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Case study

Impact case study: NEVER mentoring

Biosecurity Climate change Cyber Emerging technologies Gender NEVER Nuclear Weapons NEVER

What we did:

In 2024, the European Leadership Network (ELN) delivered an intergenerational networking programme designed to support emerging leaders in the fields of security, foreign policy, and existential risk. The programme brought together 25 participants from across the New European Voices on Existential Risks (NEVER) Network and the Younger Generation Leadership Network (YGLN). This programme was kindly supported by the MacArthur Foundation. 

With expert guidance from a distinguished group of mentors comprising of ELN Senior Network members and Senior Associate Fellows—including Dr. Stefanie Babst, Nicholas Williams, Tom McKane, Ilana Bet-El, Sir Graham Stacey, and Sir Laurie Bristow—participants engaged in collaborative group sessions and mentoring activities aimed at strengthening their expertise in foreign policy and existential risk, expanding their networks, and helping them pursue impactful careers. 

Why we did it:

The NEVER network was established to attract, nurture and sustain new talent and ideas from wider Europe on nuclear issues, climate change, biosecurity and emerging disruptive technologies (EDTs) and to connect this talent pipeline with wider debates on existential risks facing humanity such as the use of nuclear weapons. The YGLN is a long-standing branch of the ELN’s wider networks, connecting rising transatlantic experts on Euro-Atlantic security to develop a new generation of leaders. Our Senior Network brings together the most senior experts and policy practitioners from across Europe, including NATO Secretaries-General, former Prime Ministers, Defence and Foreign Ministers, and Ambassadors – and they have a big appetite for sharing their experiences and knowledge with the younger generation leaders of the future. 

Networks are at the heart of everything the ELN does. Collectively, our networks represent some 10,000 years of practical security policy experience. Sustaining this talent pipeline and fostering intergenerational collaboration allows the ELN to remain an authoritative voice on Europe’s most pressing existential threats. 

How we did it:

The programme featured monthly virtual meetings over six months, with discussions structured around core topics: 

  • Breaking down silos: Encouraging collaboration across disciplines. 
  • Building your networks: Sharing practical tools and strategies, and introducing new connections. 
  • Communicating existential risks: Addressing what each respective area of existential risks can learn from each other. 
  • Influencing governments: Discussing how to effectively engage stakeholders and policymakers. 
  • Work-life balance: Addressing burnout in high-pressure environments. 
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Addressing the lack of diversity within senior policy positions. 
  • Planning career trajectory: Identifying opportunities and navigating barriers in security and foreign policy, with a focus on improving diversity within the field. 

Each mentor group brought together participants with shared interests but diverse backgrounds, enabling rich discussions and mutual learning for both the mentors and the mentees.  

What we achieved:

The programme’s impact was tangible both for the mentees and the mentors. Below are reflections from some of our participants: 

I strongly believe in mentoring as a highly valuable tool to support younger professionals in their career development… Getting your ‘dream job’ is still a huge challenge, as is succeeding in interviews in large international bureaucracies. Digesting setbacks is as hard as it was for me...That two of them applied successfully for attractive posts in their respective area of expertise and embarked on a new phase in their professional journey makes me happy and proud. Stefanie Babst

Before joining NEVER, I had a vision of existential risk, which was primarily connected to my own area of work. After joining NEVER and engaging in its activities, I started better grasping the multifaceted nature of existential risk, being exposed to other professionals’ research interests and work. A NEVER member

I find it stimulating to interact with young adults interested in global security issues, especially if they are from diverse backgrounds. I Improved my knowledge of the opinions of young, educated Europeans on global security issues, in particular potentially catastrophic risks. Tom McKane

Through engagement with other members of the ELN, I was able to better understand nuclear disarmament and connect it to my biosecurity work A NEVER member

The sessions were engaging and made me think about the issues under discussion and question my own assumptions. Sir Laurie Bristow

I have learned more about myself and how much I can still learn from the previous generations’ efforts to handle the threat of nuclear disarmament A NEVER member

Next Steps:

We remain commited to empowering emerging leaders and addressing the talent pipeline in security and foreign policy. Moving forward, the ELN plans to expand its mentoring initiatives, ensuring greater access to career guidance and networking opportunities. We welcome discussions with potential future partners who would be interested in supporting further iterations of intergenerational mentoring and developing future leaders within the security and existential risk fields.

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