Samantha Nutt

Samantha Nutt

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Physician | Global Affairs Expert | Founder, War Child Canada and War Child USA

For more than 20 years, Dr. Samantha Nutt has been on the frontlines of many of the world’s major crises. A medical doctor and founder and president of the internationally renowned non-profit War Child, she is one of the most intrepid and recognized voices in the humanitarian arena and a leading authority on current affairs, public health, war, and foreign policy. Nutt draws on her incredible wealth of experience as a veteran of international healthcare and a leader on the world stage, to share unique insights into global issues and what they mean to her audiences.

In addition to overseeing War Child Canada and War Child USA, Nutt is a staff physician at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. Nutt also authored the critically acclaimed and #1 bestselling book, Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies, and Aid, a bracing and uncompromising account of her work in some of the most devastated regions of the world.

Nutt is a respected authority for many of North America’s leading media outlets. She is a regular foreign affairs panelist on the acclaimed news program, CBC’s The National, and a contributor to NowThis News. Her written work has been published by TED Ideas, Reuters, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Toronto Star, Maclean’s Magazine, The Ottawa Citizen, The Huffington Post, and many others. She has also been featured in AP News, ForbesTimeChatelaine, and More magazine, and on CTV National News, Global TV News, NBC Nightly News, and BBC World News, to name just a few.

Named one of Canada’s “25 most influential figures” by The Globe and Mail and one of “Canada’s Five Leading Activists” by Time Magazine, Nutt was recognized as a Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum and has been appointed to both the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious Loyola Medal by Concordia University.

Nutt graduated summa cum laude from McMaster University, earned a M.Sc in Public Health with distinction from the University of London, and holds a Fellowship in Community Medicine (FRCPC) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She is further certified by the College of Family Practice and completed a sub-specialization in women’s health through the University of Toronto as a Women’s Health Scholar. Nutt is also a senior fellow at Massey College at the University of Toronto and a former board member of the David Suzuki Foundation.

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Speaking topics

When Women Lead

This keynote celebrates women in leadership, a presentation combining humour and personal reflections on women in the 21st century and why the women’s movement is unfinished everywhere. Nutt’s often satirical take on hot topics such as “Lean In” and whether “women can have it all” offers an engaging, thought-provoking and entertaining examination of the challenges women still face in the world and how women (and men) can advocate for change. This presentation is also suitable for businesses and other groups looking to promote diversity and strengthen gender equality at the senior management and executive levels, as well as on Boards.

Culture & Identity (Diversity)

When we talk about diversity, it’s important to start with an understanding of global events that are shaping our world, and the impact these can have on schools and even in the workplace. North America’s ties to some of the crises currently playing out around the world run very deep, from the Ukraine to events in Syria, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Iraq, Sudan, Eastern Congo, Pakistan and Afghanistan, to name but a few

This presentation is especially relevant to educators and employers by offering practical tips for understanding and promoting culture and diversity.

Those Who Know, Teach

Geared towards educators and school officials, this presentation focuses on what teachers need to know about global events and how to effectively prepare students to better understand the world around them. Nutt also shares resources with teachers who are interested in engaging their students in international development concerns.

Can we all be Leaders?

Leaders have strength, courage, and conviction. Were they born with these illusive qualities, alongside a perfect balance of knowledge and charisma, or have they simply learned to communicate their experience and ideas more effectively than the rest of us? Leaders encourage us to inspire, to think, and to demand more of ourselves and of our society. They connect us to something larger than ourselves. But is leadership just ingrained in certain people, or can it be acquired? Can we all be leaders?
In this presentation, Nutt looks at the meaning and significance of leadership. She maps out ways in which we can all be more effective leaders – in the world and in the workplace – because the capacity to lead exists in each and every one of us.

Beyond the Headlines

Join award-winning humanitarian, medical doctor and bestselling author Dr Samantha Nutt, Founder and President of War Child Canada/USA, for an engaging and thought-provoking look at the big (and often overlooked) issues shaping our world.

With more than two decades of experience working to promote and protect the rights of women and children in war zones throughout the world, Dr Nutt explores the facts and realities not often covered by news media, and what is really needed to make a lasting difference.

Where do we go from here? The world as we don’t know it

This presentation looks at the global impact of the pandemic, how countries and governments are responding, overlooked regions of the world and the implications for public health and safety, the future of work and the likely trajectory of COVID-19 from a national and international perspective.

Adapting to the Unknown: Strategies for employers during the COVID pandemic

This presentation is highly personalized for businesses who are looking to develop public health protocols and strategies for their businesses and includes a look at current realities (epidemiologic trends), infection control practices to consider, the evidence around the efficacy of specific interventions, and future developments and considerations.

What just happened? Leading through Fear and Uncertainty

This is an engaging presentation that helps leaders tap into the tools needed to withstand and lead their businesses and organizations through unstable and unpredictable times. This is suitable for corporate, nonprofit, academic and other audiences.

Video clips

Samantha Nutt

Samantha Nutt

Speaker testimonials

Everyone really enjoyed the presentation! People thought it was very fun and engaging. They love the work that Sam does and really loved the learnings from the event.

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