Ireland's former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar appointed guest lecturer at Harvard

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been named a "Hauser Leader" at the Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership in Cambridge this spring.

Varadkar, who served as Taoiseach twice and served in Cabinet for 13 years, will "share his leadership experience with students, faculty, and the broader Kennedy School community through guest lecturing, student mentorship, and discussions focused on public leadership, healthcare policy, and international diplomacy," according to a statement from the school.

In April, the former Taoiseach will give the 2025 Gustav Pollak Lecture, an endowed lecture established in honor of renowned author, scholar, and journalist Gustav Pollak.

"We are honored to welcome Leo Varadkar to the Center for Public Leadership," said Anthony Foxx, CPL Director and Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership.

"At a time of deep public leadership challenges around the world, his experience working across difficult divides to advance progress and deliver for the public good offers lessons for us all.”

Detailing his career, the announcement states: "As Taoiseach, Varadkar successfully helped lead Ireland’s public health and economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. He led Ireland through Brexit, maintaining Ireland's place at the heart of the European Union and upholding the Good Friday Agreement.

"The Governments he participated in lifted Ireland’s ban on abortion and improved LGBT rights, including the introduction of marriage equality and a gender recognition law.

"Throughout his career in public service, Varadkar has promoted Ireland’s contributions to global prosperity and he has remained dedicated to advancing gender equality, public health, workers’ rights, public infrastructure, arts and culture."

Speaking on the new appointment, Varadkar said: "I am truly honored to accept the position of Hauser Leader at the Kennedy School, and I am looking forward to spending time at Harvard this spring.

"It's going to be a great opportunity for me to learn as well as to mentor the next generation of public leaders."

He added: “More so than ever, our world turns on knowledge, information, and ideas.

"This is a really exciting opportunity and after more than 20 years in elected politics, it's going to be great to do something really different for a while."

Other Hauser Leaders this spring include former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern and former US deputy secretary of State Wendy Sherman.