From left to right: Provost Linda Doyle; Hist Auditor Áine Kennedy; Dame Jacinda Ardern; Ambassador Trevor Mallard

It was an honour for the 254th session of the College Historical Society to welcome Dame Jacinda Ardern to Trinity College on November 21st 2023 and to award her our Gold Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Public Discourse for her remarkable work in New Zealand and internationally.

Ardern was elected as Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2017 and became the country’s youngest Prime Minister in over 150 years and the world’s youngest female head of state and later went on to become the first world leader to give birth while in office since 1990!

Ardern's domestic impact has been felt through both her with her progressive policies and her refreshing approach to public life, like when she was the first Prime Minister to appear in a Pride March.

Internationally, her legacy has been monumental for many reasons, notably the “Christchurch Call” initiative which focuses on addressing digital radicalisation and holding tech companies accountable for the role social media platforms can play in terrorism and violent extremism.

We are extremely grateful to Dame Jacinda for taking the time to visit Trinity College and engage in such an interesting interview and Q&A session. It was incredible to have the opportunity to chat to her and hear her insights on such a range of topics.

Special thanks to Ambassador Trevor Mallard, the team at the New Zealand Embassy, and the Provost’s Office for their support in organising this event!

Finally, thank you very much to our wonderful headline sponsor Arthur Cox for making events like this possible.