Supporting Next Generation of Leaders in Sustainability

A new programme offering paid internships for young people who are passionate about social, economic, and environmental sustainability has been launched.

News release Updated 14 June 2021 2 minute READ

Applications will open later in the year for the Molchanov Sustainability Internship Programme which will support four internships per year at Chatham House as part of our second century initiatives.

The programme has been made possible following the gift of Pavel Molchanov, a research analyst who works in energy, renewables and clean technology. Mr Molchanov has also pledged a legacy to Chatham House’s Fund for the Future to ensure that the Molchanov Internship programme will continue on a permanent basis.

Mr Molchanov said he was delighted to be helping to develop future leaders in the field of sustainability. ‘Climate change, as one of the defining issues of our time and for generations to come, should be studied in all its many dimensions - some that are well-known, and others that are below the proverbial radar.

‘From developing renewable energy technologies and managing scarce water resources, to designing green buildings and much more, the challenges and opportunities are vast.’

By placing this internship program on a firm footing permanently, it is my hope that young people interested in exploring this field will always look to Chatham House as a place to receive a solid grounding early in their career.

Pavel Molchanov

Dr Robin Niblett, director and chief executive of Chatham House, said the programme would support the organisation to work on one of its key strategic ambitions - that of sustainable and equitable growth – and another to work with young people.

‘This generous and timely endowment will help underscore our commitment to working with the next generation of leaders and help them build a better world for themselves.

‘It is crucial that we incorporate the views and knowledge of those who will be affected most in the future and I very much look forward to seeing the innovative and impactful ideas that will undoubtedly result from their work.’

The programme will complement and build upon other initiatives such as Chatham House Summer School, Chatham House Open Days, Chatham House’s Panel of Young Advisors, the Queen Elizabeth II Academy Ambassadors, and Common Futures Conversations.

Internships and Outreach Manager Alis Martin said the programme will help interns to navigate and shape a complex and changing world.

‘The long-term impact of his transformational gift will further our efforts to reach a more diverse network of people and develop the next generation of leaders and foreign policy practitioners, leaving them better equipped to enter the workforce with strong skills and hands-on experience,’ she said.

For more information about the internships, please contact Alis Martin.

Notes

Mr Molchanov is a director and equity research analyst at Raymond James & Associates. He joined the firm in 2003 and has since been working as part of the Energy Group, currently focusing on renewables and clean technology. He also serves as a member of the advisory board at Cool Effect, an environmental project-funding charity; and on the board of visitors of the University of North Carolina’s Institute for the Environment.

Chatham House has been a source of independent analysis, trusted dialogue and influential ideas for 100 years. Today, in our second century, we continue to offer solutions to global challenges and actively seek to empower the next generation to change their world.