Dame Jacinda Ardern Joins LawZero's Global Advisory Council to Guide AI Initiatives

Dame Jacinda Ardern Joins LawZero's Global Advisory Council

On March 5, 2026, LawZero officially announced the appointment of Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, to its Global Advisory Council. This significant move marks a strengthening of LawZero's governance as it aims to create advanced, safe AI systems that serve as a global public good.

Dame Jacinda Ardern's political career has been defined by her compassionate and reliable leadership, particularly during crises. Serving as the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023, she garnered worldwide respect for her empathetic responses, most notably during the Christchurch massacre, which profoundly impacted her country's approach to violence and online extremism.

Dame Jacinda was instrumental in spearheading the Christchurch Call, a collaborative effort involving over 50 nations and tech companies aimed at eliminating extremist material from online platforms. This initiative not only showcased her ability to unify stakeholders around critical issues but also highlighted the intersection of technological advancements with societal well-being.

In welcoming Dame Jacinda to the board, Dr. Yoshua Bengio, Co-President and Scientific Director of LawZero, stated, “Her rich experience in leading with integrity and insight into global technology concerns are irreplaceable assets for our organization. Our aim is to ensure that AI technologies evolve in a manner that is aligned with human interests.” He emphasized the organization's commitment to prioritizing safety and ethics in the development of AI.

Dame Jacinda echoed this sentiment, remarking that there is a misleading narrative that society must sacrifice safety for technological progress. She championed LawZero’s mission, stating, “LawZero confronts this narrative by promoting a human-centered methodology. We have the chance to harness the benefits of AI for society while proficiently mitigating its associated risks.”

Joining Dame Jacinda on LawZero's Global Advisory Council is another notable global leader, Stefan Löfven, the former Prime Minister of Sweden. This combination of high-level political expertise signifies LawZero’s dedication to integrating prominent figures in global governance and ethical leadership into its operations. All members of the Council serve voluntarily without remuneration, demonstrating their commitment to LawZero’s mission.

In addition to the Global Advisory Council, LawZero's Board includes other influential figures such as Maria Eitel, the founder of the Nike Foundation; Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Yuval Noah Harari, the acclaimed historian and author; and Valérie Pisano, CEO of Mila - Quebec AI Institute. This diverse range of expertise will allow LawZero to strategically navigate the evolving landscape of AI technology responsibly.

The joint efforts of the Board and the Global Advisory Council are pointedly directed at ensuring the long-term capabilities of LawZero while aligning closely with its mission of advocating for safe and equitable AI. In the forthcoming year, priority objectives will focus on fundraising endeavors, computing strategies, and expanding the organization's global footprint.

LawZero is a nonprofit being initiated to advocate for the development of safe-by-design AI systems, backed by leading global organizations such as the Gates Foundation and Schmidt Sciences. Located in Montréal and founded by Dr. Yoshua Bengio, this initiative is deeply rooted in academic research and aims to ensure the responsible and fair deployment of AI technology.

In her biographical note, Dame Jacinda Ardern's tenure as Prime Minister has been marked by significant domestic challenges, including a live-streamed act of terror, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic. With her “people-first” approach, New Zealand achieved one of the lowest fatalities among developed countries during the pandemic, directly contributing to her international reputation as a compassionate and effective leader.

As LawZero progresses in its ambitious mission to ensure that AI serves the public good, the addition of Dame Jacinda Ardern to its advisory council is not just a symbolic gesture, but a strategic move towards a brighter and safer technological future.