Asia Policy Leadership Forum (APLF) Cohort 1 | Leadership in a Digital Age: Technology, Society, and Governance in Asia

Asia is at a critical inflection point as rapid technological change intersects with governance and societal challenges. Fragmented regulatory frameworks, uneven digital infrastructure, and rising concerns over data sovereignty are creating gaps in public trust and complicating cross-border collaboration. These dynamics threaten the cohesion and resilience needed for inclusive, forward-looking governance in an increasingly interconnected region.

Asia is experiencing a significant surge in technological innovation. Concurrently, data sovereignty has become a critical issue, as countries implement robust data localization laws to ensure control over their digital infrastructures.

At the same time, Asia is rapidly developing digital public infrastructure to support inclusive governance, economic growth, and social services, while innovation ecosystems are expanding through cross-sector collaboration between governments, startups, and research institutions. Yet challenges remain in balancing open data sharing with privacy and security concerns, ensuring equitable access to technology, and addressing the societal impacts of AI, automation, and emerging digital platforms across diverse communities.

The inaugural Asia Policy Leadership Forum in 2026 will bring together 35–45 emerging leaders and early-to-mid-career professionals from across Asia to address these pressing issues. Through collaborative workshops and expert-led sessions, Fellows will explore strategies for strengthening digital public infrastructure, enhancing data governance frameworks, and fostering inclusive technological innovation with communities at the heart of it. By bridging policy, technology, and societal needs, APLF aims to cultivate a new generation of leaders equipped to navigate the complexities of the digital age and drive transformative change across the region.

This Program Aims To:

• Catalyze Transformative Leadership: Equip emerging and mid-career leaders with the knowledge, skills, and strategic networks needed to navigate complex policy, technology, and governance challenges across Asia.

• Advance Responsible Technology and Governance: Explore and develop forward-looking policy solutions that promote ethical, equitable, and sustainable use of technology, strengthen digital governance, and enhance societal resilience.

• Build a Regional Network for Impact: Foster a vibrant, cross-sectoral community of leaders committed to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and scaling solutions that address the region’s most pressing technological and societal challenges.
  

Timeline:

Programs at Salzburg Global are co-designed with participants who work together to determine the program agenda. Participants should be available for the following dates:-

• The Fellowship will begin in March 2026 with two online on-boarding workshops of 90 minutes each. 

• The virtual network meetings will take place approximately every six weeks between April and December 2026, with each session lasting around 90 minutes. These sessions will include presentations, discussions, and skills-building exercises on public policy topics relevant to the Asia region. 

• Fellows will be matched with a mentor from the Salzburg Global and APLF networks. Fellows should plan to meet virtually with their mentor for about one hour at least four times over the course of the 9-month mentoring relationship, with flexibility to schedule additional sessions as needed. 

• We recommend that Fellows spend roughly two hours per month on self-directed activities, including pre-readings, reflection and journaling, writing or blogging, engaging with peers, and participating in relevant conferences, workshops, or events. 

• For the in-person convening, Fellows should plan to attend a six-day program (May 5–10, 2026) in Salzburg, Austria, plus travel time. Salzburg Global can provide an official letter outlining this time commitment for universities or employers. Please note that virtual participation in the in-person program is not possible. 

Application Information:

ELIGIBILITY 

To be eligible for the Forum, applicants must:  

• Be a citizen of or are doing policy work in one of the following jurisdictions: Japan, Hong Kong SAR, India, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan.  

• Be an early-to-mid-career professional (5 to 10 years of experience) working in government, civil society, the private sector, or academia  

• Have already demonstrated meaningful impact through their policy work at the intersection of technology, governance, and society.  

• Have an interest in scaling their work regionally, collaborating across sectors, and engaging with senior leaders and peers in addressing the region’s most pressing policy challenges. 

• Be passionate about increasing representation and diversity within the policy space in your country and within the region.  

The Forum prioritizes participation from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups within the policy space.

There are limited spots for partially funded participation via scholarships (covering travel, room and/or board costs), to get involved in this program.

Application Deadline:

10th November, 2025 (17:00 Central European Time)

Applicants will be notified about the status of their application by December 2025.

Should you have any questions, or require further information, feel free to contact Iman Albertini - ialbertini@salzburgglobal.org

If you have any exceptional circumstances that inhibit your application through this online portal, please get in touch with us at

ialbertini@salzburgglobal.org