The New Security Leaders Program, 2024 Warsaw Security Forum

The New Security Leaders program is a leadership and mentoring program for mid-career, high potential leaders from foreign policy, defense, security, and political fields. Over the course of the program, NSL participants work with the Mentors – world leaders, global thinkers and experts – to discuss and debate the most pressing global security challenges.

NSL take place jointly and in parallel with The Warsaw Security Forum (WSF), allowing accepted participants to share their ideas at the forum and help shape the discussion. The New Security Leaders program is organized by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Integral to the the NSL Program are cohort building and Leadership Talks, held remotely in advance of the program, dedicate NSL roundtable format sessions in advance of WSF, and through select opportunities and engagements during WSF.

The idea behind the Leadership Talks modus operandi is to provide a strategic insight, highlight key issues and themes facing the Transatlantic community, discussing local or regionally focused topics, and all in a way that encourages NSL participants to share their own insights. NSL offers a rich opportunity to share insight and experience on defense issues, security policy, and world politics, all in a Chatham House Rules environment.

| PARTICIPANTS |

The ideal New Security Leader is a young professional 26-40 years of age, with a minimum of 5 years of experience in fields of international politics, defense strategy, security policy or other security-related issues such as disinformation threats and cyber space, energy security etc. and is a citizen of a NATO, EU or European Neighborhood country. NSL participants play an active role in the Warsaw Security Forum, taking part in two-days of moderated discussions and simulations. WSF also offers private meetings with VIP speakers and Honorable Guests in the margins of the Forum. Accepted candidates are invited to join the networking receptions, working lunches, WSF Gala Dinner and other valuable networking opportunities.

Apply now if you meet the following qualifications criteria:

• You are 26-40 years old– you come from NATO, EU and European Neighborhood countries
• You have a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in fields of politics, international relations, public law, national security

The Warsaw Security Forum 

The Warsaw Security Forum is one of the leading European security conferences devoted to transatlantic cooperation and focused on elaborating shared responses to common challenges, with an emphasis on the security of Central and Eastern Europe. Organized since 2014, the Warsaw Security Forum gathers annually over 1500 highest representatives of governments, international organizations, industry, think tanks and civil society coming from over 90 countries.

The two days program is packed with on-stage high-level panel discussions, Chatham House rule-based round tables and dozens of bilateral meetings mixed with industry presentations and cultural program of the Partner Country – all designed to find answers to the most pressing current political and military issues. During the Forum, the Casimir Pulaski Foundation presents the Knight of Freedom award to an outstanding figure who contributed to the promotion of the values of General Casimir Pulaski, i.e. freedom, justice and democracy.

The Warsaw Security Forum provides also a platform for the New Security Leaders program which involves the voices of a new generation of decision-makers and experts specializing in transatlantic relations.

Last, but not least female participants of the Warsaw Security Forum traditionally meet for a working breakfast and other formats organized by Women in International Security Poland, attesting to the importance of gender balance and equality in the international security dialogue. Since its inception, the Warsaw Security Forum is organized by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, in strategic partnership with NATO and the National Security Bureau to the President of the Republic of Poland.

What logistics are provided by NSL?

• Lodging –Yes, Check-in: Sunday, 29 September, 2024 – Check-out: Thursday, 3 October, 2024, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Centre Warsaw, Skalnicowa Street 21 Warsaw, 04-797 Poland
• Meals – Yes, most meals (about 75%) are covered by the program

What is not covered by NSL?

Transportation – Transportation is not covered. All participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the event.

• Airport Transfers: UBER and Taxify are available at Chopin Intl and Modlin Airports, rates vary based on demand and time of day. Generally speaking, UBER rates from Chopin to the city center are $10 USD or less, there is also a train under the airport that is operated by the public transit system. Uber rates from Modlin are significantly higher because of additional distance (about $35 USD), but an express bus runs from the Modlin Airport to the Palace of Culture for approximately $10 USD. It is also possible to take a train, tickets for both options are sold at Modlin Airport.