Global Leadership Awards Dinner 2026
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs will honor Ambassador Cindy McCain, David J. Vitale, and Chris Myers at the 23rd Annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner.
October 28, 2026, 6:00 - 9:00 PM CST
The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 E. Delaware Pl.
Please join us for the 23rd Annual Global Leadership Awards Dinner on Wednesday, October 28, at the Four Seasons, as the Chicago Council on Global Affairs honors distinguished individuals for extraordinary leadership and commitment to our city, the nation, and the world.
The evening will honor Ambassador Cindy McCain, former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme and former US Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture; David J. Vitale, Chicago business and civic leader; and Chris Myers, principal at EY-Parthenon, intelligence officer with the US Navy Reserves, and Council Emerging Leaders alumnus.
2026 Dinner Chairs
- Ertharin Cousin
- Eric Larson
Registration coming soon.
For questions, please contact:
Nancy Joyce Callahan
Director, Events and Special ProjectsContact
GLAD@globalaffairs.org
About the Honorees
Cindy McCain
Former Executive Director, UN World Food Programme
Cindy McCain is an American businesswoman, philanthropist, humanitarian, and the widow of US Senator John McCain. She served as US Ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome from 2021 to 2023, and in 2023 she was appointed Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, leading the world's largest humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting global hunger.
David J. Vitale
Chicago Business and Civic Leader
David Vitale’s distinguished career spans banking, education, public service, and philanthropy. He has served as president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Board of Trade and president of the Chicago Board of Education, among many other leadership roles. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to strengthening institutions, expanding opportunity, and serving the public good.
M&A Partner, Strategy and Transactions, EY-Parthenon
Chris Myers is a partner in EY-Parthenon's strategy consulting practice where he specializes in complex, international M&A transactions. He also serves as an intelligence officer in the US Navy Reserve and is currently deployed to Germany on active-duty orders for Operation Atlantic Resolve, where he is on the front line supporting intelligence collection and sharing with Ukraine.