Sanna Marin

January 17, 2026

At 34, Sanna Marin became the world’s youngest serving prime minister, leading Finland through a historic era of transformation. Boldly shifting her country’s foreign policy with a landmark NATO bid, Marin has emerged as a symbol of modern, values-driven leadership on the global stage. Now, as Europe faces rising geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and growing internal divides, Marin offers a thoughtful and urgent perspective on what comes next. With the clarity of a seasoned leader and the optimism of a next-generation changemaker, she will share stories from her time in office and present her vision for a stronger, more unified Europe.

Format: Speech with Audience Q&A

Sanna Marin served as the prime minister of Finland from 2019 to 2023 and is the former leader of the country’s Social Democratic Party. Appointed at age 34, Marin became the youngest serving prime minister in the world when she took office in 2019. She quickly gained international attention for her composed and collaborative leadership style, and she remains a vocal advocate for human rights, civil rights, and democracy.

During her tenure, Marin led Finland through several defining global and domestic challenges. Her government was widely praised for its effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in limiting loss of life and mitigating economic disruption. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she played a central role in shifting Finnish public opinion and political will toward NATO membership, guiding the country through the fastest accession process in the alliance’s history.

Marin’s administration also advanced a number of progressive reforms, including groundbreaking climate legislation that aims for carbon neutrality by 2035, an equitable family leave policy that shares paid time off between both parents, and structural improvements to public health care, education and LGBTQ+ rights.

In September 2023, Marin joined the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change as a strategic counselor, where she advises political leaders on governance, technology, climate, and gender equality programs.

Her memoir, “Hope in Action,” is scheduled for release in November.

Marin holds a master’s degree in administrative sciences from the University of Tampere and an honorary doctorate from New York University.