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About the Awards
The Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards celebrates the highest achieving individuals who embody the essence of the pillars of the transatlantic relationship. Each year, the event convenes an elite, international audience – including current and former heads of state, political and policy leaders, ambassadors, members of Congress and the administration, military commanders, international business leaders, and leading members of the media. The event is regularly featured by national and international media outlets, including the Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, POLITICO, Thomson Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, among others.
Distinguished leaders
2023 Honorees
The Atlantic Council recognizes individuals who best represent the pillars of international relations: political and policy leaders, business executives, military brass, and artistic and humanitarian champions. This year we will feature our first all-female honoree slate, inspired by the past year of remarkable accomplishments by women in the world. Aside from our usual list of honorees, the Atlantic Council will be calling attention to the game changing and rising role of women’s leadership in shaping a better world.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Distinguished International Leadership Award
Director-General, World Trade Organization
Introduced by American University President Sylvia Mathews Burwell
The Hon. Avril Haines
Distinguished International Leadership Award
Director of National Intelligence, United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Introduced by Atlantic Council Chairman of the International Advisory Board Stephen J. Hadley
Adena T. Friedman
Distinguished Business Leadership Award
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Nasdaq, Inc.
Introduced by Co-Chair and Co-Founder of The Carlyle Group David M. Rubenstein
Gen. Laura J. Richardson
Distinguished Military Leadership Award
Commander, US Southern Command
Introduced by Atlantic Council Executive Vice Chair Adrienne Arsht
The Women and Girls of Iran
Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award
Introduced by Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security Ambassador Melanne Verveer
Accepted by
Dr. Mahnaz Afkhami
President & CEO, Women’s Learning Partnership
Azam Jangravi
Iranian women’s rights advocate and a Girl of Revolution Street
Dr. Mehrangiz Kar
Iranian women’s rights lawyer and writer
Nazanin Nour
Actress, writer, and activist
2023 coverage
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Sponsoring the Awards Dinner
Sponsors of the Distinguished Leadership Awards are supporting the Atlantic Council’s work in promoting constructive US leadership and engagement in the world based on the central role of the Atlantic community, working with its allies and partners, to meet global challenges.
Sponsors are also able to access benefits such as invitations to a reception with the honorees, recognition with their company logo in all printed and online dinner materials, and at the event, a two-page advertisement and/or congratulatory note to the honorees in the printed dinner program, and an acknowledgment from the podium during the dinner.
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