Pacific Forum Young Leaders Program — Forum / Summit

Pacific Forum is a nonprofit foreign-policy research institute founded in 1975 and based in Honolulu, Hawaii, working on political, security and economic questions across the Indo-Pacific. It launched the Young Leaders Program in 2004 so young scholars and foreign-policy professionals could sharpen their policy analysis early in their careers. Members join a standing network that now counts more than 1,000 people from 56 countries.

Once admitted, a Young Leader can apply for a place in the delegations sent to the 15 to 20 conferences and events the institute runs each year, sitting in the same room as senior officials, scholars and analysts. Membership runs until the age of 36, after which a member moves into the alumni network and keeps a lifetime cohort affiliation.

Benefits & funding

Eligibility to apply for delegation seats at the 15 to 20 conferences and events Pacific Forum organizes each year; a delegation runs from 1 to 15 Young Leaders depending on the topic, the funding available and the expertise needed.
Direct exchange with senior policymakers, scholars and analysts, and a close view of how foreign policy is made.
Publishing outlets open to members: the Young Leaders Blog, PacNet commentary and the Issues & Insights series.
A standing network of more than 1,000 members across 56 countries, a private LinkedIn group where event calls are announced, and Young Leaders chapters in several cities.
Pacific Forum receives limited outside support each year that subsidizes part of the travel and participation cost for Young Leaders. The subsidy is partial and is not guaranteed for every member or every event.
Airfare, accommodation, ground transport, conference fees and meals are costs participants, their universities or their employers are expected to carry. The program counts the ability to bring partial or full funding as one factor when it builds each delegation.

Eligibility

The stated ideal age band is 25 to 35, with flexibility at the lower end for candidates whose experience is strong enough.
At 36 a member moves to alumni status and can no longer apply for Young Leader conference opportunities.
A completed bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required.
On top of that, either several years of professional experience on Indo-Pacific geopolitics and security policy, or a completed or in-progress master’s or doctoral degree in a relevant field.
Demonstrated interest in Indo-Pacific affairs and in the foreign-policymaking process, plus strong communication, collaboration, research and analytical skills.
No nationality or residency requirement is published. The membership spans 56 countries and each delegation is assembled for balance across gender, nationality and professional background.
For a specific event, selection also weighs a member’s past attendance and conduct at prior events and whether funding for the trip is in place.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Education required
Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD
Age requirement
≤ 35 yrs

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Application process

1
Read the program page and the Young Leaders FAQ and check your profile against the age, degree and experience requirements.
2
Submit the online Young Leaders application form linked from the program page. The form is closed at present and asks applicants to return when it reopens.
3
Once admitted, request to join the private Young Leaders LinkedIn group and follow the program newsletter, where event calls are announced.
4
Apply to individual conferences and events as their calls appear; these normally open one to three months before the event.
5
If selected for a delegation, complete the advance reading, take part in every scheduled session, and deliver the assigned projects or publications on time.

Program timeline

Membership intake
closed at present, with no opening date published.
Event applications
normally open one to three months before each conference, announced through the private LinkedIn group and the newsletter.
Each year
15 to 20 conferences and events.
Age 36
membership converts to alumni status.