The ASEAN-Australia Centre (the Centre) builds on the Australian Government’s commitment to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia for a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. It delivers programs and initiatives across four strategic pillars – Southeast Asia literacy, economic linkages, education and cultural connections. 

The Program supports the ASEAN-Australia Centre’s work to build a network of future ASEAN leaders with strong connections to Australia, who will drive positive change across Australia and Southeast Asia. 

This Emerging Leadership Program responds to a regional demand for applied learning, leadership development, and policy collaboration, fostering new cohorts of foreign policy professionals equipped to advance security, stability, and cooperation in the region.

By the end of the program, participants will be able to demonstrate enhanced skills and knowledge to:

• Analyse major drivers of conflict, instability and strategic competition in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
• Assess how geopolitical, economic, environmental, technological and societal factors interact to create conflict risks and the role of ASEA-led mechanisms in managing regional security challenges.
• Apply conflict analysis frameworks to identify drivers, actors, interests, grievances, triggers and escalation pathways.
• Identify and assess early warning indicators and develop practical conflict-prevention options.
• Apply principles of preventive diplomacy, mediation, negotiation and confidence-building.
• Develop strategies for maintaining communication and dialogue between parties during periods of heightened tension.
• Develop crisis-management responses that incorporate diplomatic, political, economic, security and humanitarian considerations.
• Apply strategic communication techniques to reduce misinformation, manage perceptions and prevent escalation.
• Develop and communicate practical recommendations for strengthening conflict prevention in their own organisation or country.
• Establish professional relationships and networks with emerging leaders from across ASEAN and Australia.

This Emerging Leaders Program will be delivered via blended delivery over a maximum of 12 weeks, commencing from early 2027 and completing no later than end May 2027 and includes an eight day immersion program in-Australia, with one travel day either side.