John Kerry, the former U.S. Secretary of State and longtime U.S. senator, will be the keynote speaker at the World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Summit next month in Perth, Australia.
John Kerry
Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, in 2013 succeeded Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State under Barack Obama, where he led strategies on nuclear non-proliferation and signed the Paris Agreement on climate change on behalf of the U.S.
In 2004, he was the Democratic Party candidate for president, losing the election to incumbent George W. Bush.
Kerry served as the U.S. senator from Massachusetts for 28 years. In 2021, he was appointed by President Biden as the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
"His unparalleled experience and dedication to tackling climate change and global challenges align perfectly with our mission to drive a more sustainable and resilient future for the travel and tourism sector," said Julia Simpson, WTTC CEO. "Secretary Kerry's insights will undoubtedly inspire our sector as we come together to forge innovative solutions that balance economic growth with our responsibility to protect our planet."
Other speakers at the summit include Australian conservationist and TV personality Robert Irwin as well as travel industry leaders Greg O'Hara, Certares founder and managing director and WTTC Chair; Matt Goldberg, TripAdvisor CEO; Audrey Hendley, American Express Travel president; and James Thornton, Intrepid Travel CEO.
Hosted by Tourism Western Australia, the WTTC Global Summit will take place in Perth, from Oct. 8-10.