The Blavatnik School of Government today announced that Margrethe Vestager, former Vice President of the European Commission, is to be one of the inaugural Blavatnik World Leaders Fellows.
This new fellowship brings distinguished global leaders to the School as they step out of high public office, where they will contribute their expertise and insights to the study and practice of public leadership.
Ms. Vestager said:
“I am very honoured and grateful for this invitation from the Blavatnik School of Government to be a World Leaders Fellow. We are facing immense challenges, and they are global: climate change, biodiversity, cost of living crisis, and our security. And there we need to ensure that technology serves us as humans. I look forward to being a part of one of the most relevant and defining institutions in the world and to learn from and hopefully also inspire people to find solutions and implement them to the challenges we face.”
Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Margrethe Vestager to the School as one of our inaugural World Leaders Fellows. She is renowned for her pioneering approach to sustaining competition in Europe. Her leadership experience and dedication to public service will strengthen both our teaching and research.”
The Blavatnik World Leaders Fellowship is for global leaders who are transitioning from steering their countries or organisations to the next stage of their public leadership journey. The Fellowship offers the Fellow an opportunity to share their knowledge with current and future global leaders while reflecting on lessons from their leadership experience. Over the course of a year, the Blavatnik World Leaders Fellow will mentor and engage with students and alumni, convene other global leaders and explore innovative approaches to government.
The World Leaders Fellowship reflects the Blavatnik School's dedication to bridging the gap between theory and practice by connecting global leaders with the next generation of change-makers.
Biography
Margrethe Vestager is the former Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age (2019-2024) and European Commissioner for Competition (2014-2024). Vestager is a member of the Danish Social Liberal Party and of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party (ALDE) on the European level.
She previously served as Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior (2011-2014) and Minister for Education (1998-2001) of Denmark, and as President of the ECOFIN Council (2012). She was Political leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party (2007-2014) and has worked for the Danish Ministry of Finance (1993-95). Ms. Vestager holds an MSc in Economics (University of Copenhagen).
