FUTURE LEADERS SERIES
The Future Leaders Series is our flagship program designed to engage Australia's future leaders in the critical issues affecting Australia, the Indo-Pacific region and the international system. It equips them with the knowledge, skills and networks to respond to these challenges and shape future policy decisions.
The Future Leaders Series includes 6 weekly sessions, each focusing on a particular issue or challenge. During these workshops or seminars, participants explore the different issues, opportunities and challenges associated with the topic; as well as how it is being considered by Australian policy makers.
Each session is facilitated by leading experts in the field, providing participants with an unparalleled opportunity to engage with and learn from today's leaders. The final session allows participants to apply their knowledge and ideas; to lead a roundtable discussion with their peers and series partners; and produce a policy brief for publication outlining their recommendations.
Applications for the 2024 Future Leaders Series will open in April 2024.
In previous years, the series have focused on:
2023: First Nation Foreign Policy
2022: Space
2021: The Pacific
2020: Australia-US bilateral relationship
2019: Australia, multilateral fora and achieving foreign policy objectives
2018: The rise of populism
2017: Cyber security
2016: Climate change
Eligibility Requirements
Participants must be a later year undergraduate or postgraduate student, and/or an early career professional interested in the series topic. You must also be an Australian citizen or permanent resident (however you may be based overseas).
Please note, there is a Participation Fee. However, if you are experiencing any
extenuating circumstances which may prevent you from paying this fee, equity funding is available and can be discussed if your application is successful.
Future Leaders Series 2023
The focus for the 2023 series was First Nations engagement as it relates to Australia's foreign policy. Together, we worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous young people from around Australia to listen and learn from First Nations experts and young people in the Pacific. We know that young people can and will contribute to the implementation of the First Nations foreign policy; this series explored how this can be done.
Read the FLS 2023 Communiqué here
Program Rundown
Introducing First Nations Foreign Policy - Module 1 – Tue 30 May
Policy Pitch Writing Workshop – Thu 1 June
First Nations Foreign Policy – Approaches to Climate Change - Module 2 – Thu 8 June
Pacific-Australia Indigenous Youth Networking - Module 3 – Thu 15 June
Strategic Value of First Nations Foreign Policy - Module 4 – Thu 22 June
Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations - Module 5 - Thu 29 June
Policy Pitch Competition – Thu 13 July
