Due to Coronavirus (Covid-19) we won’t be running the Future Leaders Connect programme in 2020, but you can still get involved by signing up to our digital community to access free policy and leadership resources.

Future Leaders Connect - The global network for emerging policy leaders 

We're looking for two young leaders from Northern Ireland to become a member of our international policy and leadership programme, which gives members the opportunity to be part of a long-term global network of emerging policy leaders.  

As a member you will;  

  • Receive ten days of advanced policy and leadership development at the Moller Institute, Churchill College, University of Cambridge 
  • discuss today’s biggest global challenges in the UK Houses of Parliament 
  • meet inspirational leaders 
  • visit world renowned institutions 

Following the programme, you will have worldwide connections, a policy action plan for change and the skills, knowledge and networks needed to be an influential leader in your country and beyond. 

All applicants, whether successful or not, will also have the opportunity to take part in a free online version of the Future Leaders Connect course in a specially-designed British Council MOOC. 

Who can apply?

You must be aged 18-35, live anywhere in Northern Ireland, have a policy idea that could make change across Northern Ireland and beyond and be able to attend the ten-day programme.  

Participating countries include Canada, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tunisia, Poland, UK and USA.  Everyone who applies has the opportunity to join our Future Leaders Connect Community, giving you have access to a range of free online policy and leadership professional development resources designed to build your expertise, including our free online course. 

The programme 

As a member of Future Leaders Connect you will access a ten-day residential programme of advanced policy and leadership development at the Møller Institute, Churchill College, University of Cambridge. You will be part of a group of phenomenal young leaders from around the world discussing today’s biggest global challenges in the Houses of Parliament and you will have private meetings with inspirational world leaders. The costs of travel, accommodation and meals are covered by the British Council and the programme is fully accessible. As a member of the programme you will go on to be able to access a range of international fully funded professional development opportunities.

Click here www.britishcouncil.org/future-leaders-connect to find out all the details about the opportunity and how to make your application to become a member of Future Leaders Connect.  

To ensure equal access the costs of taking part are covered by the British Council and the programme is fully accessible. We are looking for exceptional individuals with the ideas, energy and commitment to work collaboratively with all members of Future Leaders Connect and with senior global leaders. 

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Future Leaders Connect 2019

Fifty Future Leaders Connect 2019 members were chosen from 15,500 applications from around the world – two of whom were from Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland members

Matthew O’Neill

Matthew O’Neill is from Co. Antrim. He is currently reading for a PhD in Politics at the Senator George Mitchell Institute at Queens University Belfast, where his research has focused on the European Union’s Digital Single Market and Border Studies.

Matthew's vision centres on the development of cybersecurity policy frameworks. He says “focusing on Northern Ireland post Brexit, I want to help improve digital literacy and increase job opportunities for people here.

“We have an excellent cyber security sector and we could be the world leader – but at present the focus is on more up-market high-scale companies. Instead, I would like to shift this focus to medium to small enterprises, giving them the best possible advice and training to implement better security measures.”

Kain Craigs

Kain Craigs hails from Northern Ireland but works internationally as a Partner Growth Manager at Ritual.co - a Toronto based tech company that is rapidly expanding across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

While Kain’s area of expertise focuses on business development, he chose the environment as his global challenge. Speaking ahead of the programme he said “I applied for Future Leaders Connect as I wanted to build my knowledge on shaping policy and make a difference in the public sector. My organisation, which is a food ordering app, works with 7000 shops and restaurants and I want to work with our partners to demonstrate best practice around waste and reduce our impact on the environment.

“Through the ten days I hope to learn as much as I can and in the long-term, bring this new knowledge back to Northern Ireland.”

See also

External links

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