Hugh Evans

Hugh Evans is an Australian humanitarian and leader in international development, recognized as the co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen, a movement focused on ending extreme poverty. Evans' commitment to poverty eradication began at age 14 after spending a night in a slum in the Philippines, an experience that shaped his perspective and motivated his lifelong work in global development and social impact.

After serving as World Vision's inaugural Youth Ambassador in South Africa, Evans contributed to the Make Poverty History campaign and helped organize the Make Poverty History Concert, which featured Pearl Jam and Bono. Early in his career, Evans and Nicolas Mackay founded The Oaktree Foundation, an Australian non-government organization led by young people that provides aid and development across the Asia Pacific and African regions, serving as a platform for youth advocacy.

Inspired by the film "An Inconvenient Truth," Evans and Simon Moss established the Global Poverty Project, a community education initiative aimed at increasing awareness and action against extreme poverty. The project began with a grant from the United Nations. Under the Global Poverty Project, Evans co-founded Global Citizen and the Global Citizen Festival, a free ticketed event that incentivizes civic action—such as signing petitions and contacting legislators—in exchange for entry. This model has mobilized millions to take action against global poverty and has influenced commitments from governments, multilateral institutions, and the private sector.

Under Evans' leadership, Global Citizen has helped unlock billions in policy commitments, impacting more than 1 billion lives in areas including health, education, climate, and gender equity. Global Citizen coordinated "Stand Up For Ukraine," a global social media rally supported by artists and public figures, culminating in a pledging summit that raised significant funds for refugees and internally displaced people. Evans also served as executive producer for "One World: Together at Home" and "Global Citizen Live." Global Citizen and FIFA launched the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund to expand access to education in underserved communities worldwide.

Evans holds a bachelor's degree in law and science from Monash University and a Master of Philosophy in international relations from the University of Cambridge. He has received honorary doctorates from Utah State University and St. John's University. Evans has been recognized as Young Australian of the Year, featured on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list, and honored as Billboard magazine's Humanitarian of the Year. He has also been named to Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World, Fortune magazine's "40 Under 40," and Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business. Evans became the first Australian to receive the Sunhak Peace Prize for his leadership in the fight against extreme poverty.

As a public speaker and TED Talk presenter, Evans addresses challenges such as poverty, climate change, and gender inequality, drawing on his experience in building global social movements. The Global Citizen platform mobilizes millions worldwide, engaging sectors including business, entertainment, policy, government, and philanthropy to drive policy change and financial investment across three pillars: defeat poverty, demand equity, and defend the planet. Global Citizen continues to expand globally, producing landmark events and advancing the movement to end extreme poverty.