Helping Leaders Govern

Change happens – the choice is whether to lead it or be driven by it

Helping Leaders Govern

Every leader can benefit from discreet and confidential advice

Helping Leaders Govern

Leading change requires a vision of a better future

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

Helen on BBC World Service

Helen Clark on geopolitics, Brexit and leadership

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

Leadership with Cassam Uteem, a Grégoire Roos interview

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

Her story made history, a BBC interview with Vaira Vike-Freiberga

Network News

Kevin Rudd becomes Australian Ambassador to Washington

Kevin Rudd has today become Australia's new Ambassador to the United States. You can follow developments in Washington DC via his new Twitter account: @AmboRudd He previously served as Australia's Prime Minister from 2007-2010 and 2013 as well as Minister for Foreign...

Dick Olver stands down from Strategy Committee

It was announced at the Strategy and Development Committee meeting on 15th February 2023 that Sir Richard Olver had notified the Chairman about his request to stand down from the Committee. GLF thanks Dick for his long and valuable contribution to the Committee.

GLF co-hosts first Asia-Pacific Leaders Dialogue

After a three-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, last week GLF co-hosted the first Asia-Pacific Leaders Dialogue (APLD) in partnership with Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia GLF Members Helen Clark, Marzuki Darusman, Gareth Evans...

Michael Webb joins Strategy and Development Committee

Michael (Mike) Webb has accepted the invitation of Victor Blank, Chairman of the Strategy and Development Committee, to join the Committee. Mike most recently served as the Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer of Nutrien, the world’s largest agricultural...

One Year Anniversary of the Passing of FW de Klerk

Today we mark the first Anniversary of the sad passing of GLF’s Founding Father, former President and Nobel Laureate FW de Klerk.  He dedicated his life to making a difference, not only in his own Country, for which he is justly recognised as a figure of historic...

Thomas Pickering Awarded The Walter and Leonore Annenberg Award

GLF Member Thomas Pickering has been awarded the The Walter and Leonore Annenberg Award for Excellence in Diplomacy. The annual award in given by the American Academy of Diplomacy in recognition of an individual or group who has made exemplary contributions to the...

GLF Members Sign Letter on Transforming Education

18 GLF Members signed the recent Gordon Brown op-ed article entitled 'Transforming Education'. The letter calls for the doubling of education budgets in low and middle income countries as well as the modernisation of the education system.

Passing of Fidel Valdez Ramos

The Global Leadership Foundation records, with deepest regret, the death on 31 July 2022 of Fidel Valdez Ramos, President of The Philippines 1992 – 1998, and GLF Member since 2004. As Chair of the GLF, Helen Clark has extended the deepest condolences of the Foundation...

Articles & Speeches By GLF Members

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Don't Put Covid-19 in the Rearview Mirror

by ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF

Thomas R.Pickering
How to Prepare for Peace Talks in Ukraine

by THOMAS R PICKERING

Javier Solana
Interdependence in the Twenty-First Century

by JAVIER SOLANA

Ana Palacio
Can the West Woo Africa?

by ANA PALACIO

Gareth Evans
Managing External Risk: Challenges for Malaysia

by GARETH EVANS

Carl Bildt
Post-Putin Possibilities

by CARL BILDT

GLF ANNUAL MEETINGS

Our Annual Meeting is a pivotal event in our calendar as it brings together the GLF family to create and develop opportunities to achieve what GLF has sought to do since its earliest days.