Lynne Twist

Lynne Twist is an activist and author whose career focuses on alleviating poverty, ending world hunger, empowering women and girls, and advancing environmental sustainability. A teacher by training, Twist transitioned from the classroom to the global stage as chief fundraising officer for The Hunger Project, where she raised significant funds during her tenure. Twist dedicated nearly two decades to The Hunger Project, helping establish operations in countries across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, and played a key role in developing the organization's approach of empowering local people, particularly women, to break the cycle of hunger.

Twist's work spans collaborations with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, supporting refugees in Ethiopian camps, and engaging with the Amazon's threatened rainforests. She has also guided the philanthropy of some of the world's wealthiest families and worked directly with Nobel Peace Prize-winning women. In the mid-1990s, at the invitation of Achuar Indigenous leaders in Ecuador, Twist and colleagues traveled to the Amazon to learn about threats to Achuar lands and culture. This experience led to the co-founding of the Pachamama Alliance, which supports Indigenous people of the Amazon in preserving their lands and culture.

Twist later founded the Soul of Money Institute, a center dedicated to exploring best practices and strategies for developing a healthy relationship with money and promoting conscious philanthropy. Her book, "The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life," has been translated into multiple languages. Her follow-up book, "Living a Committed Life: Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in a Purpose Larger Than Yourself," draws on her decades of work in global activism, women's leadership, and environmental protection.

Over her career, Twist has worked with more than 100,000 people in 50 countries, focusing on fundraising with integrity, strategic visioning, and financial empowerment. She is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences such as the United Nations Beijing Women's Conference, Nobel Women's Conference on Sexual Violence, State of the World Forum Conference, Alliance for a New Humanity Conference, Synthesis Dialogues with the Dalai Lama, Women Moving Millions, Visionary Women, and the Governor's Conference on California Women. Twist has shared the stage with thought leaders including Oprah Winfrey, Marianne Williamson, the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, Van Jones, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Twist has been recognized by Real Leaders magazine as one of the World's Top 50 Keynote Speakers. She holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Centenary College and has received awards such as the United Nations Woman of Distinction award, Purpose Prize Fellow, Humanitarian of the Year Award from Youth at Risk, and the Heroes of the 21st Century award from Social Venture Network. Additional honors include the Auburn Seminary Lives of Commitment Award and the Conscious Visionary Award from Sedona's Illuminate Film Festival. Twist has served as an advisor to organizations including the Desmond Tutu Foundation, the Jane Goodall Institute, Network of Grateful Living, and The Nobel Women's Initiative, which works to end violence against women and girls.