Dame Jacinda Arden

Dame Jacinda Arden
Earthshot Prize Trustee

Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, is joining the Board of Trustees of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize.

Her commitment to sustainable development and climate action as Prime Minister of New Zealand strongly aligns with The Earthshot Prize’s optimistic ambition and its efforts to protect and restore our planet by 2030.

Speaking about the appointment, Prince William said:

“It is an honour to welcome Jacinda to The Earthshot Prize team. Her life-long commitment to supporting sustainable and environmental solutions, along with her experience as Prime Minister of New Zealand, will bring a rich infusion of new thinking to our mission.

“Four years ago, before The Earthshot Prize even had a name, Jacinda was one of the first people I spoke to, and her encouragement and advice was crucial to the Prize’s early success. I am hugely grateful to her for joining us as she takes the next steps in her career.”

Jacinda Ardern said:

“I am humbled and excited to be working with the Earthshot team. Since its inception, I’ve believed Earthshot’s power to encourage and spread not only the innovation we desperately need, but also optimism. Solutions are within our reach if we invest, support and accelerate them globally.”

In September 2022, Ms. Ardern attended The Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York where she spoke on behalf of Prince William as he remained in the UK following the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

She offered powerful remarks on the critical need for innovation to positively alter the course of our environmental trajectory and called on political leaders and the private sector to support and invest in solutions.

The Earthshot Prize Board of Trustees seeks to bring independent, diverse and expert perspectives to guide and oversee The Earthshot Prize as it continues to scale and achieve its ambition to repair and regenerate the planet.

Christiana Figueres, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Earthshot Prize, said:

“I have long-been inspired by Jacinda’s work as a catalysing force in the effort to combat climate change. She is a tremendous champion of environmental innovation, and her perspective, experience and guidance will no-doubt make a powerful impact on the entire Earthshot Prize organisation. My fellow Trustees and I are thrilled to welcome Jacinda in her new role.”

Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern was a New Zealand politician who served as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. A member of the Labour Party, she was a member of Parliament as a list MP from 2008 to 2017, and for Mount Albert from 2017 to 2023.