Develop the judgement to analyse an Indo-Pacific in transition.
The IPSC Emerging Leaders Forum is an applied live online program for participants who need to interpret regional change, assess strategic risk and communicate clear policy advice when the evidence is incomplete. Nine live sessions include two policy-writing masterclasses and one current-affairs forum, supported by faculty and peers from across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may close once cohort capacity is reached. Payment is requested only after an offer of admission. The 25% early rate applies to applications submitted by 18 July 2026, whenever the offer is issued.
Programme fees based on funding status
A 25% early rate applies to applications submitted by 18 July 2026; standard fees of US$490–US$990 apply thereafter. Reduced-fee access is available to eligible self-funded students, recent graduates and early-career applicants. Payment plans are offered after admission.
Who the programme is for
Regional knowledge, professional experience and analytical potential all have a place in the cohort.
Previous cohorts have included participants from law, engineering, development finance, government, military service, research and civil society. Admission does not depend on holding a degree in international relations.
Students and graduates
Build applied regional experience
Develop a portfolio, analytical frameworks and evidence of policy writing capability for work in international affairs, government or strategic analysis.
Working professionals
Make geopolitics operational
Translate regional developments into implications for government, corporate risk, development, law, advisory work or organisational strategy.
Regional practitioners
Contribute ground-level knowledge
Bring practical experience from Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Pacific Islands and the wider region into structured comparative discussion.
Analysts in transition
Demonstrate analytical capability
Move from a generalist role toward policy, strategic or geopolitical analysis through assessed work and direct faculty feedback.
Programme outcomes
Capabilities that transfer. Analytical work you can use.
ELF is built around active analysis and professional writing. By the end of the programme, participants will have completed two portfolio-ready outputs and applied structured frameworks to decision-relevant Indo-Pacific problems.
Write for a decision-maker
Produce a 1,500-word policy brief that identifies the decision, recommendation, assumptions, uncertainties and trade-offs.
Develop concise public analysis
Produce an 800-word commentary on an Indo-Pacific issue and revise it through structured editorial feedback.
Interpret strategic signals
Apply structured signal interpretation and escalation-analysis methods to current regional developments.
Assess economic statecraft
Examine coercion, supply-chain exposure and the trade-offs faced by states and organisations under competing pressures.
Complete an applied certificate
Receive an IPSC certificate demonstrating successful completion of an applied programme in Indo-Pacific analysis and policy writing.
Join a regional peer network
Work with participants from government, research, law, corporate risk, development and civil society across multiple countries.
Participants produce two professional analytical outputs: an 800-word commentary and a 1,500-word policy brief. Selected work may be published by IPSC following editorial review, successful completion of the programme and completion of required revisions. Publication is not automatic.
Programme structure
Nine live sessions built around analysis, judgement and policy writing.
The programme includes six substantive analysis sessions, one current-affairs forum and two policy-writing masterclasses. Sessions combine strategic briefing, structured discussion and applied work.
5 August
Session 1
Foundations of strategic competition
Core frameworks for great-power rivalry, regional order and judgement under uncertainty. No prior specialist knowledge is assumed.
19 August
Session 2
Regional security architecture
ASEAN centrality, the Quad, AUKUS, maritime flashpoints and the strategic choices facing states inside and outside formal alliances.
2 September
Session 3
Indo-Pacific in focus
Participant-led discussion on current developments, supported by structured signal analysis and relevant IPSC research outputs.
16 September
Session 4
Economic statecraft and coercion
Trade-security intersections, supply-chain vulnerability, geoeconomic leverage and the choices facing smaller states and exposed organisations.
30 September
Session 5
Emerging geopolitical risks
Climate security, demographic change, artificial intelligence and digital statecraft, with attention to asymmetric effects across the region.
14 October
Session 6
Structure, evidence and recommendation
Frame a decision problem, construct a recommendation, use evidence proportionately and communicate assumptions and uncertainty to a non-specialist reader.
21 October
Session 7
Advanced drafting, peer review and red-teaming
Test the argument through structured critique, revise the recommendation and strengthen the brief for editorial review.
4 November
Session 8
Policy process and governance
How foreign policy is formulated, coordinated and implemented, including the gap between political decisions and institutional delivery.
18 November
Session 9
Applied policy writing and capstone review
Final policy-brief review, faculty and peer feedback, synthesis of programme frameworks and preparation for final submission.
View cohort times and UTC equivalents
| Dates | APAC cohort | APAC UTC | Americas cohort | Americas UTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug–30 Sep 2026 | 5:00pm Sydney time — AEST | 07:00 UTC | 7:00pm US Eastern time — EDT | 23:00 UTC |
| 14–21 Oct 2026 | 5:00pm Sydney time — AEDT | 06:00 UTC | 7:00pm US Eastern time — EDT | 23:00 UTC |
| 4–18 Nov 2026 | 5:00pm Sydney time — AEDT | 06:00 UTC | 7:00pm US Eastern time — EST | 00:00 UTC on the following day |
Faculty
Regional scholars and practitioners with direct experience of the issues they teach.
Faculty combine regional scholarship, policy analysis, operational experience and current professional practice. Their contributions are aligned to the subjects on which they have direct research, institutional or professional expertise.
Professor Carlyle Thayer
Emeritus Professor of Politics, UNSW Canberra
Specialist in Southeast Asian security, Vietnamese foreign policy and regional strategic affairs. Contributes to analysis of strategic competition and regional order.
Captain Sarabjeet Singh Parmar (Retd)
IPSC Distinguished Fellow · Former Executive Director, National Maritime Foundation
Former Indian naval officer and maritime-policy leader. Contributes operational and institutional perspectives on maritime security and regional architecture.
Uma Sudhindra
IPSC Global Advisory Board · Defence and policy practitioner
Brings experience across defence, public policy and strategic engagement, including work relevant to India-China relations and regional policy.
Rear Admiral Sanjay Roye (Retd)
Former Gujarat Naval Area Commander · Senior Advisor, Alvarez & Marsal
Combines senior maritime command experience with current strategic advisory work relevant to security, resilience and organisational risk.
Natalie Treloar
IPSC Senior Fellow · Senior Analyst, National Institute for Deterrence Studies
Works on deterrence, escalation and strategic analysis. Contributes current analytical perspectives to geopolitical-risk and signal-assessment sessions.
Verena Zimmer
Country Manager Asia, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce · EU-India Young Leader
Works on commercial engagement between European and Asian markets. Contributes practical perspectives on trade, business exposure and economic statecraft.
Captain James Park (Retd)
IPSC Senior Fellow · 2024 Kelly Korea Studies Fellow
Military veteran and published analyst with expertise relevant to Korea and Northeast Asian security. Contributes to regional security analysis and professional writing.
Dr Divya Anand
Associate Dean, IILM · PhD, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Scholar of South Asian affairs and China with academic leadership experience. Contributes regional and comparative perspectives on strategic competition.
Faculty participation is subject to professional availability. IPSC may substitute a comparably qualified speaker or adjust the sequence of sessions where operational requirements make this necessary.
Alumni evidence
Perspectives from previous Emerging Leaders Forum participants
29
Countries represented across previous cohorts
“The discussions were rigorous and forward-looking, and the opportunity to engage with experts and peers from across the region made it particularly valuable.”
R.G.
Strategic Affairs Analyst · Washington, DC, United States
“The programme offered thoughtful discussion on regional security, governance and economic strategy, while encouraging participants to examine critically the evolving dynamics shaping the region.”
Sara W.
Policy Analyst · Canberra, Australia
“The programme provided an excellent platform to exchange ideas and contribute both practical and academic perspectives on maritime security and strategic affairs.”
R.K.
Researcher and Lecturer · Sri Lanka
“The Emerging Leaders Forum offered a valuable opportunity to explore the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific alongside an impressive group of international experts and participants.”
V.Z.
Country Manager Asia · Germany
“The programme brought together emerging leaders from 29 countries, creating a dynamic space for dialogue on the major strategic challenges shaping the Indo-Pacific.”
T.S.
Defence and Strategic Studies · India
“The weekly sessions offered thoughtful discussions on geopolitics, regional security, governance and leadership in an engaging and intellectually stimulating environment.”
C.K.
Attorney-at-Law · Colombo, Sri Lanka
Fees and admission
One selective admissions process. Three funding-based fee categories.
Applying is free. Applicants select the fee category that reflects their funding status. Payment is requested only after IPSC issues an offer of admission. A 25% early rate applies to applications submitted by 18 July 2026 — the figures below show the early rate, with the standard fee alongside.
Reduced-fee access
Access rate
25% early rate — apply by 18 July 2026
US$368US$490
US$124 initially, followed by two payments of US$122
For full-time students, recent graduates and eligible self-funded early-career applicants. Eligibility is assessed through the application.
Recommended for self-funded professionals
Individual professional
25% early rate — apply by 18 July 2026
US$593US$790
US$199 initially, followed by two payments of US$197
For working professionals who are funding their own participation, including those in government, business, law, research, civil society and development.
Institutional participation
Institutional rate
25% early rate — apply by 18 July 2026
US$743US$990
US$249 initially, followed by two payments of US$247
For participants funded by an employer, government department, university or other institution. This rate supports IPSC’s reduced-fee access places for eligible self-funded participants.
All fees are in US dollars. The early rate applies to applications submitted by 18 July 2026; standard fees of US$490, US$790 and US$990 apply to later applications. Tax treatment varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Participants should seek independent advice.
01
Apply
Submit a five-minute application. No fee or payment is required. Applications received by 18 July 2026 qualify for the early rate.
02
Admission decision
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, normally within five business days.
03
Accept the offer
Accepted applicants may pay in full, pay a US$100 offer-holder deposit and settle the balance, or use the three-payment plan. The rate stated in the offer letter is locked.
04
Confirm the cohort
IPSC issues the cohort schedule, calendar invitations and participant onboarding materials after payment arrangements are confirmed.
Offer-holder deposit
A US$100 deposit is available only after admission and is credited toward the full programme fee at the rate stated in the offer letter — early-rate offers remain at the early rate regardless of when the balance is paid. The offer letter will state the deadline for accepting the place and provide the relevant payment options.
Apply for Cohort 4
Applications submitted by 18 July 2026 qualify for the 25% early rate. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may close once cohort capacity is reached.
Frequently asked questions
Programme requirements and participation
How does the 25% early rate work?
The early rate applies to applications submitted by 18 July 2026. It reduces the Access rate to US$368, the Individual professional rate to US$593 and the Institutional rate to US$743. The rate is determined by the date the application is submitted, not the date of the offer or payment — if you apply on time and are admitted, your offer letter will state the early rate, and it remains locked whichever payment option you choose. Applications submitted after 18 July 2026 are charged at the standard rates of US$490, US$790 and US$990.
How long does the programme run?
Cohort 4 runs from 5 August to 18 November 2026, approximately 15 weeks. The programme contains nine live sessions held fortnightly, with the two policy-writing masterclasses held one week apart in October.
How long is each session and what workload should I expect?
Each live session is approximately 90 minutes. Participants should normally allow two to three hours in a session week, including preparation and follow-up. Additional drafting time is required during the commentary and capstone-brief stages.
What is required to receive the certificate?
Certificate eligibility requires attendance at a minimum of seven of the nine live sessions, constructive participation, submission of the 800-word commentary and 1,500-word policy brief, and completion of required revisions to the applicable standard.
How is work assessed?
Work is assessed against the clarity of the analytical question, quality and proportional use of evidence, structure of the argument, treatment of assumptions and uncertainty, relevance of recommendations, and responsiveness to editorial feedback.
Will my work be published?
Publication is selective rather than automatic. IPSC may publish work that meets its editorial and analytical standards after the participant has completed the programme and undertaken any required revisions.
Are sessions recorded?
Recordings are made available to enrolled participants where speaker permissions and the nature of the discussion allow. Some interactive or sensitive practitioner discussions may not be recorded. Participants should plan to attend live wherever possible.
When do applications close?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may close once cohort capacity is reached. The 25% early rate closes on 18 July 2026. IPSC will publish a final closing date if places remain available closer to commencement.
How many participants will be admitted?
Cohort size is limited to preserve discussion quality, faculty interaction and meaningful feedback. IPSC may operate separate APAC and Americas cohorts where demand and participant locations support this.
What technology do I need?
Participants need a reliable internet connection, a modern web browser, access to video-conferencing software, and a computer capable of preparing and submitting written work. A headset and functioning microphone are strongly recommended.
Can IPSC provide accessibility adjustments?
IPSC will consider reasonable accessibility adjustments for admitted participants. Applicants may contact the programme team confidentially to discuss relevant requirements before or after applying.
What happens if faculty or session arrangements change?
Faculty participation is subject to professional availability. IPSC may substitute a comparably qualified speaker, change the sequence of sessions or make reasonable timetable adjustments while preserving the programme’s substantive learning outcomes.
What is the cancellation and transfer policy?
Payments are subject to the IPSC cancellation and transfer policy. The policy addresses participant cancellation, IPSC cancellation or postponement, transfers to another cohort or participant, deposit treatment, timetable changes and applicable consumer rights.
Nothing in the policy excludes rights available under the Australian Consumer Law. Review the cancellation and transfer policy.
Apply to join the August 2026 Emerging Leaders Forum.
The application takes approximately five minutes. There is no application fee and no payment is requested until IPSC issues an offer of admission. Applications submitted by 18 July 2026 qualify for the 25% early rate. Applications may close once cohort capacity is reached.
Questions: rachel.lin@indo-pacificstudiescenter.org