
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
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
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
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.