Former Houston Mayor, Annise Parker, will join the extensive list of presenters at this year's National Development Summit (NDS) as the weekend keynote speaker on January 12. In addition to serving as the leader of the nation's fourth-largest city, Mayor Parker is a former club rugby player and member of the Rice University softball team.
One of only two women to have been elected Mayor, Parker was the first openly gay mayor of a major American city. She served six years as a member of the city council, and six as city controller. In 2010, Parker was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine. Prior to entering elective office, she was an oil and gas executive with Mosbacher Energy. Parker was also named a Distinguished Alumna of Rice University in 2011, and is a past Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Today, Mayor Parker is President and CEO of the national LGBTQ Victory Fund and Institute. She also serves on the Policy and Global Affairs Committee of the National Academy of Sciences.
Just prior to the 2016 Olympics, Mayor Parker met with the USA Sevens Women's team as it set off from Houston for Rio de Janeiro. During her tenure as Mayor, the city built a major amateur sports complex, including rugby fields, which is the site of the new Major League Rugby stadium. Houston notably hosted a string of successful test matches and other rugby events during her time in office. Mayor Parker is expected to share her experiences and lessons gained from years on the playing fields, in boardrooms, and in politics with those attending the NDS.
The 2019 National Development Summit happens January 11-13 in Houston, Texas. You can hear Mayor Parker's presentation at the Saturday Night Awards Dinner.
