Leadership Masterclass Programme

Citizenship

The Asfari Foundation stream is open to citizens of Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine (State of Palestine), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen who are based in London.

The International Strategy Forum stream is open to alumni of the International Strategy Forum Fellowship who are based in London.

Education

Applicants must hold a completed BA degree or equivalent.

Career

Eligibility is limited to individuals who meet the selection criteria and work in one of the following fields: academia, NGO, business, government departments, civil society or the media.

Age restrictions

We do not impose age restrictions for applicants.

Duration

Leadership Masterclass Programme participants join the Academy one day a week (usually on Thursdays) at Chatham House between October 2025 and June 2026 with a break for the Christmas holidays.

Sessions typically take place in person on Thursdays between 9am and 5pm. Most weeks, sessions are one-and-a-half hours, with some weeks requiring multiple sessions of no more than six hours. The programme schedule is released on a quarterly basis so that participants can plan their time accordingly.

Participants are expected to attend a minimum of 70 percent of the programme activities, and to join sessions in person, unless otherwise agreed before the start of the programme. Participants are expected to contribute to discussions, engage with speakers and seize networking opportunities over the course of the programme.

Location

The programme is delivered in person at Chatham House in London. 

Programme structure

Participants learn alongside Academy fellows and contribute  to core elements of the Leadership Programme, which encompasses the following:

• Induction day
  On the first day of the Leadership Masterclass Programme, participants attend an intensive induction that introduces them to the programme and Chatham House.
• Discussion seminars
  In these sessions, Leadership Masterclass Programme participants meet and discuss current international affairs challenges with subject matter experts from Chatham House and beyond. The sessions cover the principal substantive and skills-based areas vital for informed and effective international leadership. Participants usually chair these sessions and are expected to contribute to and learn from one another’s experiences.
• Leadership workshops
  Over the course of the programme, participants attend multiple half-day workshops focusing on skills development within specific aspects of leadership such as ‘Leadership in a new role’ and ‘Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship’.
• Personal development coaching
  Leadership Masterclass Programme participants join the Academy seeking to grow their self-awareness through one-to-one sessions with a dedicated coach. In those sessions participants set personal development objectives which they work to meet during their time at Chatham House and beyond.
• Media training
  Participants learn how to interview effectively on television and radio, culminating in a mock interview from which they receive feedback on their presentation style and other areas of improvement.
• Leadership briefings
  Participants attend the ‘Leadership briefings’ series, giving them the opportunity to discuss leadership experiences and lessons in an informal setting with acknowledged leaders from government, business, media and the non-profit sectors.
• Career mentoring (optional)
  The development of Leadership Masterclass Programme participants is facilitated and supported by partnering them with mentors to enhance their career perspectives and path.

Benefits

• Weekly in-person training sessions at Chatham House;
• Individual membership for the duration of the programme and two years following completion of the programme; and
• Access to a personal career coach.

To apply for this fellowship, we need the applicant’s CV/résumé.

Selection criteria

• Be based in London, and be able to attend in-person workshops in London one day a week (usually Thursdays) for the duration of the programme;
• Be professionals at an early-to mid-stage in their career;
• Show strong potential to excel in their industry or field, with proven leadership experience or potential;
• Work in, or aspire to work in, positions requiring a strong understanding of public policy and influencing policy internationally;
• Show commitment to the Chatham House mission, goals and values and to identifying evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing international challenges;
• Be able to communicate how the Leadership Programme will enable them to create a positive impact, in line with the Chatham House mission and overarching purpose of the Academy as outlined above; and
• Demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English.

Participants are selected on the basis of their experience, expertise and on how the masterclass opportunity will support them at this point in their career. The Academy team also takes into consideration the background of other Leadership Masterclass participants and Academy fellows to ensure a diverse cohort.

Selection process

Participants are selected based on their experience, expertise and on how the masterclass opportunity will support them at this point in their career. The Academy team also takes into consideration the background of other Leadership Masterclass participants and Academy fellows to ensure a diverse cohort.