Goalkeepers (Gates Foundation)
Goalkeepers is an initiative launched by the Gates Foundation in 2017 to bring together leaders from around the world to accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative also provides reports and data flow charts over SDGs progress since 1990.
Its core event is the annual Goalkeepers Conference at which the Changemaker Award is bestowed to 'extraordinary individuals who are driving progress in their communities and countries'. Invitations are issued to global leaders and aspiring personalities who have been personally selected by the board. Previous attendees include Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Amina J. Mohammed, Erna Solberg, Malala Yousafzai, and Trevor Noah. Past award winners have included Yusra Mardini, Amika George, Ria Sharma, and Nadia Murad, who later went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Conferences and awards
2025
The 2025 in-person Goalkeepers event was held in September at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was:
2024
The 2024 in-person Goalkeepers event was held in September at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was:
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil
- Sabin Nsanzimana: Minister of Health of Rwanda
- Ratan Tata: Former chairman of Tata Group
- Tahmeed Ahmed: Scientist and physician with research focus on Gastroenterology, Public Health Nutrition, and Global Health
- Ladidi Kuluwa Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director/Head, Nutrition Department, Nigerian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
- Beza Beshah Haile, executive director, HOPE-Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
- Lilian dos Santos Rahal, National Secretary for Food and Nutrition Security, Ministry of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Brazil
- Bhavani Shankar, Professor of Food Systems, Nutrition and Sustainability, University of Sheffield
- Jemimah Njuki, Chief, Economic Empowerment at UN Women
- Zahra Hoodbhoy, Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Pakistan
- Nancy Krebs, Professor of Pediatrics, Nutrition, University of Colorado School of Medicine
2023
The fifth in-person Goalkeepers event took place on September 19-20, 2023, in New York City during UNGA week. Featured speakers and performers included:- Bosede Afolabi, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Lagos
- Karlie Kloss, Founder of Kode With Klossy & entrepreneur
- Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and Co‑founder of Ellevest
- Lilly Singh, Entertainer, storyteller, and gender equality advocate
- Elaine Welteroth, Journalist & New York Times bestselling author
- Nuseir Yassin, Founder & CEO of Nas Company and Nas Studios
- Fumio Kishida: Global Goalkeeper Award
- The Farmlink Project: Campaign Award
- Ashu Martha Agbornyenty: Changemaker Award
- Eden Tadesse: Progress Award
- Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: Lifetime Achievement Award
- Bono: Voice Award
2022
The fourth in-person Goalkeepers event was held in September 2022 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Speakers included:The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was:
Further awards went to:
- Zahra Joya: Changemaker Award
- Vanessa Nakate: Campaign Award
- Radhika Batra: ''Progress Award''
2021
The 2021 Goalkeepers conference could not take place physically, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but had to be held virtually. The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was:Further awards went to:
- Jenifer Colpas: Changemaker Award
- Satta Sheriff: Campaign Award
- Fairooz Faizah: ''Progress Award''
2020
The 2020 Goalkeepers conference could not take place physically, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but had to be held virtually. The winner of the Global Goalkeeper award was:- John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention for being a "relentless proponent of global collaboration and evidence-based public health practices, and a champion for minimizing the social and economic consequences of COVID-19 across the African continent"
- Bonita Sharma, co-founder and CEO of Social Changemakers and Innovators – a youth-led non-profit organization in Nepal
- Hauwa Ojeifo, founder of She Writes Woman, a women-led movement giving mental health a voice in Nigeria
- The MASH Project Foundation, a youth led social enterprise based in India that develops and implements support systems for people who work for social causes through partnerships.
2019
The third annual Goalkeepers event was held September 25–26, 2019, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Speakers included:- Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain
- Jennifer Eberhardt
- Aliko Dangote
- Senjuti Saha
- Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for successfully implementing the Swachh Bharat Mission, a cleanliness and sanitation project, including 110 million family and public toilets for poor and middle income families, reducing the Indian open defecation rate from 50% to almost 0% in 3 years. He personally makes cleaning initiatives - plogging along the roads and beaches - leading by example to promote mass fitness and cleanliness.
The Global Goals awards went to:
- Payal Jangid: Changemaker Award
- Aya Chebbi: Campaign Award
- Gregory Rockson: ''Progress Award''
2018
The second annual Goalkeepers event was held September 25–26, 2018, in New York City. Speakers included:- Emmanuel Macron, President of France
- Julius Maada, President of Sierra Leone
- Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway
- King Kaka
- Nadia Murad: Changemaker Award
- Amika George: Campaign Award
- Cornelia Röper: Changemaker Award
- Natalie Robi Tingo: Changemaker Award
- Dysnus Kisilu: ''Progress Award''
2017
The first annual Goalkeepers event was held September 25–26, 2017, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. Speakers included:- Barack Obama, President of the United States
- Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
- Queen Rania of Jordan
- will.i.am
- Malala
- Stephen Fry
- George The Poet