Welcoming Cohort 5 of Public Policy New Voices Europe

Salzburg Global and its partner, The Walt Disney Company, and supporters Amazon and Schwarzman Scholars, are excited to introduce the fifth cohort of the Public Policy New Voices Europe Fellowship. These 28 diverse leaders, based in 14 European countries and representing 22 nationalities, are all committed to strengthening inclusive governance and policymaking. Over the next year, Fellows will take part in virtual learning, peer exchange, mentorship, networking, capacity building, and external conferences. At an in-person convening in Salzburg, Austria, they will tackle a policy challenge and propose real-world solutions.

As technological advancement in Europe coincides with rising polarization, declining public trust, eroding and erasure of legacy institutions, and increasing regulatory complexity, Fellows will tackle the emergent themes of data governance, digital infrastructure, and innovation. This year's session, Leadership in a Digital Age: Technology, Society, and Governance in Europe, explores how policymakers across sectors can navigate the opportunities and challenges of new technologies while strengthening democratic institutions, societal resilience, and inclusive, equitable, future-ready governance.

By engaging across countries and contexts, Fellows will co-create strategies for more resilient, robust, and innovative digital futures for Europe. The fellowship will culminate in an in-person convening in Salzburg, Austria from November 17 to 21, 2026, where Fellows will participate in interactive workshops, engaging discussions, and collaborative group work addressing a Public Policy Challenge. They will have the opportunity to present their outcomes and outputs to an esteemed and august gathering of experts and policymakers from across Europe.

The in-person sessions will take place alongside the Asia Policy Leadership Forum, a new Salzburg Global program focused on cultivating policy leadership across Asia at the intersection of technology, society, and governance. Bringing both groups together at the same time will create opportunities for cross-regional exchange and learning among emerging leaders confronting and tackling policy challenges in different contexts.

Faye Hobson, Director of the Culture Program Pillar at Salzburg Global, commented: "Celebrating five years of the Public Policy New Voices Europe Fellowship is a powerful reminder of how far this network has come and how much impact emerging policy leaders can have when they are meaningfully supported. What began as a focused effort to elevate new voices in public policy has grown into a vibrant, expanding community of 150 leaders who are shaping governance conversations across Europe and beyond. It’s truly wonderful to see how the network continues to strengthen, evolve, and connect leaders who are navigating increasingly complex policy challenges. The growth of Public Policy New Voices Europe over these five years demonstrates just how essential it is to invest in diverse, forward‑looking leadership."

Since its launch in 2021, Public Policy New Voices Europe has connected, supported, and empowered a network of more than 150 diverse leaders working to strengthen democratic institutions, advance inclusive policymaking, and address complex societal challenges. Fellows in Cohort 5 are joining this expanding community of leaders shaping more inclusive, equitable, and effective policymaking across Europe.

Fellows selected for Cohort 5 of Public Policy New Voices Europe include:

• Maria Atanasova, Parliamentary Support Officer, European Parliament, Belgium
• Juliet Bayor, Doctoral Researcher, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
• Oscar Chaves Marques, Master’s Student, University of Bologna, Portugal
• Diletta Di Marco, Scientific Officer, Joint Research Center of the European Commission, Italy
• Ifrah Farah, Master's Student, University College London, United Kingdom
• Carlos Fillippo, Consultant, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Germany
• Izabela Gasoyan, International Business and Partnerships Lead, South Summit, Spain
• Nanzala Gonda, Consultant, EY, Germany
• Jimena González, EU Public Affairs Consultant, Freshfields LLM, Belgium
• Ruby Haji Naif, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Ardita Hajra, Project Manager, Business Reporter, Kosovo
• Natalia Kallio, International Human Rights Advocate and Local Councilor, City of Helsinki, Finland
• DaSean Kornegay, Freelance Researcher, Independent, Austria
• Meem Arafat Manab, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Fellow, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
• Eléonore Maréchal, Research Manager, Ipsos B and A, Ireland
• Dennis Kamau Muniu, Student Board Member and Global South Representative, Afro-Asian Institute (AAI), Austria
• Shawgi Omer Nawai, Managing Director, PLACE Network, France
• Aibike Zhanybekovna Omurova, Master’s Student, London School of Economics (LSE), United Kingdom
• Farina Owusu, Expert Consultant, Janze and Janze, Germany
• Aditya Singh, Senior Policy Analyst, Open Future Foundation, Netherlands
• Claus Soong, Analyst, Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), Germany
• Ayodeji Soyemi, Master’s Student, Central European University, Austria
• Jasmin Stadler, GovCERT Technical Analyst, Swiss National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-CH), Switzerland
• Kiara Winona Sweeney, Program Director, Yunus Environment Hub, Germany
• Sethy Tsoungui, Schuman Trainee, European Parliament, Belgium
• Victor Werimo, Erasmus Scholar, KU Leuven, Belgium
• Alexandria Williams, Journalist and Researcher, Deutsche Welle, Germany
• Michal Žiga, University Program Participant, Central European University Roma Graduation Preparation Program, Hungary