President Komorowski of the Republic of Poland for his pivotal role in Poland’s extraordinary evolution; Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah for her promotion of human rights and cross-cultural dialogue; and Maestro Seiji Ozawa for his leadership in the arts 

NEW YORK ― The Atlantic Council this evening will present its fourth annual Global Citizen Awards to President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, and world-renowned conductor Maestro Seiji Ozawa.

Now in its fourth year, the Global Citizen Awards recognizes visionary leaders who embody the Council’s mission to renew the transatlantic community for global challenges.  

President Komorowski has been at the center of Poland’s remarkable history over the past three decades, from his personal struggles against Communism to his leading role in Poland’s rise as a beacon of democracy and economic achievement.

Queen Rania is being recognized for her dedicated advocacy for global education, promotion of cross-cultural dialogue, and founding several education projects in Jordan, including the Jordan River Foundation that works on community empowerment in the country.

Mr. Ozawa will be honored for his inspirational and historic contributions to the arts, including his leadership as the longest-serving conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (1973-2002)―during which he received two Emmy awards―and his ongoing advocacy for classical music and education initiatives for future generations of artists. A protégé of Mr. Ozawa’s, cellist Owen Young, will perform in his honor tonight.

“Leaders today must come to terms with the biggest shifts in economic and political influence since the 19^th century,” said Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe. “At such historic inflection points, the actions of gifted and determined individuals can have outsized importance. That is what we celebrate tonight: three leaders who embody the idea of global citizenship and have committed their lives to creating a better world.”

The Global Citizen Awards dinner annually convenes an influential audience of more than 350 top global government, business, military, media, and civil society leaders. Previous honorees include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Henry Kissinger and Aung San Suu Kyi; IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde; US Secretary of State John Kerry; Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (posthumously); musician and producer Quincy Jones; and World Economic Forum Founder Klaus Schwab.

Follow the evening on Twitter at @AtlanticCouncil and #ACawards. To request high resolution photos, video, or transcript from the event, please contact us at  press@AtlanticCouncil.org.