The Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP), established in 2000, is a premier leadership development program focused on the Indo-Pacific region. APLP brings together mid-career professionals from across the region to develop strategic leadership skills for complex times. Through place-based, experiential, and peer-driven learning, fellows examine the forces shaping the region today, explore the types of leadership needed to address emerging challenges, and build personal, team, and community capacity.

At the heart of the APLP experience is a residential leadership laboratory in Hawai‘i, where fellows live and learn together, exchange perspectives, and build meaningful relationships across regions and professional fields. Hawai‘i serves as more than a program setting; its unique cultural, social, and environmental contexts are integral to the learning experience. The program also provides dedicated space for reflection, allowing fellows to step away from their daily responsibilities, reconsider their approaches to leadership, and explore how to apply new insights in their own contexts. These shared experiences foster lasting connections, a sense of belonging, and a community of leaders that extends beyond the program.

The 2027 APLP will explore global and geoeconomic trends shaping economic security at national and local levels through a systems perspective. Core weekly themes will examine how energy, food and agricultural systems, health systems, and the societal impacts of artificial intelligence are interconnected within broader economic, environmental, and technological contexts. Additional topics may include supply chains and critical infrastructure, and digital systems, with content tailored to the selected cohort.

The APLP experience extends beyond the program itself. Upon completion, fellows join the program's global network of more than 700 alumni from 45 countries, offering opportunities to sustain relationships, continue learning, and apply their insights long after the program concludes.

For more information, please visit our website and FAQ section. To contact us, please email aplp@EastWestCenter.org.

2027 Program Information 

Program runs: June 1-September 2, 2027

• Pre-residency Virtual Connection: June 1-22
• Residency in Hawai‘i: June 23-July 30*
• Post-residency Virtual Connection: July 31-September 2

*includes a field study within the Hawaiian Islands 

Program Costs (USD): $11,753

• Program Fee: $8,500
• Housing in East-West Center living quarters: $1,353 (based on 37 nights)
• Estimated living expenses in Hawaii: $1,900 (approximate @ $50/day)
• Note: program cost does not include airfare to/from Hawai‘i and visa fees; supplementary scholarships are available to defray the cost of the program fee. More information regarding scholarships are in the application.

**The program is subject to postponement/cancellation due to prevailing and unforeseen circumstances. 

Eligibility Criteria

• A demonstrated commitment to promoting peace and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region through professional work, study, or living experience
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited higher education institution in the United States, or equivalent degree representing a full-time program of study of at least 3 years' duration, from an officially-recognized higher education institution outside of the United States.
• At least 5 years of work experience
• There are no citizenship, age, or ethnicity restrictions
• Applicants will be expected to have a fluent level of English. Applicants are encouraged to provide an English language test score (such as IELTS), if one is available. 

Desirable Qualifications

• Leadership track record in professional, public, and/or personal realms
• Willingness to engage fully in place-based experiential, and transformational leadership development training
• Deep involvement in a specific organization, business or community impact initiative (applicants must explain how, with their home-based teams, they will experiment with the leadership strategies learned in APLP)
• International experience, including overseas residence, language skills, intercultural and diversity exposure
• Experience of cohort learning, working collaboratively in small teams or in large groups. 

Deadline

Applications must be submitted by the extended deadline of  November 1, 2026 @ 11:00 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time (HST). 

Letters of Reference will be accepted until November 8, 2026. 

Letters of Reference

One letter of reference is required to complete your application. Instructions with a link to the Letter of Reference form will be sent to your referee via email upon the submission of your application. Should your referee need assistance, please have them contact our team at aplp@eastwestcenter.org. The program will not accept a Letter of Reference directly from applicants. The program is unable to resend reference requests on an applicant's behalf. To resend a reference request, please follow these instructions. 

Submitting Your Application & Instructions

Create a Submittable account today to see the full application and apply for the APLP!  Please refer to application guidelines and specific requirements of the program before completing this form.

• Please complete the application in English.
• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• Applications that use generative AI in short responses, lacking specific context and details, may be disqualified.
• Submittable does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser. Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your Submittable account, especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to edit your application, make sure to thoroughly review your application before submitting. If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time. The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If after submission you need to change something in your application, contact the APLP staff either through Submittable or at aplp@EastWestCenter.org to request open editing access. Open editing access will only be granted for editing/changing major fields such as Referee information.
• Submittable email notifications can be filtered as junk/spam. Be sure to add Submittable to your list of approved senders.

The East-West Center’s Advanced Leadership Program (ALP) provides established professionals with an opportunity to deepen their engagement with leadership education and development while advancing their own professional learning. Designed for a cohort of 3-4 fellows, the program combines opportunities to design and facilitate learning experiences in EWC’s Asia-Pacific Leadership Program with independent work, reflection, research, and professional exploration. The intent of ALP is to create a collaborative environment in which fellows can both contribute their expertise and experience and develop new directions in their own leadership practice and professional work.

As part of the program, participants develop a Professional Development Plan outlining their learning objectives, anticipated activities, and desired outcomes. Progress toward these goals is supported by the Leadership Program team throughout the fellowship.

The program is designed for professionals with approximately 10–15 years of experience who are seeking to transition into, or expand their engagement with, leadership education and development in any sector. Competitive applicants will demonstrate a strong record of leadership, a commitment to ongoing personal and professional growth, and a dedication to advancing the prosperity and sustainability of the Asia-Pacific region.

Program Information 

June 1-July 31, 2027

Anticipated Outcomes

• Expanded capacity to design and facilitate leadership development practices 
• Progress in advancing ideas from concept toward action
• Greater clarity about professional direction and next steps 
• Increased reflective leadership practice and greater professional confidence 

Key Program Components

• Collaborate with the Leadership Program team to co-design and deliver sessions within EWC Asia Pacific Leadership Program.
• Enhance individual career development by self-designing a space for research and exploration aligned with professional and personal interests. 
• Interact with other ALP fellows and the Leadership Programs team on peer coaching, leading to an acceleration of learning through diverse perspectives, insights, and shared challenges.
• Network with research fellows, visiting scholars, professionals, practitioners, and students.
• Participate and engage in East-West Center seminars, events, and programs.
• Ideal for professionals unable to take extended sabbaticals   

Eligibility Criteria

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience, indicating a clear trajectory of advancing responsibility and impact within relevant roles.
• A leadership track record in professional, public, or personal realms.
• Interest in leadership education and development or a related field.
• International experience, language skills, and a commitment to the Asia Pacific region's future.

Deadline

Applications must be submitted by November 15, 2026 (at 11:00 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time).   

Financial Information/Provisions 

The ALP will cover the following expenses:

• Accommodation in an EWC residential hall up to US $2,181
• Monthly stipend of up to US $1,000/month for some living expenses
• US J-1 visa sponsorship and SEVIS reimbursement upon arrival in Hawai‘i for non-US citizens
• Travel health insurance during program
• Proprietary course materials (for required program events and activities, staff, guest speakers, workshops. This cost does not cover living and travel expenses.

The ALP does not cover the following expenses and are the responsibility of the participant.

• Travel expenses to/from the East-West Center in Hawai‘i
• Living expenses in Hawai‘i outside of what is outlined above.
• US visa application fee (MVR), any additional visa fees or visa-related requirements.
• Accommodation and/or health insurance outside of the program dates.

This program is subject to postponement/cancellation due to prevailing and unforeseen circumstances.

Submitting Your Application & Instructions 

Create a Submittable account today to see the full application and apply!  Please refer to application guidelines and specific requirements of the program before completing this form.

• Please complete the application in English.
• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• Submittable does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser. Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your Submittable account, especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to freely edit your application, make sure to thoroughly review your application before submitting. If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time. The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If after submission you need to change something in your application, contact the EWC Leadership Program staff either through Submittable or at leadership@eastwestcenter.org to request open editing access. Open editing access will only be granted for editing/changing major fields such as Referee information.
• Submittable email notifications can be filtered as junk/spam. Be sure to add Submittable to your list of approved senders.

The East-West Center prohibits discrimination of any kind, including sex-based discrimination and harassment, in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at About Title IX. For a list of all EWC participant policies, please see https://ewcparticipantinfo.org/participant-policies/

The challenges facing communities across the Indo-Pacific increasingly cross sectors, systems, and borders. Systemic change can reshape livelihoods in local economies; decisions made upstream can affect communities far downstream; and policies, technologies, and investments can create both new possibilities and difficult trade-offs. Addressing these interconnected challenges calls for leaders who can understand complex systems, work collaboratively across differences, and translate learning into action. 

The Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab (IPLL) is a regional leadership program for mid-career professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of shared challenges across the region while strengthening their collaborative leadership capabilities. The program brings together leaders from different countries and sectors for experiential learning, peer exchange, practical leadership development, and sustained regional relationship building. 

2027-2028 Focus: Sustainable Coastal and River Communities 

The 2027-2028 IPLL will focus on coastal, delta and river communities—places where communities in the Indo-Pacific region are navigating changing ecosystems, development pressures, shifting livelihoods, and other forms of environmental and social change. IPLL Fellows will explore how coastal and river communities are responding to livelihood and environmental changes through governance, innovation, community-based approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and the use of scientific, local, and experiential knowledge. IPLL Fellows will examine how leaders can respond through collaboration, systems informed thinking, practical problem-solving, and approaches grounded in the realities of communities and places. Throughout the program, Fellows will strengthen their ability to work and lead across sectors, disciplines, geographies, and perspectives while applying learning to challenges in their professional context.

A Regional Learning Experience 

The IPLL combines virtual engagement with three in-person residential learning experiences in Japan, Malaysia, and Hawaiʻi. Each location provides a different setting in which fellows can examine the connections among communities, economies, environmental systems, policy, and leadership. The program uses field-based learning, practitioner engagement, applied cases, peer exchange, reflection, and action learning rather than relying narrowly on classroom instruction. 

Who Should Apply 

The IPLL is designed for mid-career professionals from across the Indo-Pacific whose work contributes to coastal and river communities, livelihoods, environmental management, economic development, or related systems and who are ready to deepen their leadership capacity. Fellows may work in government, civil society and community organizations, the private sector, indigenous and local leadership organizations, academia and research, on multilateral and regional institutions. 

What Fellows Will Gain 

Fellows who complete the 2027 Lab will be better equipped to navigate complex challenges and systems with practical responses that can be applied in their respective sectors and communities. Fellows will shape practical initiatives for their professional contexts while building relationships within the cohort that can support ongoing communication, knowledge sharing, and future collaboration among Fellows. 

Program Information    The ten-month Indo-Pacific Leadership begins on April 15, 2027 and concludes on February 15, 2028.

• Japan (May 17 - 21, 2027)
• Malaysia (October 4 - 8, 2027)
• Hawai‘i (January 17 - 21, 2028)

Virtual engagements connect the three in-person experiences throughout the ten-month program.

Financial Information/Provisions    The Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab provides Fellows with round-trip airfare to/from the program locations, program fee and materials, accommodation, meals, and some applicable visa-related costs (if required).  **This program is subject to postponement/cancellation due to prevailing and unforeseen circumstances.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should:

• Be engaged professionally in work relevant to coastal or river communities, livelihoods, environmental management, economic development, or closely related issues. 
• Be a mid-career professional and a citizen and resident of one of the following countries: 
• Japan 
• United States of America
• Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam
• Pacific Islands: American Samoa, Australia, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Republic of Palau, Papua New Guinea, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu 
• South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
• Be able to participate fully in the year long program, including the three in-person residential gatherings in Japan, Malaysia, and Hawaii, and virtual engagements throughout the program. 
• Be interested in strengthening their leadership capacity and learning collaboratively with peers from different countries, sectors, and professional backgrounds. 
• Possess verbal fluency in English, with strong written English skills. 
• Possess a current passport with validity through July 2028
• Be able to commit to one week of travel in May and October 2027,  and January 2028, plus monthly virtual connections between travel.

 Desirable Qualifications

• Approximately 5-10 years of professional experience.
• A current or emerging leadership role within their organization, sector, or community.
• A demonstrated commitment to collaborative work and working across organizational, sectoral, disciplinary, or geographic boundaries.
• Experience addressing complex challenges involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, or interconnected systems.
• Interest in connecting environmental sustainability with livelihoods, economic development, and community well-being.
• Openness to learning from perspectives, practices, and contexts different from their own.
• Ability and willingness to bring learning from the IPL back into their professional setting and apply it to programs, policies, partnerships, innovations, or other areas of practice. 

Particular consideration will be given to applicants whose work lies at the intersection of resource sustainability and economic development. The cohort will be intentionally cross sector and geographically diverse to support peer learning, dialogue, and long-term regional relationships.

For more information, please visit our website for more information. Questions can be directed to leadership@eastwestcenter.org.

Deadline    Applications must be submitted by November 15, 2026 (at 11:59 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time). Completed applications include a Letter of Reference. Letters of Reference will be accepted until November 22, 2026 (at 11:59 PM Hawai‘i Standard Time).

Letter(s) of Reference    One letter of reference is required to complete your application but two are suggested. References submitted by the applicant will not be accepted. Instructions with a link to the Letter of Reference form will be sent to your referee(s) via email upon the submission of your application. Inform your referee(s) ahead of submitting your application that a request will be coming from Submittable. Should your referee(s) require assistance, please have them contact our team at leadership@eastwestcenter.org. The program will not accept a Letter of Reference directly from applicants.

Submitting Your Application & Instructions    Create a Submittable account today to see the full application and apply!  Please refer to application guidelines and specific requirements of the program before completing this form.

• Please complete the application in English.
• Read the instructions for each item carefully before entering your information.
• Submittable does not log you out automatically when you exit your browser. Therefore, it is important that you sign out from your Submittable account, especially when you are using a public computer.
• Since you will not be able to edit your application, make sure to thoroughly review your application before submitting. If your application is not ready, you can save it as a draft and submit it at a later time. The saved drafts of your application can be found in your account under My Submissions (or Submissions).
• If after submission you need to change something in your application, contact the EWC Leadership Program staff either through Submittable or at leadership@eastwestcenter.org to request open editing access. Open editing access will only be granted for editing/changing major fields such as Referee information.
• Submittable email notifications can be filtered as junk/spam. Be sure to add Submittable to your list of approved senders.

The East-West Center is pleased to announce the 2027 Investment Summit Journalism Program.

Overview: The East-West Center (EWC) will be providing a travel grant to 10 Pacific Islands journalists to come to Hawaiʻi to cover the second annual Pacific Agenda Investment Summit being held at the EWC. This grant will include airfare, four nights of lodging, airport transfers, and per diem. While in Hawaiʻi, journalists will attend special workshops on Feb. 14, 2027 that will focus on best practices when reporting trade, economics, and diplomatic events like the Summit; and a discussion to orient the journalists as to the issues and topics that will arise during the Summit. Then, the journalists will cover the Investment Summit itself on Feb. 15-16. 

This will be the second Pacific Agenda Summit, and second Investment Summit Journalism Program for Pacific Islands journalists. (For more on the February 2026 Investment Summit, see https://tinyurl.com/bdf5ubt2 . For more on the previous Investment Summit Journalism Program, see https://stevenyoungblood.blogspot.com/2026/02/press-conference-with-deputy-sec.html )

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Hawai'i Standard Time on November 30, 2026.

If you encounter any difficulties with this application, please contact Program Assistant Imanee Magee at mageei@eastwestcenter.org. Questions about the program itself can be directed to Program Coordinator Steven Youngblood at youngbls@eastwestcenter.org.

Who should apply?

1. Full-time or active freelance journalist residing and working in a Pacific Islands nation. No experience covering economic issues, investments, and diplomatic events is necessary. 2. At least two years of professional journalism experience. 3. Experience primarily reporting news stories (rather than lifestyle/sports). 4. Participants agree to write/produce at least two stories/reports about the Investment Summit and share those with the East-West Center.

Application:

Applicants must submit each of the following documents to be considered:

• The online 2027 Investment Summit Journalism application form.
• A letter of interest (maximum 2 pages, double-spaced). Letter should include: (1) a brief description of your news organization or freelance work, job duties, and experience; (2) what you expect to accomplish and what issues you want to explore during the program, including specific story ideas; (3) how participation will benefit your work as journalist; (4) links to three recent news stories you have produced. NOTE: We want to hear your authentic voice, so please don't use AI!
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages).
• One professional letter of recommendation from your employer, indicating that the applicant has the support of their media organization to attend and report at the investment summit. Freelancers: Submit a letter from the editor/producer/publisher at a news organization that regularly purchases your stories indicating their interest in running one or more stories that you produce during the investment summit.
• A second professional letter of recommendation from a journalism colleague or supervisor.