For a decade, the Boston Global Forum (BGF) has honored exceptional world leaders who have advanced peace, security, and human dignity through vision, courage, and ethical leadership. As we celebrate this milestone, we reflect on the profound legacy of those honored and look ahead to a future where moral leadership and artificial intelligence together shape a more enlightened world.
Honorees (2015–2025)
- 2015: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Japan); Chancellor Angela Merkel (Germany)
- 2016: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
- 2017: President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (Estonia)
- 2018: President Sauli Niinistö (Finland)
- 2019: President of WLA–Club de Madrid, former President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
- 2020: President Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission)
- 2021: President Sauli Niinistö (Finland)
- 2022: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the People of Ukraine
- 2023: Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi)
- 2024: President Emmanuel Macron (France)
- 2025: To be announced at the Harvard University Faculty Club, November 3, 2025
New Ideas for the Award at 10 Years: Building the Next Generation of Ethical Leaders for the AI Age
At this historic anniversary, the Boston Global Forum and the AI World Society (AIWS) will introduce new directions to elevate the Award for the coming decade—ensuring it continues to inspire moral courage and ethical innovation in an era defined by artificial intelligence and global transformation.
1. World Leader Laureates for Peace and Humanity
A new world alliance of laureates—past recipients of the Award—who will collaborate to address urgent global challenges such as AI governance, disinformation, climate resilience, and conflict prevention. This initiative will unite visionary leaders to act as moral compasses, guiding the use of technology and policy toward peace, dignity, and cooperation.
2. Inspiring and Educating Future Leaders
Encourage young leaders worldwide to learn from the values, experiences, and achievements of the World Leader Laureates for Peace and Humanity, and to apply the principles of the AI World Society (AIWS) in their own communities. Through mentorship, learning exchanges, and collaborative projects, these future leaders will help realize AIWS—transforming its ideals into real-world action for peace, ethics, and human-centered innovation.
3. Ethical Impact Dossier
An annual, transparent report documenting measurable outcomes from Award-related initiatives—showcasing how leadership inspired by AIWS principles advances human-centered progress and ethical global governance.
Together with its laureates, partners, and the BGF-AIWS Family, the Boston Global Forum will carry this legacy forward—uniting moral leadership with intelligent innovation to build a safer, more just, and more compassionate world.
