Former New Zealand Prime Minister to Speak at Brown

Community members are invited to join Brown University President Christina H. Paxson in welcoming the Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern to campus on Thursday, October 5, to deliver the Ogden Lecture on “Global Leadership in the 21st Century.” 

After becoming prime minister of New Zealand at just 37 years of age, Ardern faced several unique challenges, including a live-streamed domestic terror attack against New Zealand’s Muslim community, a volcanic eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ardern’s focus on people, kindness and what she has called “pragmatic idealism” saw New Zealand achieve some of the lowest losses of life experienced by any developed nation through the pandemic, the ban of military style semi-automatic weapons in her country, and the creation of the Christchurch Call to Action to eliminate violent extremism online, with which Ardern continues to hold the role of special envoy. 

Ardern is a champion of women's empowerment and a passionate advocate on climate action and is a board member of The Earthshot Prize, focusing on solutions to climate change and environmental issues. 

The Stephen A. Ogden Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs is the University’s oldest and most prestigious foreign affairs lecture series.

Registration is required. Learn more and register at ogden.brown.edu.