The Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership in International Affairs at Chatham House is excited to announce that applications are now open for its 2025-26 Leadership Masterclass Programme. Supported by the Asfari Foundation and the Special Competitive Studies Project, this programme will run from early October 2025 through June 2026, alongside the Academy Fellowships. Since its inception in 2017, the Leadership Masterclass has provided a nine-month, part-time training opportunity designed for early to mid-career professionals in policy, international affairs, and research. The programme equips participants with the expertise, skills, and professional networks needed to drive meaningful policy change within their fields. Throughout the programme, participants engage in activities that cultivate independent thinking on global policy matters, interacting with world-class experts and like-minded peers while receiving guidance from a professional career coach.

Participants begin the programme with an intensive induction day that familiarizes them with Chatham House and the structure of the Masterclass. They then take part in discussion seminars, which provide a platform to explore pressing international issues with subject matter experts. These sessions emphasize both substantive knowledge and practical leadership skills, and participants are often tasked with chairing discussions and exchanging insights with fellow attendees. In addition to these seminars, participants attend workshops focused on leadership development, covering topics such as assuming new leadership roles, encouraging innovation, and fostering entrepreneurship. One-to-one coaching sessions allow participants to set personal development goals and work towards them with the guidance of a dedicated coach. The programme also offers media training, including simulated interviews that provide feedback on presentation skills and communication style. Furthermore, participants can attend informal leadership briefings, where they engage with prominent figures from government, business, media, and civil society to reflect on their leadership experiences. Career mentoring is also available as an optional component for those seeking additional guidance.

The programme is divided into two streams: the Asfari Foundation stream, available to citizens from Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen who reside in London; and the International Strategy Forum stream, open to alumni of the International Strategy Forum Fellowship based in London. Over the course of nine months, sessions are held primarily in person on Thursdays between 9:30 am and 4 pm. While most weeks require approximately 2.5 hours of participation, some weeks may include longer workshops or multiple sessions, totaling up to six hours. Participants are expected to attend at least 70% of programme activities, actively contribute to discussions, engage with speakers, and take advantage of networking opportunities.

All costs associated with the programme are covered by the Academy. Participants benefit from weekly in-person training at Chatham House, receive individual membership to Chatham House for the duration of the programme and for two years afterward, and gain access to a personal career coach. Applications are due by Tuesday, 26 August 2025, at 23:59 BST. Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, early submission is strongly encouraged, as the closing date may be moved forward if necessary.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity