New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern & Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee join 2018 Social Good Summit lineup

It’s not every day that you get the chance to hear from international heads of government alongside comedians, Nobel laureates, and Bollywood stars alike. But then, the Social Good Summit isn’t your everyday forum.

Hosted at New York’s 92nd Street Y on Sunday, Sept. 23, the 2018 Social Good Summit seeks to connect anyone with a vision for a better world with today’s leaders, innovators, and activists. General Admission and Student tickets are still available, and with newly announced speakers --including New Zealand MP Jacinda Ardern and Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee -- on the agenda, you’ll want to make sure you’re there.

While relatively new to the office of prime minister, Jacinda Ardern has been active in New Zealand politics since age 18. Throughout her nine years as a member of the Labour Party, she has been a strong advocate for the rights of children and women. Just nine months after she took office, Prime Minister Ardern – a new parent herself – introduced new policies to increase paid parental leave and provide leave for survivors of domestic violence.

SEE ALSO: Why everyone's talking about New Zealand's next Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

“There is no time more critical, or effective, in influencing a child’s future as early childhood. At the very least, children need a warm, dry place to call home, safe and supported mothers and families, the ability to access health care, and food and nourishment. The environment and experiences that babies and young children are exposed to in their early years affects their lifelong happiness, health, wellbeing and cognitive function, and governments play a key role in ensuring access to the support and services they need,” said Prime Minister Ardern.

Prime Minister Ardern will join UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore onstage for a discussion on why businesses and governments must revolutionize workplaces by investing in family-friendly policies.

Like Ardern, Leymah Gbowee’s public service has been a lifelong mission. Having witnessed the toll that Liberia’s First Civil War took on her fellow countrymen, Gbowee became a trauma counsellor to treat former child soldiers. When the country’s Second Civil War erupted in 2003, Gbowee organized the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace movement -- an inter-religious coalition of women who conducted nonviolent protests demanding reconciliation. Leymah Gbowee received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her work in leading that movement; and today, Gbowee serves as Founder and President of Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa, providing educational and leadership opportunities to girls, women and youth in West Africa.

For the full list of speakers, visit SocialGoodSummit.com, and be sure to follow @MashableEvents on Twitter for additional event updates.

Interested in covering the #2030NOW conversation IRL? The Summit is accepting applications to join the Digital Media Lounge, a dedicated onsite workspace for journalists and bloggers.

The 2018 Social Good Summit is presented by:

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable