Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Joins University of Sydney
By Chloe · Published 27 Oct 2026 · Updated 27 Oct 2026
Sydney, NSW · New South Wales News
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Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Joins University of Sydney - Sydney, NSW
Smart summary
Jacinda Ardern has been appointed a Professor of Practice at the University of Sydney, where she will mentor students and contribute to work on empathetic leadership, public health and social cohesion.
Former New Zealand prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern has joined the University of Sydney as a Professor of Practice, bringing her experience in government and public leadership to students, researchers and the wider university community.
The appointment was announced on 27 October 2026. Ardern will be based in the School of Public Health within the university's Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her role will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion, civic trust and approaches to global challenges.
The university said Ardern would contribute through guest lectures, masterclasses and mentoring. She will also work with researchers and university leaders on issues involving public health, equity, inclusion and wellbeing. The position is not a full-time teaching role.
Bringing political experience into academic life
Ardern became New Zealand's 40th prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37. She served until 2023, leading the country through several major events, including the Christchurch terrorist attacks, the Whakaari White Island volcanic eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her leadership during these crises attracted international attention, particularly her public communication and emphasis on empathy during difficult periods. Her government also pursued policies addressing housing, climate change and child poverty.
The university believes her experience can help students understand how leaders respond to complex challenges, communicate during crises and build trust with communities.
Vice-Chancellor and President Mark Scott welcomed the appointment, describing Ardern as a leader whose courage and humanity had made a significant contribution to public life. He said students would benefit from learning directly from someone who had held the highest political office in New Zealand.
Focus on leadership and public health
Ardern's academic work will explore how leadership can respond to challenges that cross national and professional boundaries. These include public health inequalities, community wellbeing, social cohesion and the relationship between institutions and the people they serve.
The university's School of Public Health provides a setting for connecting leadership experience with research into health and society. Through collaboration with researchers and students, Ardern will contribute perspectives drawn from her time in government and her subsequent work on leadership.
The appointment also reflects a broader interest among universities in bringing experienced public figures into academic environments. Professors of Practice contribute practical knowledge alongside traditional teaching and research, helping students connect academic ideas with real-world decisions.
Work since leaving office
After resigning as prime minister in January 2023, Ardern continued working on issues involving leadership, technology and international cooperation. She held fellowships at Harvard University and joined the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government as a Distinguished Fellow in 2024.
She has also remained involved in efforts to address online extremism and terrorism through the Christchurch Call, an initiative established after the 2019 Christchurch attacks. Her work has included discussions about responsible technology, public leadership and the role of institutions in responding to global challenges.
Ardern and her family moved to Australia in February 2026, according to media reports. Her new appointment adds a formal university role to her ongoing international activities.
Opportunities for students and researchers
The University of Sydney expects Ardern to engage with students through mentoring, guest lectures and masterclasses. Her contribution will give students opportunities to examine leadership decisions, public communication and the challenges faced by governments during periods of uncertainty.
The appointment is also intended to support collaboration across public health, public policy and other areas of university research. By connecting practical experience with academic inquiry, the university aims to encourage new approaches to leadership and community wellbeing.
Ardern said she was looking forward to working alongside students, faculty members and researchers to explore ways of serving communities and addressing global challenges.
Her appointment marks a new chapter in her career following six years as New Zealand's prime minister and subsequent work in international education, leadership and public service.
UniversityArdernLeadershipStudentsHealth
Former New Zealand prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern has joined the University of Sydney as a Professor of Practice, bringing her experience in government and public leadership to students, researchers and the wider university community.
The appointment was announced on 27 October 2026. Ardern will be based in the School of Public Health within the university's Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her role will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion, civic trust and approaches to global challenges.
The university said Ardern would contribute through guest lectures, masterclasses and mentoring. She will also work with researchers and university leaders on issues involving public health, equity, inclusion and wellbeing. The position is not a full-time teaching role.
Bringing political experience into academic life
Ardern became New Zealand's 40th prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37. She served until 2023, leading the country through several major events, including the Christchurch terrorist attacks, the Whakaari White Island volcanic eruption and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her leadership during these crises attracted international attention, particularly her public communication and emphasis on empathy during difficult periods. Her government also pursued policies addressing housing, climate change and child poverty.
The university believes her experience can help students understand how leaders respond to complex challenges, communicate during crises and build trust with communities.
Vice-Chancellor and President Mark Scott welcomed the appointment, describing Ardern as a leader whose courage and humanity had made a significant contribution to public life. He said students would benefit from learning directly from someone who had held the highest political office in New Zealand.
Focus on leadership and public health
Ardern's academic work will explore how leadership can respond to challenges that cross national and professional boundaries. These include public health inequalities, community wellbeing, social cohesion and the relationship between institutions and the people they serve.
The university's School of Public Health provides a setting for connecting leadership experience with research into health and society. Through collaboration with researchers and students, Ardern will contribute perspectives drawn from her time in government and her subsequent work on leadership.
The appointment also reflects a broader interest among universities in bringing experienced public figures into academic environments. Professors of Practice contribute practical knowledge alongside traditional teaching and research, helping students connect academic ideas with real-world decisions.
Work since leaving office
After resigning as prime minister in January 2023, Ardern continued working on issues involving leadership, technology and international cooperation. She held fellowships at Harvard University and joined the University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government as a Distinguished Fellow in 2024.
She has also remained involved in efforts to address online extremism and terrorism through the Christchurch Call, an initiative established after the 2019 Christchurch attacks. Her work has included discussions about responsible technology, public leadership and the role of institutions in responding to global challenges.
Ardern and her family moved to Australia in February 2026, according to media reports. Her new appointment adds a formal university role to her ongoing international activities.
Opportunities for students and researchers
The University of Sydney expects Ardern to engage with students through mentoring, guest lectures and masterclasses. Her contribution will give students opportunities to examine leadership decisions, public communication and the challenges faced by governments during periods of uncertainty.
The appointment is also intended to support collaboration across public health, public policy and other areas of university research. By connecting practical experience with academic inquiry, the university aims to encourage new approaches to leadership and community wellbeing.
Ardern said she was looking forward to working alongside students, faculty members and researchers to explore ways of serving communities and addressing global challenges.
Her appointment marks a new chapter in her career following six years as New Zealand's prime minister and subsequent work in international education, leadership and public service.
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