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.

From the Field to the Decision Room: The Value and Limitations of Intelligence Analysis (July 29, 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 01:30:00 GMT

How does a piece of information collected in the field actually transform into a briefing on a policymaker’s desk? The real process is a complex chain of human judgment, tight deadlines, and permanent gaps in information that never quite get resolved.

Grab a pint and come engage with us for our next Professors & Pints gathering, where we pair great brews with sharp conversation. This time, we are hosting Gary Gomez, an intelligence studies educator and speaker who currently serves as a research fellow at the foreign policy think tank fp21.

Gary will share how intelligence is gathered and synthesized, tackling the critical questions of what analysis can actually tell us, and where it falls short. It’s a challenge that extends well beyond national security to any environment where leaders have to make big decisions without complete information.

Event Details & Timeline:

6:30 PM: Grab a drink and settle in!
6:45 PM: Gary's remarks begin, followed by open group Q&A and engagement

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About our distinguished guest: Gary Gomez is a research fellow at the foreign policy think tank fp21. His focus includes intelligence-policy collaboration and intelligence support for foreign policy. He has more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. intelligence community, has taught undergraduate intelligence studies, and is a published author on intelligence and national security topics. Before his intelligence career, he served 11 years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman and an F-4 Phantom pilot, then 11 years in the Navy as an F-14 Tomcat pilot, flying combat missions in Operation Desert Storm.

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Note: you are responsible for yourself and any damage you may cause at the venue.

So You Wanna Get Hired: Professional Development Series (August 05, 2026)

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:00:00 GMT

The battle against AI in the hiring and job market process is scary and often leaves candidates feeling hopeless and stuck. You're expected to have experience beyond your years, and spend hours writing a resume that is fighting to stand out.

We'll help you navigate this with clarity and confidence.

Talk with Senior Career Advisor, David Fletcher, who has helped students through this process for 18+ years with American University and elsewhere. This workshop is more than just a resume writing and "leaning on your network"—David will share all the insight he has gathered to navigate competitive job markets, decode employer expectations, and build a strategic career path that actually works.

Coffee Chat: Candice Vinson (August 12, 2026)

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT

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.

Betting on War: Prediction Markets & National Security (August 17, 2026)

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Join us for a virtual panel discussion on the national security implications of prediction markets. As these markets become embedded in global financial infrastructure, their potential impact on foreign policy has become critical.

Explore prediction markets' geopolitical applications, vulnerabilities to weaponization, regulatory developments, and cross-border activity.

Alex Goldenberg is Principal and Founder of Silent Index, a national security advisory and research consultancy focused on emerging threats and intelligence research. A research fellow at Rutgers University and former YPFP member, he has published extensively on prediction markets, including "Betting on War: Prediction Markets and the Corruption of National Security" on War on the Rocks.

Sean Guillory is Chief Executive Officer of Betting Intelligence (BETINT), working on how prediction markets and world event betting mechanisms can provide intelligence and insights to address global challenges.

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--Global Networking (September 05, 2026)

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

On September 5th from 10:00 am-11:30 am EST, YPFP--Global will be hosting its first ever networking event! Meet your fellow Global members from around the world and learn about each other's interests and learn more about YPFP--Global! A Zoom link will be sent the day before the event. At this time, this is a members-only event.