Deborah Barry Allen is an author, women’s advocate, and accomplished executive in the areas of non-profit philanthropy, organizational management, and municipal government. She proudly served as an Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves and now manages her own Business DBA Consulting. Deborah is enthusiastic about women’s rights, equality, and the empowerment of women. She currently serves as Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) Advocate for both her Zonta club and Zonta District 15. Her recent book “Flipping the B.I.T.C.H. Switch” will provide the context for this presentation, encouraging women to reevaluate the virtues of Beauty, Intelligence, Thankfulness, Charity, and Honesty to empower them to redefine their value in society.

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Presenter: Deborah Barry Allen

In seasons of upheaval, our capacity shifts, emotions rise faster, and decision-making can get cloudy. This interactive session equips participants with grounded self-leadership tools to regulate, identify what they truly need, and strengthen the support systems that sustain people in times of uncertainty. The skills are universal and relevant for anyone navigating change, and the mission-aligned framing reflects Zonta’s work to build a better world for women and girls. Participants leave with practical tools they can use personally and in leadership, service, and advocacy.

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Presenter: Angie Lion

Remarkable Leadership in Action - Leading with storytelling, purpose, impact and spirit to strengthen clubs, sustain communities and stand for human rights. Step into your leadership with purpose and spirit. This session will help you turn your strengths into sustainable impact – energizing clubs, inspiring others, and standing strong for human rights through everyday acts of remarkable leadership. Further, the conversations with peers will engage with Zonta Spirit, and develop courage and confidence to embrace what makes you remarkable and to step into leadership roles.

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The goal is for attendees to explore and believe what makes them remarkable, through the power of their stories, and how they can apply this to leadership in Zonta to build sustainability in clubs and engage with contemporary needs of the diverse range of potential members that Zonta must attract for the powerful future we desire. These learnings can be applied immediately to the work of Zonta and in each attendee’s business, corporate and community roles.

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Presenter: Lynne Foley, OAM

Globally, nearly one in three women experiences physical or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lives. More than five women or girls are killed every hour—one every eleven minutes—by a family member (zonta.org). This session examines the impact of childhood exposure to domestic violence and the lifelong effects of trauma. Deanna will share her family’s story of abuse and draw on her professional expertise as a licensed clinical social worker to explain how childhood trauma reshapes the developing brain and influences the emotional, psychological, interpersonal, and physiological patterns that emerge over time. She will introduce therapeutic approaches that support healing and help survivors build resilient, meaningful lives. Deanna will highlight how her local Zonta club partners with organizations focused on mitigation, healing, and prevention. Participants will be invited to share how their clubs advance the global mission to end gender‑based violence within their communities.

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Presenter: Deanna Shackelford, LCSW

Join this high-energy, interactive session to discover how Country Group Advocacy can elevate Zonta’s impact at the national level. We’ll begin with a concise overview of what Country Group Advocacy is and why it’s a powerful strategy for advancing Zonta’s mission.

 

Then, you’ll collaborate in small groups based on your country’s structure—whether you’re part of multiple districts, the only country in a district, one of several countries in a district, or the only country in your area. Together, you’ll exchange ideas, explore practical advocacy tools, and develop bold, actionable strategies tailored to your unique context.

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Whether you’re new to advocacy or an experienced leader, this session will equip you with fresh insights, concrete next steps, and renewed energy to strengthen Zonta’s national presence.

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Step into your leadership potential and help shape the future of advocacy in your country.

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Presenters: Helen Bowie and Bobbee Cardillo

Social media is evolving rapidly—are you using it safely, effectively, and strategically for your club and personally? This interactive session will explore how the social media landscape is changing and what it means for Zonta clubs, districts, and individual members. We will cover practical best practices for Facebook and Instagram, along with new approaches for promoting events and engaging audiences beyond traditional platforms. The session will also discuss the shifting role of X (formerly Twitter), the emergence of alternatives such as BlueSky, and the rapid decline of other platforms like Mastodon and Post, and what these changes mean for advocacy and communication.

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In addition, we will review the basics of personal privacy, digital tracking, and how to use social media more wisely and efficiently. Join the conversation, ask questions, and share your own tips and experiences with fellow members.​

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Presenter: Katherine Cleland

No girl should miss a day of school because of her period. Yet even in 2026, girls around the world—including in the United States—continue to miss school due to lack of menstrual products and education. Join the movement: together, we can help end period poverty in our lifetime. In this informative and engaging session, learn how menstrual cups, increasingly used worldwide since 2002, are transforming menstrual health. Menstrual cups have been gaining popularity in the global market due mainly to their sustainability – one cup can be used monthly for up to 10 years, so cup users enjoy waste-free periods. Learn about the cup’s multitude of benefits – along with fulfilling 6 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – and how you and your Zonta club can help “normalize” menstrual cups as another choice. Presenter Deborah brings more than a decade of experience promoting menstrual health. After ten years of distributing reusable pads through Days for Girls, she now donates and distributes menstrual cups across Africa, Southeast Asia, Nepal, Central America, and the United States.

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Presenter: Deborah Quigley

This presentation highlights the commonalities between Zonta and The Fyera, Foundation® focusing on their shared UN development goals of gender equality, peace, and justice. Fyera’s work supports Zonta’s mission to build a better world for women and girls by offering a heart-centered approach that maximizes your ability to remain calm and composed even in the midst of difficulty. In this session, you will learn how to achieve physiological coherence, a state of balanced alignment that fosters creativity and the ability to solve complicated problems, both personally and professionally. The presentation highlights two action projects that Zonta members can participate in, Operation Big Sister and The Little Heart Project. Operation Big Sister empowers participants with actions to interrupt the demand for trafficked humans. The Little Heart Project aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness and prevent suicide…..one heart and a time.

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Presenters: Lynne Stylianou-Jensen and Nancy Griffis