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 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
GLF Members Sign a Call to Defend Democracy
Twenty two GLF Members have signed International IDEA's Call to Defend Democracy which has been also signed by over 70 international institutions and a long list of distinguished leaders. The statement claims that the Coronavirus pandemic threatens the future of...
GLF welcomes Supachai Panitchpakdi as a new Member
GLF recently welcomed Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi as a new Member and we are delighted that he accepted the Chairman's invitation. He was Secretaray General of The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 2005 - 2013, Director General of the World...
Articles & Speeches By GLF Members

Who is Attacking Whom?
by MOHAMED ELBARADEI

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

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

What the Brexit Trade Deal Means
by JOHN BRUTON

America, Heal Thyself
by ANA PALACIO

Nutrition Leadership During a Pandemic
by JOHN KUFUOR
GLF ANNUAL MEETINGS