The third Emerging Pacific Leaders’ Dialogue (EPLD) is an intensive development program for future leaders scheduled to take place across the Pacific region over a continuous two-week period.
This follows the successful staging of the inaugural EPLD in 2006 and the second in 2010 that each brought together around 125 future leaders from 22 Pacific region nations and territories including Australia and New Zealand. For EPLD 2006 and 2010, the average age of selected participants was 35 years.
EPLD 2014 is an important regional leadership development initiative that is funded and sponsored by government agencies and the private sector across the Pacific — particularly with strong support of the public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand.
For 2014, it is planned to select up to 130 high calibre mid-career participants through an open and public application process. Applicants will be drawn from business, government, trade unions, education and the community service sector including NGO’s. Gender balance is expected to be achieved. All main areas of expenses including air travel, accommodation and meals are met by the conference organisers. Successful applicants meet their own incidental in room costs including laundry, phone, internet etc.
The Opening Plenary sessions of the third EPLD will take place in Noumea, New Caledonia and the Closing Plenary sessions will be held in Port Vila, Vanuatu — each over two days. The middle week and weekends of the EPLD will be devoted to a maximum of 10 thought provoking and intellectually challenging study tour programs for widely representative groups each comprising 12/13 participants. Separate study tour groups will each visit different Pacific region locations including Australia and New Zealand focusing on leadership and community development initiatives.
The theme of the EPLD 2014 is again “Navigating our Future Together” and all aspects of the conference will focus on the significance of leadership in the context of relevant sub-themes. These include economic and social development; regional co-operation and infrastructure; good governance; security, stability and strengthening communities; the environment; business and industry as well as education and health.
Applications are currently scheduled to close at the end of April 2014.
