Global Citizen Adds New Board Members in Europe

New York / London, September 2, 2025 – Today, Global Citizen, the world’s leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty, announced the appointment of four new members to its Europe Board of Directors, strengthening its presence in Europe and commitment to advancing its mission. The newly appointed Europe Board members include: Leo Varadkar, Former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland and a member of Ireland's Council of State; Steve Hill, Independent Board Risk Adviser and former UK Cabinet Office official; Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation and Octopus Energy for Business; and Friederike Röder, Director of the Solidarity Levies Task Force and former VP, Head of Advocacy at Global Citizen.

Reflecting Global Citizen’s expanding footprint across Europe, these new appointees will serve under the leadership of Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Chair of Global Citizen’s Europe Board, Activist, CEO, and UN Goodwill Ambassador for IFAD, and sit alongside existing Board members, including Stefan Löfven, Former Prime Minister of Sweden; Joe Cerrell, Managing Director, Global Policy and Advocacy Gates Foundation; and Sawsan Chebli, Former State Secretary for Civic Engagement and International Relations, Author and Activist.

With expertise spanning from innovative financing mechanisms, development, clean energy, international governance, and social reform, the newly appointed board members will provide strategic guidance to help drive Global Citizen’s mission to end extreme poverty and defend the planet against the climate crisis, by leveraging both public and private sector expertise. 

“The challenges we face today, from climate change and inequality to energy poverty and access to healthcare, demand visionary leadership, strong partnerships, and innovative collaboration,” said Michael Sheldrick, Co‑Founder and Chief Policy, Impact, and Government Affairs Officer, Global Citizen. “With expertise spanning clean energy, cybersecurity, international governance and global development, these exceptional leaders bring the breadth of strategic insights and cross-sector leadership needed to accelerate our mission in a challenging climate. We are proud to welcome them to Global Citizen’s Europe Board.”

“I am really excited to join the board of Global Citizen Europe. As Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of Ireland, I engaged with the organisation and was impressed by its dedication and work,” said Leo Varadkar, Former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland and a member of Ireland's Council of State. “While it may not always be obvious, so many of the problems we face in our own countries are global in origin or have a global dimension. So we need global as well as local solutions to extreme poverty and inequality, climate change and biodiversity loss. These problems are not intractable, they have been created by humans and can be solved by collective action.”

"I’m honoured to be joining the European Board of Global Citizen — an organisation I’ve admired and supported for more than a decade. What makes Global Citizen unique is its ability to connect millions of people worldwide with the leaders and institutions that can deliver real, systemic change," said Steve Hill, Independent Board Risk Adviser and former UK Cabinet Office official. "From driving commitments on climate action to mobilising funding for health, education, and equality, they have proven that global challenges can be met when citizens stand together. Over the years I’ve seen first-hand how Global Citizen’s campaigns can translate passion into tangible impact. I look forward to drawing on my own experience to help them continue to grow, strengthen, and manage the risks that come with scale."

“If society gets this right, creating access to clean energy is the core enabler in kickstarting new economies that can end extreme poverty, and at the same time, drive down harmful global emissions to fight the climate crisis, said Zoisa North-Bond, CEO at Octopus Energy Generation. “I look forward to working alongside the extraordinary minds convened by Global Citizen to turn ambition into action and deliver meaningful change at scale."

“I am honored to join Global Citizen’s Europe Board at such a pivotal moment. As the world faces overlapping crises—from climate change to inequality and poverty—it is clear that we must mobilize bold ideas, new financing, and strong partnerships to go beyond ‘business as usual’ and deliver impact,” said Friederike Röder, Director of the Solidarity Levies Task Force. “Global Citizen's role in bringing together citizens, governments, and the private sector is more critical than ever. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to help accelerate this mission across Europe and beyond.”

Global Citizen Europe Board New Appointees:

Leo Varadkar, former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland and a member of Ireland's Council of State, played a pivotal role in guiding Ireland through the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit negotiations, while advancing major social reforms on LGBT rights, gender equality, and healthcare. Now a Hauser Leader at Harvard Kennedy School and a global advocate for health equity, Dr. Varadkar brings profound public service experience and a strong voice for inclusive global development. 

Steve Hill brings nearly four decades of experience in national security, cyber resilience, and corporate risk. As a former senior UK government official and private sector executive at Credit Suisse and UBS, Steve is uniquely positioned to advise on risk, resilience, and global governance. He is an honorary professor at King’s College London, a security contributor to ABC News, and sits on several advisory boards including for PwC, Dell Technologies and Control Risks.

Zoisa North-Bond is a leading voice in the clean energy revolution. As CEO of Octopus Energy Generation and Octopus Energy for Business, Zoisa has been instrumental in growing one of Europe’s largest renewable energy operations, delivering clean power across 23 countries. Under her leadership, Octopus has launched the world’s first people-powered renewable investment platform and a pioneering wind tariff that lets communities directly benefit from local wind . With her bold vision and expertise, Zoisa is redefining how energy is generated, shared, and owned globally, aligning with Global Citizen’s climate agenda and the Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign.

Friederike Röder is a seasoned policy adviser who leads the Secretariat of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force (GSLTF), where she champions innovative financing solutions for climate and development. Her past roles include senior leadership at the ONE Campaign, and five years as Global Citizen’s own Head of Advocacy. Earlier in her career, she worked with the OECD, the African Union, the German government, and the Arab Reform Initiative. She brings unparalleled insight into global governance and multilateral engagement.

The new appointees will sit alongside existing members of US-based Global Citizen’s Board of Directors. The Global Board is Chaired Fran Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco. 

A full list of Global Citizen’s Global and Europe Board members is available here.

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