Young Professionals in Foreign Policy upcoming events

Advisors Program 2026 (disabled) (March 31, 2026)

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:00:00 GMT

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.

Advisors Program 2026 (August 31, 2026)

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT

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.

YPFP London Career Accelerator (October 21, 2026)

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

NOTE: Applications have passed. This page is for processing payments.

Ticket price has been converted to USD.

The YPFP London Career Accelerator is a selective pilot programme designed to support early-career professionals entering foreign policy and international affairs.

Over the programme, you will engage with high-level speakers from diplomatic, academic, think tank, and private sector backgrounds. They will be covering a range of topics ranging from conflict to climate change to strategic communications.

The programme is London-based and includes masterclasses, institutional exposure, workshops, and a final showcase. Sessions will take place every week from 6.30pm onwards on a Wednesday or Thursday.

This is a pilot cohort, meaning participants will play a role in shaping the future of the programme.

Sip & Learn: Global Health Diplomacy with Portugal - Health Diplomacy in the Lusophone World (November 05, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 23:00:00 GMT

The Embassy of Portugal, together with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP), cordially invites you to a seminar on

Health Diplomacy in the Lusophone World: Strengthening Global Health Cooperation through the CPLP and diplomatic collaboration.

Featuring distinguished guests:

Socorro Gross Galiano, Senior Advisor, Global Partnerships, Office of the Director PAHO
Francisco Pavão, Counsellor for Health & Pharmaceuticals, EPSCO Team
Maria de Jesus Espada, PhD, Senior Officer for Agriculture and Health at the Embassy of Portugal

This seminar will explore opportunities to strengthen international cooperation on global health through the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), and connections beyond the organizm

The event seeks to foster high-level dialogue on health diplomacy, a shared priority among CPLP Member States. The discussion will examine how Portugal leverages the CPLP as a platform for advancing global health cooperation across Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia.

The seminar will offer insights into how shared language, multilateral partnerships, and coordinated policy approaches can strengthen health systems, develop the health workforce, and enhance pandemic preparedness across the CPLP’s nine Member States. Particular attention will be given to nutrition and food and nutrition security within the broader framework of national health systems, as outlined in the CPLP Strategic Plan for Health Cooperation (PECS 2023–2027).

Through an exchange of perspectives and experiences, participants will explore opportunities to deepen Lusophone health cooperation and advance shared priorities in global health diplomacy.

Europe’s defence dilemma: Made in Poland or bought abroad? (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT

How can Poland meet its urgent military needs while building the industrial capacity to sustain its armed forces in the long term?

Join YPFP Brussels, in cooperation with Business & Science Poland, for a panel discussion exploring Poland's defence procurement strategy and the role of domestic production and international partnerships.

What should Poland build at home, what should it buy from abroad, and how can European cooperation help bridge the gap?

Bringing together perspectives from Polish industry and applied research, our speakers will discuss manufacturing capabilities, access to technology and the practical benefits of international partnerships.

Featured speakers:

Marek Kalbarczyk, Director of the PGZ Brussels Office
Roman J. Przekwas, Permanent Representative in Brussels of the Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation
Henry Castelein, Deputy Director, Security & Defence, YPFP Brussels (Moderator)

Wargame: The Price of Dignity: Ukraine 2014 (November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

A multiplayer geopolitical crisis wargame set during the dramatic opening months of the 2014 Ukraine crisis.

Ukraine is fractured. Russia is mobilizing. Separatist movements are spreading across eastern Ukraine. NATO is watching, and every decision risks pushing Europe closer to a war.

Players take on the roles of political leaders, military commanders, intelligence chiefs, diplomats, and regional power brokers. Rather than simply commanding armies, players must build coalitions, gather intelligence, manage escalation, negotiate with allies, and decide when, and whether, to use force.

The game features a Ukrainian team struggling to reign in nationalist elements and authoritarian impulses to regain control of the county, a Russia attempting to bring Ukraine back into the fold (or as much of it as it can), emerging Ukrainian separatist movements, and NATO members with their own interests and limits, attempting to prevent catastrophe in Ukraine. Military power is only one part of the equation: diplomatic pressure can unlock foreign forces, intelligence can expose, or conceal, your opponent and allied interests and goals, and seemingly minor actions can trigger uprisings, international intervention, or uncontrolled escalation. Above it all is the global information environment, which player actions (and inactions) may inform, change, or upend the narrative about what is happening in Ukraine.

Can Ukraine hold itself together? Can Russia achieve its objectives without provoking a wider conflict? Can NATO deter Russian aggression while keeping its members united? Or will a crisis that began in Crimea spiral into the largest war in Europe since WWII?

In this game, the most dangerous weapon may be the decision to escalate.

*****

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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

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.

Save the Date: AU SIS & YPFP Research Symposium (April 09, 2027)

Fri, 09 Apr 2027 16:00:00 GMT

SAVE THE DATE:

Navigating New Terrains on a Contested Planet

The 2nd Annual AU SIS – YPFP Research Symposium

Register to mark your calendars and stay up to date for the return of our premier joint event hosted by American University’s School of International Service (SIS) and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP).

Date: April 9, 2027
Time: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET
Venue: American University Founders Room, School of International Service (SIS) Building (4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016)

About the Symposium

Building on the success of our inaugural gathering, the 2nd Annual Research Symposium serves as a platform for graduate students and early-career professionals to showcase research on the evolving global order. By highlighting work from the SIS graduate community and YPFP members on critical modern issues, we hope to bridge the gap between academia and policy making and connect emerging leaders with established experts and peers to foster meaningful dialogue and career-long professional relationships

Call for Proposals

We are currently inviting SIS graduate students and YPFP members to submit brief research proposals (up to 300 words) outlining topics they would like to present across two core tracks:

Track 1 — Contested Environments: Resources, Conflict, and Cooperation: Research examining resources, ecosystems, and the environment as drivers of conflict and cooperation in their own right.

Track 2 — Contested Landscapes: New Instruments and New Actors: research examining the changing instruments and actors of conflict and crisis — economic statecraft, digital and autonomous technologies, and non-state actors.

You can submit your application on the Symposium Landing Page on http://ypfp.org/ypfp-au-symposium

Application Deadline: January 15, 2027, at 11:59 PM ET.