Past Events
In past years, we’ve held an annual event to celebrate our achievements, hear from world leaders and local advocates, and take stock of the work we still need to do. To learn more, you can explore the highlights, featured speakers, and award winners from our past events.
Although we are unable to come together in person during 2021, it is essential that we still take time to examine our progress and recognize those who are taking action to help achieve the Global Goals.
Goalkeepers 2021
In the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to come together in person during 2021. In lieu of the event, we explored virtual platforms to connect with the community and the world at large. Even amid the devastation of the pandemic, we’ve seen that hope can grow from seeds planted years earlier.
2021 Award Winners
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Global Goalkeeper Award
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Global Goalkeeper Award
Jenifer Colpas
Progress Award
Jenifer Colpas
Progress Award
Fairooz Faizah Beether
Changemaker Award
Fairooz Faizah Beether
Changemaker Award
Satta Sheriff
Campaign Award
Satta Sheriff
Campaign Award
Goalkeepers 2020
2020 marked the first year that we were unable to host our Goalkeepers annual event – to celebrate our achievements, hear from leaders and take stock of the work we still need to do in person. But the pandemic didn’t deter us. We still used this time to examine our progress and recognize those who are taking action to help achieve the Global Goals.
2020 Award Winners
Hauwa<br/>Ojeifo
Changemaker Award
Hauwa
Ojeifo
Changemaker Award
MASH Project<br/>Foundation
Campaign Award
MASH Project
Foundation
Campaign Award
Bonita <br/>Sharma
Progress Award
Bonita
Sharma
Progress Award
Dr. John<br/>Nkengasong
Global Goalkeeper Award
Dr. John
Nkengasong
Global Goalkeeper Award
Goalkeepers 2019
As world leaders gathered for the UN General Assembly in September of 2019, we hosted the third annual Goalkeepers event in New York City. The focus of the event was the challenge of fighting global inequality to ensure no one is left behind.
2019 Featured Speakers
Bill Gates
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill Gates is a technologist, business leader, and philanthropist. Through the foundation he works to expand opportunity for the world’s most disadvantaged people.
Melinda French Gates
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Melinda Gates is a philanthropist, investor, and global advocate for women and girls.
Jacinda Ardern
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Pedro Sánchez
Prime Minister of Spain
Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt
Professor, Author
Aliko Dangote
Businessman, Philanthropist
Dr. Senjuti Saha
Microbiologist and Activist
Dr. Joia Crear-Perry
Founder and president, National Birth Equity Collaborative
2019 Award Winners
Payal Jangid
Changemaker Award
Payal Jangid
Changemaker Award
Aya Chebbi
Campaign Award
Aya Chebbi
Campaign Award
Gregory Rockson
Progress Award
Gregory Rockson
Progress Award
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Global Goalkeeper Award
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Global Goalkeeper Award
Goalkeepers 2018
As world leaders gathered for the UN General Assembly in September, we hosted the second annual Goalkeepers event in New York City on September 25 and 26, 2018. Speakers from around the world joined us for this two-day event, sharing their stories, ideas, and challenges.
2018 Featured Speakers
Emmanuel Macron
President of France
Graça Machel
Founder of the Graça Machel Trust
King Kaka
Musician, entrepreneur
Trisha Shetty
Lawyer and founder of SheSays
Aranya Johar
Poet
Julius Maada Bio
President of Sierra Leone
Bill Gates
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill Gates is a technologist, business leader, and philanthropist. Through the foundation he works to expand opportunity for the world’s most disadvantaged people.
Melinda French Gates
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Melinda Gates is a philanthropist, investor, and global advocate for women and girls.
2018 Award Winners
Dysmus Kisilu, Kenya
Progress Award
Dysmus Kisilu, Kenya
Progress Award
Amika George, United Kingdom
Campaign Award
Amika George, United Kingdom
Campaign Award
Nadia Murad, Iraq
Changemaker Award
Nadia Murad, Iraq
Changemaker Award
Cornelia Röper, Germany
Changemaker Award
Cornelia Röper, Germany
Changemaker Award
Natalie Robi Tingo, Kenya
Changemaker Award
Natalie Robi Tingo, Kenya
Changemaker Award
Goalkeepers 2017
The first annual Goalkeepers event took place in during the UN General Assembly in 2017. Speakers from around the world, including Malala Yousafzai and President Barack Obama, shared stories of bold leadership and innovative solutions driving progress on the Global Goals.
2017 Featured Speakers
Barack Obama
Former President of the United States
Malala Yousafzai
Co-founder, Malala Fund
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist., UN Messenger of Peace and the youngest person ever awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As co-founder of Malala Fund, she is building a world where every girl can learn and lead without fear.
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Leymah Gbowee
President of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa
Amina Mohammed
Deputy Secretary General of the UN
Queen Rania
Queen of Jordan
Bill Gates
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill Gates is a technologist, business leader, and philanthropist. Through the foundation he works to expand opportunity for the world’s most disadvantaged people.
Melinda French Gates
Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Melinda Gates is a philanthropist, investor, and global advocate for women and girls.
2017 Award Winners
Laura Ulloa, Colombia
Young Goalkeeper Award
Laura Ulloa, Colombia
Young Goalkeeper Award
Felix Manyogote, Tanzania
Leave No-One Behind Award
Felix Manyogote, Tanzania
Leave No-One Behind Award
Marieme Jamme, Senegal/UK
Innovation Award
Marieme Jamme, Senegal/UK
Innovation Award
Bernard Coubaily, Mali
Healthy Not Hungry Award
Bernard Coubaily, Mali
Healthy Not Hungry Award
Ria Sharma, New Delhi
Leadership Award
Ria Sharma, New Delhi
Leadership Award
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Global Goalkeeper Award
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Global Goalkeeper Award