The Global Leadership Foundation exists to make available, discreetly and in confidence, the experience of former leaders to today’s national leaders.
It does so through its network of Members – former Presidents, Prime Ministers, senior government ministers and other distinguished leaders – drawn together by a desire to give something back to the world.
Working in small teams, in their personal capacity, Members offer private and confidential advice to Heads of Government.
GLF is a not-for-profit foundation, registered in Switzerland and is independent of any government or corporate interest.
Feature Videos

Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the first female president of Latvia, tells her extraordinary life story.

GLF Message from Chairman FW de Klerk

GLF Member Gareth Evans explores Europe at a crossroads at the 2019 Schuman Lecture.
Network News
GLF Letter to UN Secretary General on Myanmar
On 29th March 2021, GLF Chairman FW de Klerk wrote to UN Secretary General António Guterres concerning the situation in Myanmar. The letter urges the Secretary General to use Article 99 to call for an immediate formal meeting of the Security Council, as well as to...
R9B join GLF International Council
GLF Members sign letter to UN Secretary General
GLF Members, in coordination with the World Refugee & Migration Council, have signed a letter to the UN Secretary General on the situation in Ethiopia. The letter requests for an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council be convened to consider the...
GLF Members join Barrett, The Honors College
GLF Members Jose Ramos Horta and PJ Patterson both recently delivered Keynote addresses to students as part of Barrett, The Honors College’s Distinguished Global Leaders Series. In previous years, GLF Members have spent several weeks at the College, however due to the...
BBC’s Giles Edwards publishes ‘The Ex Men’ book
GLF is pleased to share the recently published book, 'The Ex Men: How Our Former Presidents and Prime Ministers Are Still Changing the World' by BBC documentary producer, Giles Edwards. The book examines the many ways in which former Presidents and Prime Ministers...
GLF welcomes Guy Spier to the International Council
Helen Clark appointed Chair of Global Commission on Drug Policy
Vice Chair Helen Clark was recently appointed Chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, an organisation which aims to better drug policy around the world. She succeeds former Swiss Confederation President, Ruth Dreifuss. To find out more about the organisation,...
GLF Members sign Letter on Education Emergency
Twenty five GLF Members and three GLF Patrons signed Gordon Brown's latest Letter to the International Community on the current education emergency facing billions of young people around the world. The letter asks all Governments pledge to protect front line spending...
Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed WHO panel co-Chairs
GLF Members Helen Clark and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have been appointed co-Chairs of the World Health Organisation's Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness & Response. They will select the remaining Members of their panel from candidates proposed by Member...
Balbec Capital join GLF International Council
Articles & Speeches By GLF Members

The Responsibility to Protect the People of Myanmar
by GARETH EVANS

Humanity's Historic Test
by CARL BILDT

A New Concert? Diplomacy for a Chaotic World
by CHESTER CROCKER

Leaderless Liberalism
by ANA PALACIO

The US Superpower: Viewed from a Village in the Far East
by JOSE RAMOS HORTA

Short of War: How to Keep US - Chinese Confrontation From Ending in Calamity
by KEVIN RUDD
GLF ANNUAL MEETINGS