frances Daniel Kimberly Daniel Lucy Day Ken & Sam Seeley Dye Jack M. Enoch Laura & Jay Erskin Whitney Fero Ellen Field Patricia Fields Whitney K. Forstner Leah Fremouw & Jacob Powell Susan & Steve Gaidos Thomas Gallo Mr. & Mrs. Garland Michael & Kimberly Giancaspro Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Giles Sallie Gilliam Maya & Stu Glaser Nancy & Ches Goodall Patricia Gordon Greg & Gloria Gravlin Dr. Ed Griggs Pamela D. Harrell Mary & Tom Harrison James Head Jay & Suzanne Hendricks Phillip & Ellen Marie Hess Jon & Trish Hill Gregory & Deborah Hillman John M. Holloway Kathleen Maccio Holman Patti Hughes Steve & Wendy Humble Bobbie Hunt Lana Ingram Otis & Machel Jones

Michael & Cindy Joyce Liz Kastelberg Kerry & Linda Keenan Arthur Kellermann & Leila Taaffe Bruce & Terri Kelley Brent King Jay & Janet Kraft Jeffrey Lacker & Lisa Halberstadt Evan Leslie Dewey Litton Anne & Preston Lloyd Chris Lumpkin Luna Innovations John & Rhoda Mahoney George L. Mahoney Main Street Law Offices Dr. Shailaja Malhotra Paul Manno Elizabeth & Michael Martin Candace & Patrick Martin Elizabeth Mason Kevin & Nina McDonough Mike McGinley Jerry Miller Michael & Benita Miller Dr. Guru Mohanty Charleen B. Moore

Lauren Moore Ina Moses & Jeff Smyser The Moten Team Jan Nelson Amy & David Nisenson Suzanne & George Nyfeler William O’Flaherty Jeff & Paula O’Flaherty Samantha & Steve Otero Thomas & Courtney Perry Cherry Peters Michael & Laura Phelan W. Paul Pitts Therese Podgorski Leslie Pridgen Kee & Hugh Rabb Celia Rafalko Andi & Brian Redmond Tim Reid & Daphne Maxwell Reid Paul D. Reilly Mollie Reinhart Linda F. Rigsby E.A. Ritter & Ethan Puryear Grover C. Robinson Penn & Laurie Rogers Colin Ruh & JoAnn Adrales Ruh Dr. Vipal & Jeanette Sabharwal Diane Dorris Sanders

Paula Saylor-Robinson & Danny Robinson Linda & Serge Schreiner Lawrence Schwartz & Anne-Marie Irani Robert Scott Ben & Vivian Sillmon John G. & Laine Sims, LCSW Jessica Stankus Smith & Robert Smith III Susan Snyder Sarahbeth & Steve Spasojevich Leslie Stack & Frank Rizzo M. Stewart Kenneth E. Stoner Charles & Deborah Sutton Nathan & Sally Tate Technology Leasing Concepts, Inc. Melodie Thigpen & Paulette Moncol Ken Thomas Doug & Janet Tope VCI Marc & Marnie Warner Siri & Kyle Wiggins Beth Williams The Yaratha Family Becky & John Young Robyn L. Young

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RICHMOND FORUM SPEAKERS 1987

January Ted Koppel February Hodding Carter and Larry Speakes with Paul Duke March General Brent Scowcroft with Diane Sawyer April Charles Kuralt

1988

January Oprah Winfrey February Jeane Kirkpatrick and Vladimir Pozner with Marvin Kalb March George Will April Art Buchwald

1989

January Sam Donaldson February Henry Kissinger with John Chancellor March William Buckley and Charles Rangel April Dr. Carl Sagan

1990

January Paul Duke, Howard Fineman and Charles McDowell February Frank Carlucci, George McGovern, William Proxmire and William Rusher with Bettina Gregory March Mike Wallace April Alistair Cooke

1990–1991

October Chancellor Helmut Schmidt January Admiral William Crowe, General Alexander Haig and Robert McFarlane with Edwin Newman February H. Ross Perot March Art Buchwald and Andy Rooney April Captain James Lovell and Dr. Frank Drake with James Burke

1991–1992

October Barbara Walters January PM Margaret Thatcher February General H. Norman Schwarzkopf with Larry King March Dr. Marc Micozzi and Dr. Victor McKusick with Patricia Cornwell April Mark Russell

1992–1993

October Terry Anderson January Hiroki Kato and T. Boone Pickens February Dr. Joyce Brothers March Dr. Bill Cosby April President Mikhail Gorbachev with Cokie Roberts

1993–1994

November Senator Warren Rudman, Lamar Alexander and Dr. Marvin Cetron with Chris Wallace January Frank Capiello and Michael Holland with Louis Rukeyser February President George H. W. Bush March Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross April Bob Newhart

1994–1995

November General Colin Powell January Walter Cronkite February Dave Barry March Tom Clancy April Jack Kemp and George Mitchell

1995–1996

November PM Brian Mulroney and Ambassador Carla Hills January Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan and Dick Rutan with David Hartman February Calvin Trillin March Charles Kuralt April David Gergen, Pierre Salinger, Sheila Tate and Bob Woodward with Ed Bradley

1996–1997

November Carl Reiner with Dick Cavett January Paul Volcker with Ray Brady February Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough March Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with Sir David Frost April Marcia Clark, Philip K. Howard, Dr. Rodney Smolla and Kym Worthy with Prof. Arthur Miller

1997–1998

November Bill Moyers January Wynton Marsalis February PM Shimon Peres March Mary Tyler Moore April Peter Lynch

1998–1999

November PM John Major January Robert Bennett and Dr. William Bennett with Tim Russert February Harry S. Dent, Jr. and Lou Dobbs March Lily Tomlin April Dr. Robert Ballard and Jean-Michel Cousteau

1999–2000

November Julie Andrews January Todd Brewster and Peter Jennings February John Krubski and Michael Connors with Ray Brady March Archbishop Desmond Tutu April James Carville and Newt Gingrich with Tim Russert

2000–2001

November Senator John Glenn January Tom Brokaw February PM Benjamin Netanyahu March Frank McCourt April Dr. William Kelso

2001–2002

November Hal Holbrook January Rabbi Marc Gellman and Msgr. Thomas Hartman February Dick Clark March Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough April Madeleine Albright and James Baker with Gwen Ifill

2002–2003

November Ken Burns January Rudolph Giuliani February PM Benazir Bhutto and Queen Noor with Gwen Ifill March Louis Freeh April Senator Fred Thompson

2003–2004

November Cal Ripken, Jr. January Robert Shiller and Jeremy Siegel February Candice Bergen March President Mary Robinson April Thomas L. Friedman

2004–2005

November General Tommy Franks January Michael Beschloss and Walter Isaacson February Tim Russert March Dr. Fareed Zakaria April Frank Gehry

2005–2006

November Robert Redford with Pat Mitchell January Sherry Lansing February General Colin Powell (Ret.) March Tom Wolfe April Rick Wagoner

2006–2007

November Burt Rutan January Malcolm Gladwell and Alvin Toffler February B.B. King March Jim Lehrer April Dr. Jared Diamond

2007–2008

November President Vicente Fox January Carly Fiorina February Michael Douglas March Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. April David Brooks

2008–2009

November PM Tony Blair January Reza Aslan and Jon Meacham February Smokey Robinson with Daphne Maxwell Reid March Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long April Marion Nestle and Michael Pollan

2009–2010

November Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson January Greg Mortenson March Steve Forbes April Condoleezza Rice May David Plouffe

2014–2015

November Diana Nyad January Garry Trudeau March Ben Bernanke with Paul Solman April Dr. Daniel Levitin and Rosanne Cash May General Keith Alexander and Robert Mueller with John Donvan

2015–2016

November Michael Sandel January Alan Alda February James Balog March PM Julia Gillard April Russell Wilson and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. PAST PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT

“A Commanding Woman’s View (2016)” On March 12, 2016, former Prime Minister Julia Gillard reflected on her tenure as Australia’s first female head of state, recalling the scrutiny she faced and the viral “Misogyny Speech” that made her an international figure. She said national leadership everywhere should depend on merit, not gender, and should be about equally divided among men and women. When it comes to leadership advice, she said, “Think about what your sense of purpose is. What drives you.” That clarity, she noted, can steady anyone “even in your darkest hours.”

2010–2011

November President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf January Laura Bush February Anderson Cooper March Dr. George Church April David Blaine

2011–2012

November Dr. Robert Ballard January Robert Gates February Quincy Jones with Tim Reid March Charles Krauthammer and Robert Reich with John Donvan April Sir Ken Robinson and Rafe Esquith

2012–2013

November Platon January Steven Spielberg, Tony Kushner and Doris Kearns Goodwin with Tim Reid February President Bill Clinton March Captain Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords April Dr. Jane Goodall

2013–2014

November Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf and Maajid Nawaz with John Donvan January Dan Buettner February President George W. Bush March PM Gordon Brown April Steve Martin and Martin Short

2016–2017

November Nate Parker January Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham with Steve Inskeep February Krista Tippett March PM Ehud Barak and Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei with Robin Wright April Ron Howard with Linda Holmes

2017–2018

2022–2023

2018–2019

2023–2024

2019–2020

2024–2025

November President Barack Obama January Glenn Close February Peter Diamandis March Ambassador Samantha Power April Joe Scarborough and Newt Gingrich with Mara Liasson November Captain Scott Kelly January Tina Fey with Linda Holmes February Dr. Sanjay Gupta March Ian Bremmer April Dr. Temple Grandin with John Donvan

November Isabel Wilkerson January Joel Sartore February Liz Cheney March Dr. Anthony Fauci April Jan Crawford and Kimberley Strassel

November Bob Costas January Dave Isay, Catherine Burns and Brandon Stanton with John Donvan February Peggy Noonan

2020–2021

November José Andrés January Theresa May February Esther Perel March Bryan Stevenson April Vijay Gupta

2022

January Bob Iger with Kara Swisher February Gloria Steinem with Zainab Salbi March Erik Weihenmayer April Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates May Rhiannon Giddens June Michelle Obama

November Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster (USA, Ret.) January Maria Ressa February Ella Al-Shamahi March John Lithgow April Dr. Cornel West and Thomas Chatterton Williams

November Baratunde Thurston January Dr. Amber Straughn February Mike “Coack K” Krzyzewzski March Richard Reeves April Martha Stewart with Soledad O’Brien

2025–2026

October Andrew Ross Sorkin November Ted Koppel with Amna Nawaz January PM Sanna Marin February Joe Manchin, Andrew Yang, and Justin Amash March Tracee Ellis Ross April John Green

Explore our past speaker archive and share your Forum memories at richmondforum.org/speaker.

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TED KOPPEL with Amna Nawaz

AT THE RICHMOND FORUM NOVEMBER 22, 2025

The Richmond Forum opened its 40th season with a standing ovation for the return of Ted Koppel, who inaugurated The Forum’s first season in 1987. Stepping into the lights, he waved off the applause with trademark dry humor and immediately set the tone for an evening that was equal parts history lesson, master class, and homecoming. It was a full-circle moment not just for The Forum, but for the duo seated at center stage. Moderating the conversation was “PBS NewsHour” co-anchor Amna Nawaz, who began her journalism career as a “Nightline” intern working for Koppel. A month into the job, the September 11 attacks changed the world. “I got to watch the very best journalists in the business do what they do best,” Nawaz said. “I am a journalist today because of that day.”

you hear.” In an era defined by volume, he argued, the quieter virtues, like accuracy, balance, restraint, matter more than ever.

The pair traced the major media moments that have shaped journalism since Koppel’s first Forum appearance, beginning with the 1987 repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, the shift that opened the door to partisan talk radio, then partisan cable news. “My problem with so much of what’s on television news these days is that it’s simple, it’s shallow, and too often it’s partisan,” Koppel said. “You need us to tell you what’s going on, even if you don’t like what

Some of the night’s most powerful moments centered on stories that shifted public understanding. Koppel recalled his 1990 live town hall with Nelson Mandela, one of the broadcasts he remains most proud of. He then reflected on his groundbreaking 1992 interview with Navy Lt. Tracy Thorne, who appeared on “Nightline” as an openly gay service member during the debates that led to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

early word about the infamous blue dress while he was in Havana covering the Pope’s visit. He chose to stay on assignment, which he admitted was “the wrong decision, from a news point of view.” he admitted. “We were talking about something that we thought was going to cost Bill Clinton the presidency.”

“That interview took a lot of courage on the part of the young naval officer,” he said. When Nawaz announced that Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland was in the audience, the room erupted in applause, a testament to journalism’s ability to move public opinion and humanize national issues. Koppel and Nawaz explored the rise of digital news and the early cracks in legacy media’s authority. When the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal broke on the Drudge Report, it was clear the landscape had shifted. Speed suddenly outran standards. Koppel recalled receiving

Today, social media is the leading source of news for Americans. People in power, like President Donald Trump, can now speak directly to the public without the mediation of journalists. “It’s undermining the essence of the United States,” Koppel warned. “We need to support those news organizations that are still making an effort to produce really valuable news…and then find a way of getting [people] to watch it.” He returned throughout the night to a central truth: “Why is journalism important at all? Because you all have other lives. You cannot possibly be up to speed on all the important things that are going on in our country and around the world. If we believe the great American myth that it is the people who rule, the people who control, then it has to be an informed public.” Koppel ended the evening on an unexpected note of delight, singing a song he wrote in the 1970s while traveling with President Nixon to the Great Wall of China. “I’ve got several more songs,” he teased, “but you’ll have to wait until your 80th season to hear them!” “40 Years: Moments That Mattered” was more than just the opening of a milestone season. It was a reminder of what The Richmond Forum exists to do: bring together voices that help us understand the world, challenge us to think harder, and inspire us to stay curious as we navigate an ever-changing future.

1) Ted Koppel and Amna Nawaz on stage. 2) Koppel answers questions from the audience. 3) Koppel and Nawaz visit the Student Room to talk with local high school students. 4) William Hershey of Davenport, the evening’s Lead Patron, introduces the speakers. 5) Guests of Capital One, the Host Patron for the evening. 6) James “Saxsmo” Gates provides musical entertainment.

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JUNE 14–19, 2026 The National Speech & Debate Tournament is coming to Richmond!

THIS SUMMER, Richmond becomes the epicenter of speech and debate. Ten thousand competitors, coaches, judges, and families will fill our schools and our city with energy, talent, and ideas. Finalists will even have the chance to perform right here on our stage at the Altria Theater. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Richmond. We need your help to make it unforgettable. Help us roll out Richmond’s red carpet. Become a sponsor or join our team of volunteers by contacting sandra@richmondforum.org.

THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL SPONSORS

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