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
Diplomacy is strongest when every generation and every sphere learn from each other, without agenda.
Jennifer Upton: Former British Diplomat & Army Officer. Speaking at the Young Diplomats Forum in London 2026
GDF Academy
Self-paced courses in diplomacy and international affairs, in English, French, Arabic and Spanish, with a certificate on completion.
Our programmes have been hosted by, or delivered with:
Governments
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- US Department of State
- Houses of Parliament
- Government of Flanders
- Egmont Palace, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
International organisations
- NATO
- European Parliament
- European Commission
- World Bank Group
- Organization of American States
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Commonwealth Secretariat
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
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
Every photograph on this site is from a GDF event, captioned with what happened, where and when.
Rola Khalaf, Sir Richard Ottaway and Lord Lamont
MENA Forum · House of CommonsThe Editor of the Financial Times, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and the former Chancellor.
Dr Al Jaafari
London Diplomatic SummitFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq.
Tawakkol Karman
London Diplomatic SummitNobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2011.
Dr Armen Sarkissian and Laura Smith
Global Energy Security ConferenceThe President of Armenia with the BBC journalist.
H.E. Alexander Downer
Young Diplomats ForumFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia.
Professor Masanori Naito
Counter-terrorism across the MENA regionProfessor Emeritus at Doshisha University, presenting his comparative research.
Young Diplomats Forum Beijing
AIIB · August 2026A session held at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Young Diplomats Forum Beijing
Forbidden City · 2026Delegates on the cultural programme.
Belt and Road Forum for YDF delegates
Embassy of China · Brussels · July 2020A forum held for Young Diplomats Forum delegates.
Who has spoken at GDF
Heads of international institutions, foreign ministers, leading thinkers and broadcasters who have addressed our delegates and members. A selection.
International institutions
- Dr Boutros Boutros-GhaliSixth Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Herman Van RompuyFormer President of the European Council
- Baroness Patricia ScotlandFormer Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
- Bineta DiopAfrican Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security
- Shri Midhun T.Deputy Secretary-General, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
- Lord Hannay of ChiswickFormer UK Permanent Representative to the UN and the EU
Foreign ministers
- Rt Hon Jack StrawFormer UK Foreign Secretary
- Didier ReyndersFormer Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium
- Nasser BouritaMinister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco
- Baiba BražeMinister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
- Miro KovačFormer Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia
- Dr Ibrahim al-JaafariFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq
- Alexander DownerFormer Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia
- Phil GoffFormer Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand
Ministers and political leaders
- Ben WallaceFormer UK Secretary of State for Defence
- Alistair BurtFormer UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa
- Tobias EllwoodFormer UK Foreign Office Minister
- Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-KuwariMinister of State, Qatar
- Senator Datuk Marzuki YahyaFormer Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
- Jeremy CorbynFormer Leader of the Opposition, UK
Leading thinkers
- Professor Joseph NyeHarvard University, who developed the concept of soft power
- Professor Corneliu BjolaDiplomatic Studies, University of Oxford
- Simon AnholtFounder of the Nation Brands Index and the Good Country Index
- Roula KhalafEditor, Financial Times
- Dr Linda YuehEconomist, London Business School
Broadcasters
- Jon SnowChannel 4 News
- Sophie LongBBC
- Alice BaxterBBC
- Maryam NemazeeAl Jazeera
- Barbara SerraSky News
- Samantha SimmondsSky News
And hundreds of ambassadors, senior diplomats and members of parliament from around the world.
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.
In our alumni's words
“I consider my time in Latvia and Malaysia as important as many of my graduate-level courses in university.”
“YDF presented an amazing opportunity to gain experience, meet new people and learn from those around me.”
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.
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
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