Upcoming events

    • April 01, 2026
    • December 31, 2026
    • Brussels


    YPFP Brussels presents the newest edition of its Advisors Program 2026!

    What?

    This annual program pairs participants with experienced professionals in foreign policy and security policy, guiding them through the early stages and key steps of their careers. As an Advisee, you'll be matched with an Advisor whose expertise aligns with your career interests and goals. Over a span of seven months (excluding the summer break), you will have the chance to engage with professionals who have built successful careers in your field. Regular one-on-one sessions with your Advisor will help you map out your career path and create personalised strategies to tackle any challenges you face. Throughout the program, you will also participate in workshops and social events with your cohort. These activities will allow you to hone various skills, from traditional leadership abilities like public speaking, to out-of-the-box approaches such as intercultural communication and relationship building. Additionally, the social events will provide opportunities to form connections and friendships with other ambitious young professionals in Brussels.

    The 2026 cohort will further expand the Alumni network. You will gain access to a broad community of talented leaders, creating a valuable resource for mutual support, collaboration, and connection beyond the Advisors Program.

    Why?

    The primary goal of the Advisors Program is to offer guidance and support to emerging young leaders and professionals in the fields of foreign and security policy. Brussels is home to numerous international organisations, boasting a range of career opportunities in both the public and private sectors. However, navigating this landscape can be difficult, and ambitious goals may sometimes feel unattainable. In this highly competitive job market, YPFP Brussels provides members with a rare opportunity to receive mentorship from distinguished professionals who are dedicated to helping them reach their aspirations.

    Who?

    The Advisors Program is open to all YPFP Brussels members who meet the following criteria and are eager to embrace new opportunities and take part in this exciting journey:

    • Be a YPFP Brussels member
    • Recent graduate with a degree in foreign affairs, security, or related fields
    • Young professional in your first position or stuck in a repetitive internship cycle
    • Young professional looking to switch careers, explore a new area of expertise, or gain deeper insights into your career path (< 2 years of professional experience, excluding internships)
    • Based in Brussels
    • Ready to commit to the full duration of the program
    Not a member yet? No worries! Sign up here to take advantage of this and other membership perks.

      The program requires an estimated commitment of 10-12 hours per month, including individual meetings (scheduled with your mentor) and workshops.

      How?

      To apply for the Advisors Program, simply upload your CV to the registration form and answer a few brief questions about your motivation, expectations, and goals (please note there is a limit of 250 characters per question!). The application deadline was extended to 8 March2026. Please be aware that spots are limited. All applications will be reviewed, and applicants will be notified of their success by early April. If you have any questions, feel free to email advisors.program@ypfp.org or reach out directly to Tanaz Farmani, Advisors Program Officer.

      Interested in becoming an Advisor?

      Are you interested in offering guidance and support to young and aspiring foreign and security policy professionals? For more information, please get in touch with advisors.program@ypfp.org.

      • June 30, 2026
      • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
      • Culver City, Los Angeles
      • 3
      Register


      Join Young Professionals in Foreign Policy: Los Angeles (YPFP:LA) for an intimate evening conversation with activist Frances Hui, the first Hong Kong activist to receive asylum in the U.S.

      Frances Hui is the Policy and Advocacy Manager at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, and the Executive Director of We The Hongkongers.

      Hui has been involved in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement since age 14, advocating for democratic freedoms as the political landscape in Hong Kong grew increasingly restrictive. In December 2023, the Hong Kong regime placed a HK$1 million bounty on her head under the National Security Law, marking her as a target for her continued activism abroad. Her story has since shaped public understanding of transnational repression and informed conversations around the Chinese Communist Party's reach beyond its borders.

      This fireside chat will feature a moderated discussion exploring Hui's journey into activism, the realities of advocating for democracy while living in exile, and the personal and political insights drawn from being targeted by her home government. The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A, offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage directly with the speaker.

      Designed for those interested in human rights, international affairs, and global democracy movements, this event offers a rare chance to hear from a leading voice in Hong Kong's diaspora activism in an intimate, community-focused setting.

      Event Details:

      • Tuesday, June 30, 2026

      • 6:30-8:00 pm – (doors open at 6:30, with programming beginning promptly at 6:45)

      • Culver City, Los Angeles (Location provided upon registration)

      • $10 donation to help cover the event costs (or more if feeling generous)!


      Space is limited—early registration is encouraged.

      For any questions, please reach out to losangeles@ypfp.org.

      • July 07, 2026
      • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
      • Virtual
      Register

      Join us for a virtual conversation on the real-world consequences of international aid cuts on global health outcomes, disease surveillance, and pandemic preparedness.

      Dr. Davide Rasella is an ICREA Research Professor and head of the Global Health Impact Assessment and Evaluation Group, specializing in social epidemiology and how policies and financing shape population health in low- and middle-income countries. His work quantifies the health effects of reductions in development assistance, focusing on child and maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

      Check out Dr Davide Rasella’s paper which will ground our conversation, where he finds aid cuts could result in more than 22 million additional deaths by 2030, including 5.4 million children under five : https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(26)00008-2/fulltext 

      Dr. Alexandra Phelan is an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, specializing in global health law, infectious disease governance, and the legal and policy impacts of pandemics, climate change, and biodiversity loss. She advises governments and international organizations including the WHO and the US National Academies on pandemic preparedness and global health security.

      Dr. Brooke Nichols is an infectious disease mathematical modeller and health economist specializing in transmission dynamics, implementation modeling, and optimal resource allocation for pathogens including HIV, tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2, and other pathogens of pandemic potential. Her work seeks to minimize the health and economic impact of infectious diseases through innovative quantitative approaches.

      This discussion will explore:

      - Quantifying the impact of aid cuts on global health and development outcomes
      - Effects on vaccination programs, disease surveillance, and pandemic preparedness
      - Operational challenges facing NGOs and frontline implementing partners
      - Shifting geopolitica
      l and multilateral dynamics in global aid

      • July 16, 2026
      • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
      • Game On Bar + Arcade, 1330 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009 (2nd floor, stair access only)
      • 22
      Register

      Escape the humidity with us and NABEA (National Association for Black Engagement with Asia)!

      This July we're heading to Game On Bar + Arcade for a fun evening of drinks, conversation, and good company. Whether you're a longtime member or joining us for the first time, we'd love to see you there. Bring a friend!


      • July 18, 2026
      • 10:00 AM
      • July 19, 2026
      • 4:00 PM
      • 1620 L Street NW, Washington, DC
      • 38
      Register

      Think you have what it takes to change the course of history?

      It is July 1776. What began as protests and political unrest in the North American colonies has escalated into open rebellion. In a string of surprising early victories, the newly formed Continental Army has driven British troops from Boston, forced royal governors into exile, and repelled a British assault on Charleston.

      Join us for a historical wargame in commemoration of America's 250th anniversary where you step into the shoes of military commanders, political leaders, and diplomats as the fate of a nation hangs in the balance.

      Players can take on roles representing the Continental United States, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of France, the Kingdom of Spain, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. If enough players join, each of the 13 colonies will have their own representative at the table.


      What is a Wargame?

      A wargame is an immersive role-playing simulation where participants step into the shoes of real historical figures and navigate the political, military, and diplomatic challenges of a given moment in history. Players work within teams to strategize, negotiate, and compete against one another to achieve their faction's goals. No prior experience is needed.

      What will the daily agenda look like?

      Doors will open around 9 AM and we'll start at 10 AM. We will likely conclude around 4-5 PM on day 1 and 2-3 PM on day 2. 

      Food and drink?

      Coffee will be provided day 1. Water is available on site. Please bring or plan to buy lunch nearby. Refrigerators are available in the building. 


      Happy Hour

      Join us for a happy hour after day 2 concludes. Details to come.

      Space is limited. Please only RSVP if you are able to attend both days.

      • August 12, 2026
      • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
      • Zoom
      Register

      The goal of these Coffee Chats will be to show the different paths and careers that exist in the field of international relations. Each chat will feature a different guest who will share their experience and advice for people who are interested in a particular career path. This Coffee Chat is open to YPFP members only at this time.

      A Zoom link will be sent the day before.

      • September 01, 2026
      • June 01, 2027
      • Brussels
      Register

      YPFP Brussels is proud to launch the newest edition of its Advisors Program 2026!

      What?

      Under this program, participants will be paired with experienced professionals in the fields of foreign policy and security policy, and mentored through the beginning and next steps of their career. As an Advisee, you will be matched with an Advisor based on your interests and goals, and their relevant experience. Over the course of seven months, you will have the opportunity to learn from and interact with experienced professionals who have established themselves in your field of interest. You will have regular one-on-one meetings with your Advisor, who will help you define your path and develop tailor-made approaches to your career challenges. As part of the Program, you will also get to participate in several workshops and social events with your cohort. These will provide you with the chance to learn and practice a range of skills, from classical leadership, such as public speaking, to out-of-the-box approaches, including intercultural communication and relationship building. On top of this, social events will help you build connections and friendships with other like-minded and ambitious young professionals in Brussels!

      The 2025 cohort continues expanding the pool of Alumni. As this pool expands in the future, you will benefit from a network and community of young and smart leaders – a pool of expertise and contacts to support one another beyond the framework of the Advisors Program.

      Why?

      The main aim of the Advisors Program is to provide orientation and support for young and aspiring foreign and security policy leaders and professionals. Brussels hosts a wide array of international organisations, with career opportunities within the public and private sectors alike. This can prove challenging to navigate, and high-reaching goals may often seem out of reach. In this very competitive job market, YPFP Brussels offers members a unique opportunity to be mentored by high-profile professionals ready to help them achieve their objectives.

      Who?

      The Advisors Program is open to all YPFP Brussels members that fulfill the criteria below and are ready to explore new opportunities and join this adventure!

      • Member of YPFP Brussels
      • Recent university graduate in foreign affairs, security, and related fields
      • Young professional in a first position or trapped in a repetitive internship cycle
      • Young professional wishing to change jobs and/or area of expertise, or seek a more profound understanding of their career path (< 2 years of professional experience, internships excluded)
      • Residing in Brussels
      • Willing to commit to the program for its overall duration

      Not a member yet? No problem! Sign up here and benefit from this and other membership advantages.

      The time commitment will be an estimated 10-12 hours per month including individual meetings (to be agreed with your mentor) and workshops.

      How?

      Apply for the Advisors Program by uploading your CV into the registration form, and answering a few short questions about your motivation, expectations and goals. The deadline for applying is 12 July 2026. Please note that places are limited. All applications will be screened and applicants will be informed whether they have been successful in early April. If you have any questions, please send a message to advisors.program@ypfp.org or directly contact Theresa Hartl, Deputy Director of Membership & Benefits.

      Interested in becoming an Advisor?

      Would you like to provide orientation and support for young and aspiring foreign and security policy leaders and professionals? You can send a message to advisors.program@ypfp.org for more information.

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