Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab
Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab supports mid-career professionals through collaborative leadership development to advance sustainability, livelihoods, and well-being in coastal and river communities.
Funder: East-West Center
Due Dates: November 15, 2026 (Application) | November 22, 2026 (Letter of Reference)
Funding Amounts: Ten-month program covering airfare, program fees and materials, accommodation, meals, and some visa-related costs
Summary: Leadership development for mid-career Indo-Pacific professionals addressing sustainability, livelihoods, and environmental change in coastal and river communities.
Key Information: Applicants must be citizens and residents of an eligible country and participate in all residential and virtual engagements.
Description
The East-West Center’s Indo-Pacific Leadership Lab brings together mid-career professionals across countries and sectors to strengthen collaborative leadership through experiential learning, peer exchange, and sustained regional relationships. The 2027–2028 focus is sustainable coastal and river communities, including coastal, delta, and river communities facing changing ecosystems, development pressures, shifting livelihoods, and environmental and social change.
The ten-month program combines virtual engagement with residential learning in Japan, Malaysia, and Hawaiʻi. Fellows explore governance, innovation, community-based approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and scientific, local, and experiential knowledge. Through field-based learning, practitioner engagement, applied cases, reflection, and action learning, participants develop systems-informed approaches and practical initiatives for their professional settings while building relationships that support ongoing knowledge sharing and regional collaboration.
