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Asia Policy Leadership Forum
Part of Salzburg Global's Culture Pillar
Our Purpose
The Asia Policy Leadership Forum is a transformative year-long fellowship aimed at nurturing the next generation of policy leaders across Asia to build inclusive networks, exchange ideas, and design bold solutions for today’s most pressing policy challenges.
Why It Matters
The program equips Fellows with the tools, insights, and networks to scale their impact in technology, governance, and society.
Participants gain exposure to international perspectives, innovative policy approaches, and practical strategies that they can apply to their work, while also contributing their own experiences to a collaborative, cross-regional community of leaders.
The program nurtures confidence, ambition, and strategic thinking, helping Fellows tackle complex challenges and expand the scope of their influence.
By connecting with role models and peers across sectors, geographies, and generations, participants develop the mindset and skills to drive meaningful change at a regional and international level.
Fellows’ ideas and achievements are amplified through Salzburg Global’s global platforms, including publications, newsletters, and social media channels, providing visibility and recognition that extend their influence and foster further opportunities for collaboration and leadership.
60% of the World Lives in Asia
Over 4.3 billion people—approximately 60 per cent of the global population—reside in the Asia and Pacific region.
As Asia expands in demographic, economic, and geopolitical weight, the need for regionally grounded policy leadership becomes ever more critical.
Asia's Generates ⅔ of Global Economic Growth
Asia is now responsible for about two-thirds of the world’s growth and holds approximately 40 percent of global GDP.
In a multipolar world, policy leaders in Asia must operate within complex geopolitical dynamics—from supply chains to digital sovereignty to regional security—and form networks that span sectors and borders.
Asia's GDP Growth Stems from Tech and Innovation
Between 2010 and 2020, nearly half of Asia’s GDP growth stemmed from technological advancement and innovation.
As the region transitions from manufacturing to innovation-led economies, emerging policy leaders must understand how to shape regulatory frameworks, support R&D, and manage digital transformation.
Asia's Over-65 Population is Rising Significantly
Asia’s share of the world’s older (65 +) population is projected to rise significantly — part of major demographic shifts ahead.
With some countries in the region aging rapidly while others remain youthful, the policy landscape demands leaders who can navigate generational change and craft timely solutions.
Our Format
Through a blend of online engagement and in-person collaboration, the Asia Policy Leadership Forum guides Fellows through a year-long learning journey designed to build networks, strengthen skills, and translate ideas into action.
Two 90-minute online sessions introduce the Fellowship’s goals and support the co-design of cohort objectives while helping Fellows connect and establish a shared sense of purpose.
These 90-minute online knowledge development sessions include presentations from an array of thought leaders from Asia and around the globe.
The resulting discussions center on critical policy topics. Capacity development and skills-building sessions support Fellows to reflect on their personal and professional leadership goals, fostering cross-cultural intelligence and sensitivity.
Topics are co-created with participants to ensure alignment with their interests and contexts.
Following a mentoring needs assessment, each Fellow is matched with an experienced professional from the Salzburg Global network.
This nine-month mentoring relationship provides individualized guidance, professional support, and opportunities for intergenerational exchange.
Each cohort explores a Public Policy Challenge linked to Asia’s current policy priorities.
During the four-day in-person convening in Salzburg, Fellows build on insights from their virtual sessions to develop advocacy strategies and partnerships that address the Challenge topic.
Through interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, they strengthen their knowledge, leadership skills, and ability to navigate complex policy environments.
Fellows join a growing network of policy professionals, including more than 120+ peers across Europe, and participate in regional and virtual peer mentoring sessions, including exchanges with Fellows from Public Policy New Voices Europe.
Participants also gain lifetime membership in the Salzburg Global Fellowship, connecting them to over 40,000 leaders from 170+ countries.
Get Involved
To be eligible for the Asia Policy Leadership Forum, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of or are doing policy work in one of the following jurisdictions: Japan, Hong Kong SAR, India, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
- Be an early-to-mid-career professional (5 to 10 years of experience) working in government, civil society, the private sector, or academia.
- Have already demonstrated meaningful impact through their policy work at the intersection of technology, governance, and society.
- Have an interest in scaling their work regionally, collaborating across sectors, and engaging with senior leaders and peers in addressing the region’s most pressing policy challenges.
- Be passionate about increasing representation and diversity within the policy space in your country and within the region.
- Be comfortable communicating in English, the working language of Salzburg Global.
Salzburg Global prioritizes participation from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups within the policy space.
Salzburg Global actively encourages applications from communities that have been historically underrepresented in policymaking, including people of color, those from ethnically diverse, migrant, or refugee communities, disabled people, people from low-income backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBT+*.
*LGBT+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. This term is used inclusively to reflect other cultural and historical understandings of sexuality, gender, intersex, and gender non-conforming identities.
Applicants must be citizens of, based in, or doing policy work in one of the eligible countries for the entire duration of the Fellowship. The program is intended for early-to-mid-career professionals (5 to 10 years of experience) who have not yet had significant international exposure or access to leadership development opportunities.
Thanks to the generous support of our partners, there is no cost to apply to or participate in the Asia Policy Leadership Forum.
Support is available to cover costs associated with room and board for the in-person convening in Salzburg. Limited support may be available for costs related to travel to the in-person session.
Thank you to everyone who applied for our inaugural cohort of the Asia Policy Leadership Forum! We are excited to begin reviewing the applications, and the outcomes of the selection committee's decision will be communicated in the coming few weeks.
Applicants will be notified about the status of their application by the end of December 2025.
We are inviting experienced professionals to mentor emerging policy leaders from across Asia.
Over nine months, mentors will engage in monthly online conversations to support Fellows’ leadership growth and foster intergenerational learning.
Selected mentors may be invited to join the in-person convening at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria. If you are interested in mentoring, please contact Surya HK.
Mobilizing Asia’s Next Generation of Policy Leaders
In October 2025, we soft-launched the program during an online discussion titled “Forging the Future: Mobilizing Asia’s Next Generation of Policy Leaders.” Guest speakers included:
- Pauline Yeung, Founder, KnitKnot Global, Hong Kong SAR
- Deeksha Goel, Provost, School of Global Leadership, B.E.S.T. Innovation University, India
- Jisup Lee, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy - Platforms & Devices, Google, South Korea
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Donations, no matter the size, help us create space for dialogue that overcomes barriers and opens up a world of better possibilities.
