Jacinda Ardern
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017-2023); Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow, Hauser Leader Center for Public Leadership; Senior Fellow, Women and Public Policy Program, Harvard University; Patron, Christchurch Call Foundation; Board Member, The Earthshot Prize; Distinguished Fellow, Conservation International; Founder, Field Fellowship for Empathetic Leadership.
The Right Honorable Dame Jacinda Ardern served as the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Assuming office at just 37, Ms. Ardern championed an inclusive and empathetic leadership style that made bold policy change and successfully guided her nation through unprecedented global and domestic challenges.
During her time in office, Ms. Ardern confronted significant challenges, including a live-streamed domestic terror attack targeting New Zealand’s Muslim community, a volcanic eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding with a people-first approach grounded in kindness, she helped New Zealand achieve one of the lowest losses of life during the pandemic among developed nations, instituted a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons, and created the Christchurch Call to Eliminate Violent Extremism Online, for which she remains an active Patron.
A champion of women's empowerment, Ms. Ardern administration saw New Zealand reach a historic 50 percent representation of women in Parliament, and on government appointed boards. Her government also decriminalized abortion, strengthened pay equity laws, extended paid parental leave to six months, and secured historic international trade agreements. Ms. Ardern is also the second woman in history to give birth while leading a country.
Today, Ms. Ardern continues to hold roles that allow her to “be useful” including through her Fellowship roles at Harvard University. She is an active advocate for climate action, serving on the board of The Earthshot Prize and as a Distinguished Fellow at Conservation International, helping provide solutions to climate change and environmental challenges.
In 2024, Ms. Ardern founded Field and leads a first of its kind fellowship program that fosters empathetic leadership in politics.
