AUSTIN, Texas — A new keynote panel featuring Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has been announced for the opening day of the South by Southwest Conference (SXSW), which kicks off on Friday.
The International Women’s Day keynote, entitled “Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen,” will also include journalist Katie Couric; actress, model and entrepreneur Brooke Shields; and author, sociologist, pop culture expert and consultant at Peoplism Nancy Wang Yuen. The session will be moderated by Errin Haines, host of “The Amendment” podcast and editor-at-large for The 19th News.
"Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, Katie Couric, Brooke Shields, Nancy Wang Yuen and Errin Haines are the perfect finishing touch to eight days of remarkable keynote speakers," Hugh Forrest, SXSW's co-president and chief programming officer, said in a news release on Monday. "We are so honored to host this distinguished group on International Women’s Day for a significant discussion on the importance of representation in media and entertainment."
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The panel will discuss women’s representation in media and entertainment, especially when it comes to women of color and mothers.
“Social media's omnipresence has raised the stakes, creating an often dangerous environment which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular,” a description for the event says.
Those with SXSW badges can catch the event at Ballroom D of the Austin Convention Center from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The group joins other big names on the Keynote lineup this year, including President, CEO and Chair of AMD Lisa Su; Academy Award-winning writers and directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert; Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of band The Black Keys; five-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time WNBA champion Sue Bird; and co-founder and CEO of Patreon Jack Conte, among others.
Meanwhile, featured speakers for SXSW this year include Selena Gomez, Pamela Adlon, Samantha Bee, Danny Brown, Michael Dell, Colman Domingo, Kirsten Dunst, Ilana Glazer, Nick Kroll, Conan O’Brien, Lilly Singh, Sydney Sweeney, Margrethe Vestager and more.