Jacinda Ardern

Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. Ardern grew up in Morrinsville and joined the New Zealand Labour Party at the age of 17. After graduating from the University of Waikato in 2001, she worked as a researcher in the office of Helen Clark who was Prime Minister at that time. She later worked as an adviser in the Cabinet Office in London during Tony Blair's premiership. Ardern was Prime Minister in New Zealand during the pandemic and was both acclaimed and criticised for the stringent safety measures taken at that time. Jacinda has been married to Clark Gayford since 2024, and they have a daughter who was born during her time as Prime Minister.