2021 Honorees

Ursula von der Leyen

President, European Commission

Distinguished International Leadership Award

Introduced by: The Hon. Phil Murphy

Albert Bourla, DVM, PH.D.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer

Distinguished Business Leadership Award

Introduced by: H.E. Ursula von der Leyen

Özlem Türeci, M.D.

Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer, BioNTech

Ugur Sahin, M.D.

Co-Founder and CEO, BioNTech

Distinguished Business Leadership Awards

Introduced by: Victor J. Dzau, M.D.

Dua Lipa

Grammy Award-winning Artist; Founder, Sunny Hill Foundation; Activist

Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award

Introduced by: Damon Wilson

Honoring Veterans

Our tribute to Afghan veterans

Narrated by David McCormick, Chairman, International Advisory Board

HOnorees
Coverage
60th anniversary
#ACFrontPage

Coverage

Event recap

New Atlanticist

Nov 10, 2021

The 2021 Distinguished Leadership Awards: Celebrating the exceptional individuals meeting today’s extraordinary challenges

By Dan Peleschuk

Singer Dua Lipa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Pfizer’s Albert Bourla, and BioNTech’s Özlem Türeci and Ugur Sahin earn the Atlantic Council’s highest honors for shaping the global future together.

Coronavirus European Union

Transcript

New Atlanticist

Nov 10, 2021

Full Transcript: 2021 Distinguished Leadership Awards honor bold visionaries in challenging times

By Atlantic Council

Uğur Şahin, Özlem Türeci, Ursula von der Leyen, Dua Lipa, and Albert Bourla accepted the Atlantic Council’s recognition Wednesday night for their leadership in shaping the global future.

European Union International Organizations

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Photos

BioNTech co-founder Özlem Türeci accepts her award as her husband, co-founder, and fellow honoree Ugur Sahin looks on at the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Leadership Awards on November 10, 2021, at Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. (Photo by Elman Studio for the Atlantic Council.)

Musician Dua Lipa accepts her award at the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Leadership Awards on November 10, 2021, at Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC. (Photo by Elman Studio for the Atlantic Council.)

HOnorees
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60th anniversary
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Celebrating our 60th Anniversary

The Atlantic Council at 60

We’re taking stock of six decades of work to promote US cooperation with allies on the world’s defining challenges, deliver relevant insight at speed to policymakers and the public, and shape a peaceful and prosperous global future. Learn more about our remarkable history and the urgency of the challenges the Council is taking on today.

2020/2021 Annual Report Download Annual Report
HOnorees
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60th anniversary
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#ACFrontPage event recaps

An #ACFrontPage event Wed, December 4, 2024

A conversation with Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla

Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, discusses the state of the pandemic and the remaining challenges ahead, vaccine development, as well as his personal story.

Event recap
An #ACFrontPage event Wed, December 4, 2024

A conversation with BioNTech co-founders Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci

BioNTech Co-Founders, Professor Ugur Sahin and Dr. Özlem Türeci discuss the state of the pandemic and vaccine development, as well as their personal stories.

Event recap
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Distinguished Leadership Awards

Each year, the Distinguished Leadership Awards salutes an exemplary group of individuals who have contributed to the Atlantic Council mission of shaping the global future together.

Learn more