Former Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017-2023); Founder, Field Fellowship for Empathetic Leadership and Board Member, The Earthshot Prize
The Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern: Biography at a Glance
- The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern was elected the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand at the age of 37, championing an inclusive and empathetic leadership style that made bold policy change and successfully guided her nation through unprecedented global and domestic challenges.
- Ardern commanded global respect for her leadership style which focused on people, kindness, and “pragmatic idealism.”
- Ardern championed women's empowerment, achieving 50% representation of women in parliament and on government-appointed boards, decriminalizing abortion, improving pay equity laws, and extending paid parental leave to 6 months.
- Under her leadership, New Zealand achieved some of the lowest losses of life through the COVID-19 pandemic, led the ban of military-style semi-automatic weapons, and created the Christchurch Call to eliminate violent extremism online.
- Ardern is now a Senior Fellow at Harvard University with fellowships at Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership as well as Harvard Law School’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, where she is focused on ways to improve content standards and platform accountability for extremist content online.
- A passionate advocate for climate action, she is a board member of The Earthshot Prize which searches for and scales the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges. She is also an Arnhold Distinguished Fellow, Conservation International where she is advocating for climate action and better treatment of the environment.
- Ardern is a highly sought-after speaker on authentic leadership, gender equity, social justice, online extremism, and climate change.
Videos
Biography
The Right Honourable 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 Adrern saw New Zealand reach a historic 50 percent representation of women in Parliament and on government-appointed boards. Her administration also decriminalized abortion, strengthened pay equity laws, and extended paid parental leave to six months. Ms Ardern is 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, a first-of-its-kind fellowship programme that fosters empathetic leadership in politics.
Topics
Lead As You Are: Lessons from Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern
When The Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern took office, she worried she would need to change drastically in order to become the leader her country needed. As she faced challenges, however, she learned that her sensitivity, compassion, and authenticity were her true gifts.
In this talk, Ardern inspires audiences to find strength in who they are and stresses that authentic leadership is about putting people first. Drawing upon her own experiences, Ardern shares how to create a culture of inclusivity and belonging where everyone feels valued for their unique perspectives and experiences.
Taking the Politics Out of Climate Change
A visionary leader and champion of climate action, The Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern urges us to recognize climate change not as a political issue, but as a humanitarian crisis.
Drawing upon her experiences as the Prime Minister of New Zealand and board member of The Earthshot Prize, Ardern weaves together compelling stories and astute policy insights to issue a profound call to collective action. Illuminating the urgent need for global cooperation in the face of our planet's greatest challenges, she reveals how we can forge a path towards a more sustainable existence for all living beings. By sharing practical solutions and innovative approaches, Ardern leaves audiences optimistic about their role in the climate solution.