Debra Whitman

Debra Whitman is chief public policy officer at AARP, where she leads global policy and research to help communities, lawmakers, and the private sector improve our lives as we age. Whitman is an economist and expert on aging issues with experience in U.S. policymaking and international research. Previously, as staff director for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Whitman worked across the aisle to increase retirement security, lower health care costs, protect vulnerable seniors, make the pharmaceutical industry more transparent, and improve our long-term care system. Whitman is the author of the forthcoming book, “The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond,” and is a public speaker and an advocate for those whose voices need to be heard. (AARP is a 2024 Festival Underwriter)