Manila, Philippines — The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Philippines, Pacific Forum, and CSCAP Australia will co-sponsor the CSCAP Next-Generation Leaders Program 2026, organized in conjunction with the 15th CSCAP General Conference, scheduled for 1–3 December 2026 at the Grand Hyatt Manila.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The initiative aims to integrate the perspectives of emerging experts aged 21–35 into regional security discussions by bringing together young scholars, policy professionals, and practitioners from across the Asia-Pacific. Applicants were invited to develop original, actionable, and regionally relevant policy proposals addressing pressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
The program attracted strong interest across the region, receiving more than 160 applications by the 4 September 2026 deadline. The response reflects growing interest among younger professionals in contributing to regional security policymaking and Track Two diplomacy.
Selected participants will attend the 15th CSCAP General Conference, where they will engage with senior policymakers, leading strategic thinkers, and academics from across the region. The program will provide opportunities for intergenerational dialogue, professional networking, and the exchange of fresh perspectives on regional security challenges.
Dr. Jeffrey Ordaniel, President and CEO of the WPS Foundation and Co-Chair of CSCAP Philippines, began his career as a participant in numerous CSCAP meetings, including as a Pacific Forum Young Leader delegate at the 10th (2015) and 11th (2017) General Conferences in Ulaanbaatar and Chiang Mai, respectively, and as a panelist at the 12th General Conference in Hanoi in 2019. “We want young leaders to learn from the experience and expertise of senior scholars and policymakers, but we also want those who have considerable influence over regional security policy to listen to the next generation and take their views and priorities seriously. This program is an opportunity for emerging experts to develop their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and build professional networks. Equally important, we want to build constituencies across generations that reject the threat or use of force in international relations, believe in the peaceful settlement of disputes, and remain committed to the primacy of international law,” Dr. Ordaniel said.
CSCAP Philippines expresses its appreciation to FNF Philippines, Pacific Forum, and CSCAP Australia for their generous support in advancing the program and helping cultivate the next generation of regional security leaders.