Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will lecture at Harvard University's Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership this spring.
Varadkar has been appointed Hauser Leader at the college, and Harvard said he would "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."
In the role -- which has been held by former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, diplomat Wendy Sherman, and Nobel peace laureates Maria Ressa and Tawakkol Karman -- Varadkar will give the Gustav Pollak lecture this April.
The lecture is supposed to stimulate interest in government careers and research with a view toward building a better government.
"We are [honoured] 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.”
Varadkar was a TD for Dublin West from 2007 to 2024, and served in cabinet for 13 years, acting as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Minister for Health, Minister for Social Protection, and latterly Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment.
He succeeded Enda Kenny as Fine Gael leader in 2017, serving out the rest of 32nd Dáil as Taoiseach, and he was appointed Taoiseach again in 2022 as part of the last government.
He was also Tánaiste under Micheál Martin from 2020 to 2022.
As Taoiseach, Varadakar led the government at the height of Brexit negotiations, the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, and during the early stages of the pandemic.
He ultimately decided to end his political career after the outgoing government was defeated in the two referendums on family and care last March.
Commenting on his 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.
“More so than ever, our world turns on knowledge, information and ideas. This is a really exciting opportunity and after more than twenty years in elected politics, it's going to be great to do something really different for a while."
Other notable figures to be appointed Hauser Leader at the Kennedy School include former CDC director Rochelle Walensky, Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
Photo: Leo Varadkar announcing his resignation as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader last March. (Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie)
