Linda Hill
Professor, Harvard Business School. Author, Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation. Leadership Expert
Helen Clark led New Zealand for nearly 10 years as its Prime Minister. She then joined the UN, becoming its most powerful woman in her role as Administrator of the UNDP. She later co-chaired a WHO panel that published a revelatory report on international response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Her commanding and enlightening keynote speeches highlight events devoted to human potential and progress.
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New Zealand’s former Prime Minister, political speaker Helen Clark is a leading voice for sustainable development and public health. A versatile and engaging keynote speaker, Helen Clark shares a lifetime of experience in leadership, public policy, and social justice.
In 1999, Helen Clark became the first woman to become Prime Minister of New Zealand following a general election. She served as Prime Minister from 1999-2008, winning three consecutive terms in office.
Clark’s remarkably effective tenure as Prime Minister capped a 27-year career in Parliament. Under her leadership, New Zealand became an international beacon for sustainable development and a social and cultural powerhouse. Clark also led successful policy initiatives to strengthen New Zealand’s domestic economy and take a more assertive role in international affairs.
After her final term as Prime Minister, Clark became Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. She was the first woman to serve in that capacity, and did so for two distinguished four-year terms. During her tenure, Publish What You Fund named the UNDP the world’s most transparent development organization. While leading the UNDP, Clark also chaired the UN Development Group, which oversees all UN development work.
In 2020, Clark was appointed co-chair of the WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness. The panel delivered a report in May 2021 that cast a critical light on the international response to Covid-19.
Prior to winning election to Parliament, Clark taught political science at her alma mater, the University of Auckland.
In this keynote speech, former New Zealand's PM, Rt Helen Clark will talk about the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the need for countries all over the world to set specific targets and a commitment to monitoring and accountability because there is no time left for our planet.
In this keynote speech, former New Zealand's PM, Rt Helen Clark, will talk about the importance of having women in decision-making positions and of gender equality. Drawing from her experience in New Zealand, where already many glass ceilings where broken in this regard, will inspire audiences about what's possible and the need to have more women in powerful positions.