NSB Logo Dr. Samantha Nutt Dr. Samantha Nutt

Dr. Samantha Nutt

Speaker

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Global Humanitarian, Founder of War Child & Public Health Specialist

Dr. Samantha Nutt is an award-winning humanitarian, bestselling author and medical doctor. She’s the founder of the renowned humanitarian organizations, War Child Canada and War Child USA, and has worked with children and their families at the frontline of many of the world’s major crises – from Iraq to Afghanistan, Somalia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone to Darfur, Sudan. With a background in public health, she continues to put science at the forefront of her international work. A leading authority on current affairs, war, international aid, public health, and foreign policy, Dr. Nutt is one of the most intrepid and recognized voices in the humanitarian arena and is a highly sought-after public speaker in North America. 

Keynote Speeches

State of the World

This presentation takes a compelling look at the impact of war – the truth, the lies, and the reality on the ground – and the major events currently shaping our world. Geared towards students, educator and general audiences, this captivating presentation examines our growing global economic and security inter-dependence, and explores the meaning of social justice and community in the 21st century.

 

Global Health

Many health professionals and associations are engaged in “global health” work. But is this effective? And how can they really have an impact? In this compelling presentation, Nutt reflects on the twenty years she has spent advancing the cause of global health, the lessons she has learned, and the role that health practitioners can really play in promoting a healthier and safer world. This presentation is ideal for medical audiences, as well as hospitals, medical and nursing schools.

 

Leadership

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.

Why the World Needs More Lawyers

Geared towards lawyers, civil society organizations and justice advocates, this presentation explores the importance of the rule of law and access to justice in promoting a more peaceful and sustainable world. Nutt talks about her experiences developing and promoting access to justice programs that strengthen the rights of women and children, with a view to tackling the climate of impunity that exists in many corners of the world. She explains why the rule of law and its champions can and must be the next frontier of international humanitarian assistance.

 

When Women Lead

A popular choice for International Women’s Day and other events celebrating women’s leadership, this presentation combines 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.

Customized Presentations

Dr. Samantha Nutt tailors her keynote addresses to the themes and objectives of individual groups. All of her presentations are unique and consider the needs, interests and backgrounds of her audiences.

These are just a snapshot of Samantha’s unique and customized approach to her presentations. View more presentations here.

Canada at 150: Where do we go from here?

The world is changing in complex and at times frightening ways.  Globalization, terrorism, integrated economies, climate change, population displacement, emerging epidemics – all of these are impacting on how Canadians view the world and our relationship to it.  What does it mean to be Canadian now?  Is there a role for us in the world?  Are we who we think we are and how do other countries see us?  Join recognized global affairs expert and award-winning humanitarian Dr Samantha Nutt as she explores the meaning of Canada in the 21st century and learn about what Canadians can do to have a lasting global impact.[/nsb]

Platform Plus Presentations

Unique formats and ways to connect with audiences.
Panelist/In Conversation
A leading authority on current affairs, war, international aid and foreign policy, Dr. Nutt is a great option to spark lively conversation on hot-button issues of the day.

Audience reviews:

  • Sam completely thrilled the audience. She gave a passionate, lively, honest and relevant speech that captivated the audience. People came to let me know they were amazed by the quality of her material and how she delivered it…Her tips were appreciated and tweeted profusely…I saw people crying and laughing at different moments during the speech – touching moments, and hilarious moments altogether. Her speech was a great success and made our event memorable for that.

    - Vice-Chair of the Young Professionals Network at Public Services and Procurement Canada
  • Well she was quite the hit...the union members LOVED her and want us to bring her back. She spoke from the heart, great experiences and related to real life women moving forward and that was key. I have heard Samantha before so knew she was good, wondered how she would be received--- suffice it to say she was fantastic.

    - Union Representative Education, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
  • Dr. Nutt’s keynote presentation was excellent and a huge success! Her presentation was thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and very inspirational. It was very evident that Dr. Nutt struck a chord with many of the physicians in the room especially during the Q&A session.

    - Ottawa Hospital Academic Medical Organization
  • Great, great, great presentation!!! I am so proud to be Canadian right now!!! You are an inspiration to us all!

    - Trinity College School
  • I was really inspired by you as well as your speech.. I've never seen the crowd so moved by a speaker.

    - University of Chicago, Illinois
  • Samantha Nutt was absolutely incredible. Hands down the best inspirational guest speaker we've had. She is my new role model.

    - Grant MacEwan College
  • Samantha Nutt's presentation was fabulous. It was the highlight event of our conference! Her speech was very inspiring and touching, and it resonated tremendously with our conference participants.

    - Canadian Bureau for International Education
  • Samantha was amazing! She was funny, down to earth, personable, and certainly passionate about her causes. She motivated our delegates to take action and share the stories she told. We sold most of her books after her keynote. She was truly a delight to work with.

    - Association Consultant, Ontario School Counsellors' Association

Speaker Biography

Samantha Nutt is an award-winning humanitarian, bestselling author and acclaimed public speaker. A medical doctor and the Founder and President of the renowned humanitarian organizations War Child Canada and War Child USA, Dr. Nutt has worked with children and their families at the frontline of many of the world’s major crises – from Iraq to Afghanistan, Somalia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone to Darfur, Sudan. A leading authority on public health, war, international aid and foreign policy, Dr. Nutt is one of the most intrepid and recognized voices in the humanitarian arena and a highly sought-after public speaker in North America. With a career that has spanned more than two decades and dozens of conflict zones, her international work has benefited millions of waraffected children globally.

Dr. 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 TV NEWS “The National”, and a contributor to NowThis News. Nutt’s 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 other publications. She has appeared in AP News, Forbes, Town & Country Magazine, Time Magazine, More Magazine and on NBC Nightly News, BBC World News Service, America’s Radio News Network, NPR, CTV Power Play, CTV National News, Global TV News, and CBC Radio, to name just a few. Dr. Nutt spoke at TED Talks Live “War & Peace” at The Town Hall Theater in New York, which aired on PBS. Dr. Nutt’s TED Talk, on the deadly impact of small arms, has garnered over a million views on TED.com.

Dr. Nutt’s critically acclaimed debut book, entitled Damned Nations: Greed, Guns, Armies and Aid, was released by McClelland and Stewart Ltd. (a division of Random House) and was a #1 national bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Lewis Lapham declared it a “brave and necessary book”, while the Literary Review of Canada called it a “brilliant polemic.” Damned Nations is a bracing and uncompromising account of Dr. Nutt’s work in some of the most devastated regions of the world. The new edition of Damned Nations was released in November 2018 in Canada and the U.S.A. by Penguin Random House.

Dr. Nutt has been appointed to the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour, for her contributions to improving the plight of young people in the world’s worst conflict zones. She has also been appointed to the Order of Ontario and has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Time Magazine has featured Dr. Nutt as one of Canada’s Five Leading Activists and she has been awarded the prestigious Loyola Medal by Concordia University.

Samantha Nutt graduated summa cum laude from McMaster University, earned an 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. Dr. Nutt is the recipient of numerous honorary doctorates from universities in Canada and the U.S.A. Dr. Nutt is a staff physician at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is a Senior Fellow at Massey College, University of Toronto and is former board member of the David Suzuki Foundation.

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