Home Affairs Minister Alexa Lightbourne joined the 2026 cohort of the Field Fellowship, a year-long international programme for senior political leaders
Minister of Home Affairs, Alexa N. H. Lightbourne has joined the 2026 cohort of the Field Fellowship, a year-long international programme for senior political leaders founded by former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Dame Jacinda Ardern.
Fellows are identified and invited by the programme, and Minister Lightbourne is the first Minister of the Government of Bermuda to receive the invitation.
Field supports senior political leaders practising empathetic leadership, the approach Dame Jacinda applied as Prime Minister from 2017 to 2023. The fellowship runs for a full year and combines structured development, peer exchange, and direct engagement with senior practitioners in government, public communication, and international affairs.
The 2026 cohort gathered for a retreat over the Cup Match holiday. The cohort comprises 13 women leaders from countries across the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and North America. Its members include serving national Ministers, a Deputy Premier and Attorney General, a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Members of the European Parliament, a Mayor, and former Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Health.
The retreat combined facilitated sessions, structured peer exchange, and individual advisory time. The cohort also held a conversation with the Hon. Dr. Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Minister Lightbourne’s selection places Bermuda within a working network of governments managing pressures central to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ mandate; household affordability, energy transition, housing, and public trust in institutions.
Minister Lightbourne said, “Different countries, different politics, and the same dedication to serve people better and prove it in results. I return with working relationships across four regions, and a stronger network of women in government who measure leadership by what reaches people. I thank Dame Jacinda Ardern and the Field team for the invitation.”
Media release supplied by the Government of Bermuda
