European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has been named as the latest recipient of the Sutherland Leadership Award.
Ms Lagarde will come to Dublin to receive her award at a gala dinner on April 2 at O'Reilly Hall, University College Dublin, along with over 600 international business, political, and social leaders.
The gala dinner forms part of the Business & Finance Awards Programme, in association with KPMG.
The Sutherland Leadership Award was established in 2018 with the support of the Sutherland Family to recognise outstanding international leaders who have embodied the values of one of the country's and Europe's finest leaders, Peter Sutherland.
The award has recognised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Henry (Hank) Paulson, former US Secretary of the Treasury; José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission; Mario Draghi, former President of the ECB and Prime Minister of Italy; Louise Richardson, former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York; Nick Clegg, Former Deputy Prime Minister UK and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.
"It is an honour to receive the Sutherland Leadership Award. Peter Sutherland dedicated his life to driving positive change at the national, European, and global levels. His commitment to European integration and global cooperation sets a powerful example for leaders today as we navigate an especially challenging environment for policymaking," Christine Lagarde said.
Throughout her career, Christine Lagarde has continuously broken barriers.
She ws the first woman to have served in a number of pivotal roles, including French Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry from 2007 to 2011, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund from 2011 to 2019, and her current role as President of the European Central Bank.
Christine Lagarde's time at the IMF saw her tackle some of the most complex global economic issues, where she was a vocal advocate for pragmatic debt relief solutions.
As President of the European Central Bank, she has championed policies fostering economic stability, innovation, and cooperation amidst an increasingly volatile global landscape.
Ian Hyland, President Business & Finance, said that Christine Lagarde has redefined leadership on the global stage.
"Her vision and determination have steered Europe through unprecedented economic challenges, embodying Peter Sutherland's values of collaboration, progress, and positive change. We are thrilled to honour her with the Sutherland Leadership Award at this very special event in Dublin," he said.
Seamus Hand, Managing Partner at KPMG, said that Christine Lagarde's contributions to global financial stability and economic progress have been truly transformative.
"Her unwavering commitment to collaboration and innovation reflects the values we strive to uphold in driving positive change in the business world. The Sutherland Leadership Award is a fitting tribute to her remarkable vision and leadership," he added.
