GLOBSEC Young Leaders Forum allows young professionals to take advantage of the parallel GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum. The interconnection between both events gives them an opportunity to participate in different sessions and conduct discussions with high-profile politicians, decision-makers, opinion-builders, prominent analysts and think-tankers.

Over the course of its 9 editions, GYLF has welcomed over 260 participants from over 50 countries and from 160 leading institutions in the realm of politics, business and the non-governmental sector.

Looking Back

A key part of the GLOBSEC success story is the fact that it grew out of a student project to become a major international forum. Youth engagement has always been an integral part of our work. In 2013, the first GLOBSEC Young Leaders Forum (GYLF) took place on the sidelines of the annual GLOBSEC Bratislava Forum. It provided young professionals with an opportunity to discuss current challenges in international affairs, improve policymaking skills and network with distinguished leaders and experts. The only well-established forum of its kind in Central Europe, GYLF has since grown to become one of the most prestigious meetings of young professionals and decision-makers in the world.

GYLF Alumni Community

GLOBSEC Young Leaders network currently includes over 150 experts from around the world who are connected through  several social media groups. We have created one platform for communication and begun the process of engaging youth expert voices in preparations for all GLOBSEC flagship events and initiatives. GYLF alumni have been invited to lend their expertise to the GLOBSEC Forum team in terms of content and speakers. Engaging their expertise and networks to foster dialogue and inspire action throughout the year would keep the community lively and allow us to better spread the values that GLOBSEC stands for around the world.

GYLF in pictures

GYLF 2022 Participants

Program

Thursday, 2nd June

13:45 – 13:55 GYLF 2022 OPENING REMARKS

  • VENUE: FERDINAND, GRAND HOTEL RIVER PARK

CASPER KLYNGE, Vice President for European Government Affairs, Microsoft

13:55 – 14:45 GYLF DISCUSSION: BIDDING ITS TIME: THE ROLE OF CHINA IN THE SHIFTING GLOBAL ORDER

  • VENUE: FERDINAND, GRAND HOTEL RIVER PARK

Over the past decade, China’s economic, diplomatic, and military power has grown rapidly, and its ambition and positions have challenged the international system. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created further dangers and opportunities in terms of China re-defining its position vis-à-vis Russia, Europe and the US. How exactly is China changing the global order and what are its methods and objectives? What are the areas for possible cooperation between the West and China, and where does it need to be challenged? And where does this leave the smaller global players directly affected by Chinese ambitions and possible global tensions it creates?

MIRIAM LEXMANN, Member, European Parliament

MATTHEW RHODES, Professor of National Security Studies, George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies

BRUNO MAÇÃES, Member, European Council of Foreign Relations

LED BY: RACHEL RIZZO, Senior Fellow, Europe Center, Atlantic Council

15:40 – 16:20 GYLF CHAT: WOMEN LEADING DEMOCRACIES LEADING THE WAY?

  • VENUE: GLOBSEC BOAT

The COVID19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion into Ukraine has both provided renewed ammunition to the more autocratic leaders around Europe and renewed impetus to democratic societies to come together in solidarity. The protraction of the conflict and the ensuing economic crisis as well as the shifting geopolitical order constitute a serious challenge to societies around Europe. It is more important than ever for democracies to clearly distinguish themselves from autocratic regimes. How can the political leadership foster ongoing solidarity and unity among their populations, and are the countries with female leadership better prepared to do so? What are the key values that the leadership, but also civil society need to stand up for? And can they foster internal solidarity and appealing alternative to the autocratic tendencies?

KERSTI KALJULAID, Global Advocate of the UN Secretary-General for Every Woman Every Child, United Nations

KATEŘINA ANNA MAGNNA, Government Affairs Lead Czech Republic and Slovakia, Microsoft

LED BY: KATHLEEN KOCH, Author, Journalist and Founder, LeadersLink

19:00 – 21:00 GYLF BOAT CRUISE TO DEVIN CASTLE

  • VENUE: GLOBSEC BOAT

22:00 – 23:00 Informal discussion & Drinks With GLOBSEC Young Leaders  

  • Venue: Presidential Suite, Grand Hotel River Park 

Sebastian Kurz, CEO, SK Management 

Róbert Vass, President, GLOBSEC 

Friday, 3rd June

09:00 – 10:00 GYLF DISCUSSION: KEEPING UP WITH THE KREMLIN: FUTURE IMPACT OF DISINFORMATION NARRATIVES IN RUSSIA AND BEYOND

  • VENUE: AC HOTEL, BRATISLAVA

Since its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has ramped up its digital disinformation and propaganda campaigns both at the national and international levels. Using these tools, Moscow aims to promote its position, manipulate public opinion and control the narrative. What is the impact of Russia’s propaganda domestically, in CEE and globally? How does it fit into the existing frameworks and campaigns, and how much of it is new? And what tools are available to the EU and its member states to step up the efforts to counter and minimise the effects of Russia’s efforts in this sphere?

DANIEL ERIKSSON, CEO, Transparency International’s Secretariat in Berlin

JESSIKKA ARO, Journalist, Yle

LED BY: DOMINIKA HAJDU, Policy Director, Centre for Democracy & Resilience, GLOBSEC

11:00 – 11:45 GYLF DISCUSSION: NON-ALIGNMENT NO MORE: FINLAND, SWEDEN AND NATO

  • VENUE: AC HOTEL, BRATISLAVA

Russian aggression in Ukraine led to a landslide of public and political support for joining NATO, particularly in Finland and Sweden, which have been ambivalent about joining for decades, even centuries. At the same time, countries like Croatia and Turkey are threatening to veto the enlargement. Is the enlargement of NATO key for the future security of Europe? Can reservations of some of the NATO members be overcome? What impact will the enlargement have on the global security architecture?

KAI SAUER, Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Finland

SIR STUART PEACH, Special Envoy to the Western Balkans of the United Kingdom

LED BY: Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

16:00 – 16:45 GYLF DISCUSSION: UKRAINE: GAME CHANGER FOR THE BROADER EU NEIGHBOURHOOD?

  • VENUE: EXECUTIVE LIVING ROOM, GRAND HOTEL RIVER PARK

One of the many strategies that the EU was forced to adjust due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine was toward its neighborhood. Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine have re-expressed their desire to become part of the EU family, whereas the danger of Western Balkans constantly balancing between proclaiming pro-European values and supporting anti-democratic forces became ever more astute. What course of action is necessary for the EU and transatlantic community in order to achieve a deeper entrenchment of pro-democratic forces? Will any other option but candidacy suffice for the countries seeking stability and prosperity as part of the EU? And will there be a permanent shift in the EU’s neighborhood and enlargement policy, or are we witnesses only to a (yet another) short-lived impetus??

LELA CHIKOVANI, First Deputy Defence Minister of Georgia (TBC)

LED BY: IONELA CIOLAN, Board Member, Transatlantic Alumni

Network, GYLF 2022 Participant

16.45 – 17.30 GYLF DISCUSSION: RUSSIAN ENERGY AND THE EU: ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

  • VENUE: EXECUTIVE LIVING ROOM, GRAND HOTEL RIVER PARK

Russian aggression brought to the fore with renewed urgency some of the normative questions for Western democracies to grapple with, including: Do we want to directly or indirectly provide the funds for Russian war efforts? If not, then practical issues emerge: How to supplement commodities coming from Russia? What would a complete boycott of Russian energy mean for Europe and other countries and how would we replace it? Also, is this the unfortunate, but opportune moment for the green energy?

VLADIMIR MILOV, former Deputy Minister of Energy of Russian Federation

MARY WARLICK, Deputy Executive Director, International Energy Agency

LED BY: ORSOLYA RÁCZOVÁ, Deputy Director, GLOBSEC Policy Institute

18:00 – 19:00 GYLF DISCUSSION: LIVE LONG AND PROSPER: UKRAINE BEYOND THE CONFLICT

  • VENUE: GLOBSEC BOAT

Even though the war in Ukraine is still, by all available indicators far from over, the discussion on the post-war recovery needs to be held already. That recovery also needs to ensure that the aim goes beyond simply returning to pre-conflict Ukraine, but rather to further the country and its people. What steps can the Ukrainian leaders and civil society at home and abroad bring to the table that would bring some of the pieces back together? What can the West do to help with post-war recovery and renewal? And what position on the global stage will Ukraine have carved for itself by the time the explosive dust settles?

RASTISLAV KÁČER, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the Czech Republic

MARIIA MEZENTSEVA, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Verkhovna Rada to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

LISA MAGNO, Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Europe  and Eurasia, USAID

LED BY: GYLF 2022 Participant (TBC)

Saturday, 4th June

10:15 – 10:45 GYLF CHAT: INTERNET GOVERNANCE AND DIGITAL REGULATION: NOW OR NEVER?

  • VENUE: FERDINAND, GRAND HOTEL RIVER PARK

The pandemic experience, as well as the Russian invasion, strengthened the discussion on the purpose and possibilities regarding internet and social media regulation especially. Monumental idea indeed, some may argue undoable. Regulation by the public sector might mean considerably different standards across different states. At the same time, previous experience dictates that we cannot expect the private sector will to regulate itself properly. How (if) should a regulation look like? Is there a win-win cooperation model between the two? And what are the consequences of never making progress on the issue?

SAMIR SARAN, President, Observer Research Foundation (TBC)

LED BY: Berta Jarošová, International Policy Analyst, National Cyber and Information Security Agency, GYLF 2022 Participant