Jacinda Ardern will make a perfect professor. You don’t need a PhD to know that

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will assume a teaching role in Sydney, imparting lessons on empathetic leadership at the University of Sydney. Ardern, 46, gained global recognition for her adept management of the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand, yet her domestic popularity waned amidst pandemic restrictions before she resigned from politics in January 2023.

Hailing from the United States, Ardern relocated to Sydney's northern beaches earlier this year. In a statement, she expressed her enthusiasm about joining the University of Sydney, noting her recent focus on leadership and the need to support and encourage effective leadership in addressing global challenges. As a Professor of Practice this month, she will engage in guest lectures, masterclasses, and mentoring, with her work centered on empathetic leadership, social cohesion, and civic trust, as well as advancing innovative strategies for global and values-driven leadership.

While Ardern is celebrated as an international champion of progressive politics, she faced criticism at home due to declining support and economic challenges during her second term, exacerbated by the negative repercussions of Covid-19 measures.