Where every generation of diplomacy meets, learns and grows.


From students and young professionals to ambassadors and ministers.

Since 2012, the Global Diplomatic Forum has opened doors to the institutions, people and opportunities that shape international careers. We are a London-based charity working with foreign ministries, parliaments and international organisations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas

Explore our programmes
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Jennifer Upton, former British diplomat and Army officer, speaking at the Young Diplomats Forum, London, September 2026.

Diplomacy is strongest when every generation and every sphere learn from each other, without agenda.

Young Diplomats Forum editions
26
Young people trained through YDF
2,500+
Countries in our network
~180
GDF Academy online courses
30

Jennifer Upton: Former British Diplomat & Army Officer. Speaking at the Young Diplomats Forum in London 2026

Coming up

What you can join next, in date order. Past events move to their highlights pages.

  1. GDF Academy

    New course intake

    Six self-paced courses start, including Understanding ASEAN in Global Politics, Public Diplomacy and Nation Branding, and Climate Diplomacy.

    See the courses
  2. Asian Century in Motion, members' webinar

    The Asian Century by the Numbers

    Has the centre of the world economy already moved, and by which measure? The first of ten monthly sessions.

    Register as a member
  3. 13th edition

    Career in International Affairs Forum

    Meet recruiters and practitioners from diplomatic services, international organisations and NGOs.

    Register interest
  4. Young Diplomats Forum, 27th edition

    YDF Brussels

    Five days of briefings at the European Parliament, the Commission and NATO, for delegates under 30.

    Register interest
  5. Young Diplomats Forum, 28th edition

    YDF Beijing

    A week of institutional visits and sessions on China's foreign policy, trade and global engagement.

    Register interest
  6. Young Diplomats Forum, 29th edition

    YDF London

    Five days with diplomats, officials and practitioners in London, for students and young professionals.

    Register interest

GDF Academy

Self-paced courses in diplomacy and international affairs, in English, French, Arabic and Spanish, with a certificate on completion.

Courses starting 26 October 2026

  1. Understanding ASEAN: The Emerging Regional Bloc

    The history, principles, achievements and challenges of ASEAN, and its growing weight in regional and global affairs.

    £295

  2. Diplomacy in the 21st Century

    An overview of how modern diplomacy works and the skills needed to practise it today.

    £295

  3. Public Diplomacy and Nation Branding

    Go beyond theory: develop and carry out public diplomacy strategies that build national reputation.

    £295

  4. US Foreign Policy and Diplomacy

    How American foreign policy is made, who shapes it, and what it means for the rest of the world.

    £295

  5. Critical Minerals, Energy and the New Geopolitics of Resources

    Energy security and the competition for critical minerals, and what they mean for foreign policy.

    £295

  6. Climate Diplomacy

    How climate agreements are negotiated, financed and enforced, and how diplomats turn commitments into results.

    £275

Or take any of our courses with annual access: £49 a month, billed annually at £588.

Browse all courses See annual access

Our programmes have been hosted by, or delivered with:

Governments

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office

  • US Department of State

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China

  • Government of Flanders

  • Egmont Palace, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

  • Houses of Parliament

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs all Greece

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs all Mexico

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs all Latvia

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs all Malaysia

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs all Greece

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs all Turkey

Institutions and Foundations

  • Johns Hopkins SAIS

  • Schwarzman Scholars

  • Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs

  • UN Foundation

  • British Council

  • BBC

  • Center for Language Education and Cooperation

  • Royal United Services Institute

  • Knight Dragon

International organisations

  • NATO

  • European Parliament

  • European Commission

  • World Bank Group

  • Organization of American States

  • Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

  • Commonwealth Secretariat

  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Independent by design: no government, sponsor or agenda steers our programmes.

Young Diplomats Forum in Brussels. Delegates at Egmont Palace having 2022

Students and young professionals

Spend a week inside the institutions of diplomacy with peers from around the world, plan your next step at the Career Forum, and put your policy ideas forward through the Youth Working Council.

Young Diplomats Forum in Beijing 2026. Session with CPIFA

Diplomats and practitioners

Build specialist knowledge at your own pace, and keep up to date through members' webinars and briefings.

Young Diplomats Forum in Brussels. 2026

Governments and institutions

Host a session, train a cohort of your officials, or partner with us on a forum, the Summit or the Global Diplomacy Awards.

On the Record

Rola Khalaf , Editor of FT , Sir Richard Ottaway chair of foreign affairs select committee and lord lament ( former Chancellor) speaking the MENA forum organised by the GDF at the House of Commons

Belt and Road forum for YDF delegates, Embassy of China, Brussels, July 2020

Dr. Al Jaafari, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq Speaking the London Diplomatic Summit

Young diplomats Forum in Beijing 2026. Forbidden Temple

Dr. Armen Sarkissan, president of Armenia and Laura Smith BBC Journalist at the GDF Global Energy Security Conference. Other speakers included:

Tawakkol Karman, Noble Laureat of Peace 2011 speaking the London Diplomatic Summit

Every photograph on this site is from a GDF event, captioned with what happened, where and when.

Young Diplomats Forum Beijing, Session held at AIIB August 2026.

Professor Masanori Naito,  Professor Emeritus at Doshisha University, Presenting his comparative research on Counter-Terrorism Across the MENA region

H.E Alexander Downer, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia Speaking the Young Diplomatic Forum

Who has spoken at GDF

Foreign ministers, heads of international institutions and serving ambassadors who have addressed our delegates and members. A selection.

International institutions

  • Dr Boutros Boutros-GhaliSixth Secretary-General of the United Nations
  • Lord Hannay of ChiswickFormer UK Permanent Representative to the UN and the EU
  • African UnionRepresentative of the African Union

Foreign ministers

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq

Government ministers

  • UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa
  • UK Defence Minister
  • Australian Minister
  • Deputy Minister, Malaysia
  • Rt Hon Jack StrawFormer Foreign Secretary. House of Commons roundtable, 2013

Recent speakers

  • H.E. Teemu TurunenAmbassador of Finland to the UK. YDF London 2026
  • H.E. Dr Desra PercayaAmbassador of Indonesia to the UK. YDF London 2026
  • Professor Corneliu BjolaDiplomatic Studies, University of Oxford
  • David MaenautGeneral Representative of the Government of Flanders in the UK
  • Christopher PainterFormer US Coordinator for Cyber Issues. YDF, 2025
  • Jennifer UptonFormer British diplomat and Army officer. YDF London 2026

Why they come back

“I learn from them and they learn from me.”

A former FCDO diplomat has spoken at GDF events for around ten years. He stays long after his session to talk with delegates. That exchange, in both directions, is what every GDF programme is built on.

Session at Young Diplomats Forum Brussels 2022

Global Diplomacy AwardsBrussels, 3 December 2027

An evening for the embassies, EU missions and NATO delegations of Brussels, honouring the year’s achievements in diplomacy. Nominations open in 2027 and are free.

Learn more

In our alumni's words

“I consider my time in Latvia and Malaysia as important as many of my graduate-level courses in university.”

Brock Mays, YDF Riga 2017 and Kuala Lumpur 2018

“YDF presented an amazing opportunity to gain experience, meet new people and learn from those around me.”

Niamh Callinan, Young Diplomats Forum

Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot by delegates and learners. Read the reviews

Find your programme

Students, practitioners and institutions each have a way in.

Young Diplomats Forum GDF Academy Partner with us
Institutional Partners and Supporters

Put your organisation at the table

For more than a decade, governments, universities, international organisations and businesses have partnered with GDF to reach the next generation of diplomats, convene senior dialogue and build lasting international relationships. Independent by design, we shape every partnership around shared goals, not agendas.

Some of our partners and supporters have included:

  • NATO
  • European Parliament
  • European Commission
  • FCDO
  • Houses of Parliament
  • Johns Hopkins SAIS
  • Schwarzman Scholars
  • Government of Flanders
  • Harvard Kennedy School
  • Geneva Diplomacy Academy
  • Knight Dragon
Partner with us

GDF Perspectives

Armed Peace: The Middle East in 2026 and the Limits of Conflict Management.Read now

The Podium and the Algorithm: Media Exposure in Contemporary Diplomacy.Read the full article on Linkedin

The Reputation Paradox: When Soft Power Meets Hard Reality. Read the full article on Linkedin

Our work has been reported by:

  • BBC Mundo - BBC Persian - The Jerusalem Post - Fiji Sun - Diplomatic Watch - Georgetown Journal

Press Coverage