Aspen Kyiv-UK Leadership Bridge
Connecting leaders across Europe – shaping the future of democracy and security.
Aspen Institute UK and Aspen Initiative Kyiv are proud to launch
the Kyiv-UK Leadership Bridge, a groundbreaking leadership programme
for mid-career professionals working at the forefront of democracy, security, and technology.
At a moment of profound geopolitical and societal transformation, this Fellowship convenes 10 rising leaders from the UK and 10 from Ukraine to explore how values and leadership must evolve in an era defined by war, democratic renewal, and accelerating technological change. Participants will build the ethical leadership, cross-cultural fluency, and strategic insight needed to tackle some of Europe’s most complex challenges.
Application and programme timeline
- Applications close at 9am on Monday 20th April 2026
- Application review and selection – April 2026
- Applicant interviews – April 2026
- Fellows selected by end of April 2026
- Fellow onboarding from May 2026
- UK seminar (Cambridge and London) – 21st – 25th June 2026
- Online seminar – September 2026
- Ukraine seminar (location TBA) – 17th – 21st October 2026
What to expect
The programme runs from May 2026 to October 2026 and includes:
Two in-person seminars:
- UK Seminar (21st – 25th June 2026), held at the historic Madingley Hall in Cambridge, ending with a day in London for high-level visits.
- Ukraine Seminar (17th – 21st October 2026), with the exact location to be announced at a later date.
The seminars will be moderated by Aspen UK and Aspen Kyiv Faculty members.
Virtual seminars:
Focusing on comparative challenges in democracy, security, technology, and international diplomacy.
Collaborative leadership project:
Participants will co-design and present practical cross-border initiatives, such as policy proposals, trade strategies, or knowledge-sharing platforms.
Alumni network and engagement:
Fellows join Aspen UK’s and Aspen Kyiv’s global networks, with ongoing events, activities, and cross-cohort collaboration.
Who should apply
We’re looking for exceptional UK-based professionals who:
- Work in or alongside government, civil society, think tanks, or the private sector in democracy, security, technology, and international development
- Aged around 30-40 and have 5 to 15 years of experience
- Are eager to collaborate across borders and disciplines to shape a fairer, more interconnected world
- Have a focus on UK-Ukraine relations
Fees and logistics
UK participants
The programme cost is heavily subsidised, thanks to support from the Aspen global network and our partners. UK participants are asked to contribute:
- £2,750 participation fee
- Travel to Cambridge for the UK seminar
- International return flights for the final seminar
- The fee will cover all seminar materials and activities, 4 night’s accommodation, all meals and visits as part of the UK seminar, 4 night’s accommodation, meals, cultural events as part of the Ukraine seminar – and ongoing alumni events and activities.
Limited scholarships may be available for UK participants who require additional financial support.
Why apply?
- Build a lifelong global network of changemakers across the UK and Ukraine
- Engage with top thinkers and leaders in democracy, security, and technology
- Gain a platform to influence policy and practice across Europe
- Grow as a reflective, values-based leader through Aspen’s renowned seminar method