Across Europe, the profiles, backgrounds, and demographics of public policy professionals often fail to reflect the growing pluralism and multiculturalism of our societies. As governments, corporations, and communities grapple with regional and global challenges, we need diverse perspectives and bold innovative ideas to reimagine and redesign the future of public policy in ways that are more equitable, inclusive, and effective.
To build this leadership pipeline and increase diversity in the field, more must be done to ensure public policy is an inclusive and viable career path for minorities, and to create opportunities for emerging and new voices in public policy to practice leadership through their projects, institutions, and communities.
Public policy is the action a government does – or does not – take in response to a matter of public concern, including laws, regulations and funding allocations. Ideas and impetus for these actions may come from or be influenced by actors outside government – such as activists, lobbyists and concerned members of the public – but public policy itself is ultimately made by governments.
The complex issues addressed by public policies include but are by no means limited to criminal justice; education; health and social welfare; rural and urban development; tax and budgetary affairs; infrastructure and transport; foreign affairs and overseas development; culture and the creative economy; and media and communications.
Public Policy New Voices Europe brings together each year an interdisciplinary cohort of 30 students, graduates, and early career professionals based in Europe wishing to understand more about opportunities to affect change through public policy or aspiring to pursue a career in public policy in Europe.
Salzburg Global actively encourages applications from communities that have been historically less visible in the field of public policy. We especially welcome applications from people of color, disabled people, those who identify as LGBT*, people from low-income backgrounds, and those from ethnically diverse and/or migrant communities.
*LGBT: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. We are using this term as it is currently widely used in human rights conversations on sexual orientation and gender identity in many parts of the world, and we would wish it to be read as inclusive of other cultural concepts, contemporary or historical, to express sexuality and gender, intersex and gender non-conforming identities.
Salzburg Global Seminar has been investing in the next generation of leaders since our founding in 1947 and has a long record of supporting and empowering policymakers in a variety of sectors, from education and public health to urban planning and international development, and beyond.
We firmly believe the inclusion of diverse views in public policy debates produces better outcomes for societies. Early-career professionals from diverse backgrounds have the potential to offer the kinds of innovative and radical ideas needed to create change but are not greatly represented in the public policy sector. This program attempts to bridge that gap by creating a talent pipeline for unique and diverse voices to join the public policy space.
This program reflects the priority Salzburg Global assigns to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as we seek to advance social justice across all aspects of our work. Read more about our commitment to DEI here: Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion