The Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was born in the city of Hamilton, New Zealand, and grew up rurally. She attended high school before completing a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Public Relations and Political Science at Waikato Management School from 1999 to 2001.

Post-university, she worked as an advisor in the office of then-Prime Minister Helen Clark, in London for the British Government Cabinet Office and as an Assistant Director in the Department for Business and Enterprise, and on a review of Policing in England and Wales.

Jacinda Ardern joined the New Zealand Labour Party at age 18 and entered New Zealand’s Parliament in 2008. She became Prime Minister of New Zealand in October 2017 and resigned from that role in January 2023.

In 2022 Jacinda was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Harvard University.

In 2023 Jacinda was appointed the Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.