Argentina's Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner became president on December 10, 2007, after winning the general election. She replaced her husband, Néstor Kirchner, who was president from May 2003 to December 2007. She is Argentina's second female president, but the first to be elected. Prior to her current position, she was a senator for Buenos Aires province and Santa Cruz province. She was first elected to the Senate in 1995 and in 1997 to the Chamber of Deputies. In 2001 she won a seat in the Senate again. Born February 19, 1954, in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Kirchner studied law at the National University of La Plata. The minister of finance is Carlos Fernández.

Australia's Kevin M. Rudd

Kevin M. Rudd became prime minister on December 3, 2007, replacing John Howard who had held the position since March 1996. Before entering into politics, Rudd worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs where he held posts in Stockholm, Sweden and China. He also spent time as a political staffer, and held positions that included chief of staff for the premier of Queensland and director general of the office of the Queensland cabinet. Rudd first ran for office in 1996, but was not successfully elected until 1998. Since that time he has served in various positions including shadow minister of foreign affairs and leader of the opposition. He was born in Nambour, Queensland, on September 21, 1957. He received his degree in Asian studies from Australian National University where he focused on Chinese language and history. He is married to Thérèse Rein.

Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva first assumed the office of the president on January 1, 2003, after being successful elected in October 2002. He was re-elected in October 2006, extending his term until January 2011. Lula first ran for office in 1982 in the state of Sao Paulo, but it was not until 1986 that he was first elected to Congress. He did not run for re-election in 1990 but became more involved in the Workers' Party, where he continued to run for the office of the president. He was born in Caetés, Pernambuco, Brazil, on October 27, 1945. He received no formal education and began working in a copper pressing factory at the age of 14. He became heavily involved in the workers unions at a young age. He is married to Marisa Letícia.

Canada's Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper was first elected prime minister in January 2006, replacing Paul Martin, and led a minority government until winning a second election and a stronger minority in October 2008. Before entering politics he served as a policy advisor to Reform Party. Harper first ran for a seat in 1988, but was not successfully elected to the House of Commons until 1993. He served as leader of the opposition for several years before becoming prime minister. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, on April 30, 1959. He began his academic studies at the University of Toronto and completed a bachelor's degree in economics at the University of Calgary in 1985. In 1991, he received a master's in economics from the University of Calgary. He is married to Laureen Teskey Harper.