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.
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 2024:
Gender in Indo Pacific Politics
Applications for the Future Leaders Series have closed and the series is underway.
As Australia’s next generation of leaders, young people are integral to the implementation and preservation of gender sensitivity in the conduct of regional and international affairs. This Series will engage young future leaders from around Australia to listen and learn from experts around the Indo Pacific.
Program Rundown
Across 6 weeks, participants will participate in 5 modules, a policy workshop, and a policy pitch competition.
Each facilitated session will provide participants with unparalleled access to engage with and learn from today's leading thinkers and practitioners. The sessions are:
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Strategic Value of Feminist Foreign Policy - Module 1 – Mon 3 June
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Policy Pitch Writing Workshop - Wed 5 June
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Queer/LGBTQIA+ Regional Politics - Module 2 – Thu 13 June
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Gender and Work in the Indo-Pacific - Module 3 – Thu 20 June
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Gender Sensitive Approaches to Climate Change - Module 4 – Thu 27 June
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Gender, Peace and Security - Module 5 - Thu 4 July
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Policy Pitch Competition - Thu 18 Jul
Sessions will be held from 6pm to 7:30pm AEST (except the Policy Pitch Competition, which runs until 8pm).
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
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
