Young Strategic Leaders' Forum

A key priority of the Kokoda Foundation is to do as much as possible to foster a new generation of young strategic thinkers in Australia.

The Young Strategic Leaders' Forum has been established by the Kokoda Foundation to develop the professional skills of the next generation of Australia’s national security leaders. The Forum provides a challenging environment for Australia’s brightest and best young minds to develop their skills and build a network with the current and next generations of national security professionals in government and industry.

The Forum offers a wide range of opportunities for young national security professionals to gain practical, professional experience and develop a network with the current and next generations of Australian strategic thinkers.

Seminars

The Forum is based around a series of monthly seminars focusing on strategic and professional development themes. Some of Australia’s Government and national security leaders, industry representatives and world-renowned experts will present this series.

At each seminar a theme is discussed in-depth with the opportunity for young leaders to discuss these and many other issues with recognised experts in national security policy and the long-term issues facing Australia.

Other special events in which young strategic leaders will have the opportunity to participate include closed seminars with world-renowned experts in a number of fields from policing to diplomacy and military strategy.

YSL Congress

Twice a year Kokoda offers Young Strategic Leaders the opportunity to attend a weekend long Congress. The weekend retreat involves a series of workshops and seminars with senior national security community leaders and industry heads. Activities are structured around a central theme with time in between seminars and workshops to talk informally with some of Australia’s senior officials. For more information see Young Strategic Leaders' Congress.

National Security Careers Night

In May this year the Kokoda Foundation held the first National Security Careers night for young professionals who work in the National Security area or aspire to. Held at the Australian Defence College in Weston Creek, the evening was a great success with over 200 Young Strategic Leaders attending.

The event showcased career opportunities in the national security community, featuring presentations on the roles, activities and professional development opportunities in major national security organisations by senior officials.

Due to its popularity, the Kokoda Foundation hopes to run this event again in 2009.

Organisations represented included:

  • Office of National Assessments
  • Defence Signals Directorate
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
  • Attorney-General’s Department
  • Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation
  • Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • Australian Federal Police
  • Department of Defence
  • Defence Intelligence Organisation

ADBR Magazine Strategic Essay Prize

The Kokoda Foundation’s vision for encouraging a new generation of young Australian strategic thinkers is now clearly shared by many colleagues and friends. Trevor Thomas, the Editor-in-Chief of Australian Defence Business Review Magazine generously sponsors an annual essay competition to find the best articles on forward-looking strategic issues written by Australians under the age of 35.

The prize for 2007 was awarded at the 2007 Trilogy Seminar dinner on 29 November. Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief of the Australian Defence Force, presented prizes to the winners of the 2007 ADBR Strategic Essay Competition.

First Prize went to Benjamin Habib for an outstanding article entitled: “Another Perfect Storm? Predictors of Radical Change in North Korea”. Benjamin can be seen in the photo receiving his prize from Air Chief Marshal Houston and Trevor Thomas.

Second Prize was awarded to Raoul Heinrichs for an excellent article entitled “Australia’s Nuclear Dilemma”.

Third Prize was awarded to Alison Hickman who wrote a very fine article entitled: “Solutions for Strategic Analysis in an Uncertain World”.

All three winning articles and a few other outstanding entries will be published in forthcoming editions of
Security Challenges.

Robert Chaloner Prize

The Rob Chaloner Prize is awarded annually as recognition of outstanding young strategic leadership. The Prize consists of $1000 to allow the winner to undertake further personal development.

Nominations will be judged by a sub-committee of the Kokoda Foundation Board on the following criteria:

  • Has demonstrated strong leadership and management skills.
  • Has developed greatly improved strategic analytical skills.
  • Has demonstrated initiative in launching and/or leading events that benefit other young strategic thinkers.
  • Has worked harmoniously with others and demonstrated characteristics of a strong team player.
  • Has demonstrated capacities to research and write quality strategic analysis.
  • Has either worked within, or aspires to work within, the Australian national security community, broadly defined. The Australian national security community is defined here to include all Commonwealth and State Government departments and agencies, the Australian Defence Force, police forces, relevant parts of defence industry and also relevant academic and independent research institutions.
  • Is aged 35 years or below at 1 January of the year of the award.

The recommendation of the selection committee will be presented to the Kokoda Foundation Board for endorsement.

The winner will be announced at the Young Strategic Leaders Forum Congress held late in the year.

The decision of the selection committee and the Kokoda Foundation Board is final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the decision or any part of the selection process.

The nomination form for the 2008 Robert Chaloner Prize can be downloaded here.

History of the Robert Chaloner Prize

Rob Chaloner was an energetic supporter of the Kokoda Foundation from its very beginnings. He was particularly enthusiastic to see young strategic thinkers encouraged to strengthen their strategic analytical skills, understanding and expertise as well as their practical work, leadership and management capacities. In memory of her husband Frances Chaloner donated a sum of money to the Kokoda Foundation in order to fund an annual prize in memory of her late husband.

Research

Young Strategic leaders may also be invited to participate in Kokoda Foundation research projects and attend closed workshops where senior government officials discuss some of Australia’s most challenging future security challenges with academic and industry experts from Australia and around the world. Some of the projects in which young strategic leaders have participated include:

  • The National Security Community in 2020
  • Next-generation underwater options for Australia
  • Next-generation space options for Australia

Participants in the Forum will also have opportunities to write for Security Challenges, the Foundation’s reviewed journal.

The Young Strategic Leaders’ Forum is proudly sponsored by Noetic Solutions Pty Ltd

 
   

© 2007 Kokoda Foundation