Helle Thorning-Schmidt has an extensive background spanning politics, international relations and business. In 2017, she was named as one of the world’s greatest leaders by Fortune magazine. As Prime Minister of Denmark from 2011-2015, Helle steered Denmark through a difficult financial crisis while reducing child poverty and increasing spending on education. She also served as leader of the country’s Social Democrat party for a decade, and was the first woman to hold both positions.
Following her term as PM, Helle was the Chief Executive of Save the Children, overseeing the work of 17,000 staff in 120 countries to reach around 50 million children every year in some of the most difficult and challenging contexts. She was deeply engaged in highlighting the humanitarian crises in Yemen and Syria and the Rohingya refugee crisis.
Mrs Thorning-Schmidt remains deeply engaged in these geopolitical issues as a member of several foreign policy think tanks, including the US Council on Foreign Relations, the European Council for Foreign Relations, the International Crisis Group and the Atlantic Council International Advisory Board. Helle is also a member of the Berggruen 21st Century Council.
In 2017, Helle was a co-chair of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, and is on the board of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Today, Helle uses her deep political and international expertise to advise a range of businesses and not-for-profit groups. She sits on the board of Vestas, one of the world’s leaders in sustainable energy, and Safelane, a global leader in clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war. She also provides insight and guidance on European affairs to Algebris Investments, a global asset management firm, as part of their Research and Policy Forum.
