Halla Tómasdóttir and Rt Hon Julia Gillard AC discuss gender equality, climate action and why the world is at a crossroads.
The President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, joined the Global Institute for Women's Leadership today to discuss the future of gender equality and global leadership.
Held at Australia House and chaired by the GIWL's chair Julia Gillard, the discussion explored how rising global instability, economic inequality and the climate emergency demand greater courage from political and business leaders. President Tómasdóttir argued that many of today's crises stem not from a lack of solutions but from a lack of political courage and public trust. She emphasised that meaningful change requires leaders who can balance conviction with humility and who are willing to move beyond approaches that have repeatedly failed to deliver progress.
Marking the 50th anniversary of Iceland's landmark women's strike, she recalled her childhood memories of the strike and how it revealed the scale of women's contribution to society when their paid and unpaid work came to a standstill. She said its legacy lies not only in driving policy change in Iceland, but in demonstrating the power of collective action and the importance of acting with solidarity and optimism at moments of uncertainty.
The conversation also highlighted how gender equality efforts must evolve to include boys and men. President Tómasdóttir highlighted rising loneliness among young men. She said social isolation and online harms risk deepening polarisation unless addressed through education, dialogue and more inclusive narratives about gender roles.
On climate change, she pointed to the rapid fall in the cost of clean technologies and highlighted international efforts to reach agreement on a timeline for phasing out fossil fuels. She stressed that global progress depends on political choices and on redirecting investment towards solutions that support both planetary and social wellbeing.
I would like to thank the President for her leadership and reaffirm the Institute's commitment to advancing evidence-based approaches to gender equality. President Tómasdóttir brings a rare combination of moral clarity and practical leadership. Her call for courage and connection, at a moment when fear and division dominate global politics, could not be more timely.
Rt Hon Julia Gillard AC, Chair of the King's Global Institute for Women's Leadership
I draw on the words of Mary Robinson when I say 'we're at the cusp of creating the world we want and need, but we're also at the cusp of losing it'. I too believe hope grows through action. If we bring more courage, humility and joy to this moment, we can accelerate the gender balance and climate progress the world urgently needs.
Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland
The President's visit to London also included a meeting with His Majesty King Charles III.
