Johan Rockström global Hillary Laureate for 2017

The international Governors and NZ Trustees of the Hillary Institute of International Leadership has selected centre director Johan Rockström as their global Hillary Laureate for 2017. Rockström was selected from a global short-list of remarkable candidates demonstrating extraordinary leadership in mid-career. The Hillary Institute was launched by Sir Edmund from Antarctica on 22 January 2007 in the company of former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, and principal philanthropic investor Jan Cameron.

He is the 8th Hillary Laureate named since 2009, joining a distinguished group including the UK’s Jeremy Leggett and Tim Jackson, China’s Peggy Liu, Kiribati former President Anote Tong, Amazon Watch Founder Atossa Soltani and Americans Michael Brune and Aimee Christen-sen. All are tied by a clear commitment to existential issues, particularly climate change and economic transition.

Says Hillary Institute Founding Director Mark Prain, “In the name of Sir Edmund’s limitless spirit we are honoured to have Johan’s eloquent, compelling voice join the Institute’s small but powerful community of mid-career leaders making significant change happen. The challenges we face as a global community require exceptional adults in the room.”

Adds Chairman Anake Goodall, “Johan’s leadership in environmental science and the framing of our current global challenge of fitting larger human populations and the consequent resource demands on a constrained planet is both timely and fundamentally important. It is a privilege to welcome Johan to the Hillary Laureate family.”