Future Generations Leadership Academy 2023 

The Academy, which is run by the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Derek Walker, is seeking young leaders for its seven-month programme designed to bring about lasting social change under the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Participants on the office’s third annual academy will get the chance to learn more about Wales’ world-leading well-being legislation - which protects the interests of people today, those born in the future, and our planet - while putting its well-being goals into action and influencing existing leaders and organisations.

This year, Principality Building Society has provided £40,000 to support the academy to recruit young people with protected characteristics.

Arts Council of Wales is, for the first time, supporting two places for people who work in the arts sector - which includes staff in arts organisations, or those working as artists, creative practitioners or freelancers.

Participants will have the opportunity to become part of the Alumni Network - the alumni have spoken at climate conferences, joined Welsh Government advisory boards, become elected officials and represented Wales on the UK Future Generations Commission.

They also have a key role in inputting into the work of the commissioner, Derek Walker, who became the second ever commissioner in March 2023 and is publishing his seven-year plan this autumn, after consulting across the country on the best ways to tackle the big issues facing Wales.

Nirushan Sudarsan joined the 2021-2022 Academy and is now director at Grange Pavilion Youth Forum CIC and Ffair Jobs CIC – a community initiative made up of residents and leaders in Butetown, Grangetown and southern Cardiff.

He said: "The Academy has been a great opportunity to connect with other future leaders across Wales to learn and champion the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

“Being the World’s first nation to introduce this legislation, we have the unique opportunity to not only think about future generations but make an active and practical difference now so we can build a better future for all.”

Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, said: “The bright and brilliant people who complete our Future Generations Leadership Academy are translating Wales’ well-being goals into action - for a Wales where everyone’s involved in leaving behind a better place than we found.

“Those who take up a place are in a unique position to work together as part of a global future generations movement, and influence decision makers - to bring about the urgent and transformational change that’s needed for Wales. Being a part of the Future Generations Leadership Academy means you will be contributing to not just a better Wales now, but a better future for everyone.”

Judith Musker Turner, Portfolio Manager at Arts Council of Wales, joined the Academy on the 2021-2022 cohort. She said:

“As part of Arts Council of Wales’s commitment to the Well-being of Future Generations Act we are delighted to be sponsoring two places for future arts leaders on this important Academy, which gives a voice to young people from diverse backgrounds and develops the skills of our future leaders.

“Arts and creativity are key to solving many of the major challenges we face as a society, and the selected participants will be able to champion the importance of the arts to the Act as well as use the learning developed through the Academy to drive change in their own organisations or community.”

Tony Smith, Chief Governance Officer at Principality Building Society said: “Our support of the leadership programme will provide opportunities for young people from under-represented groups and from disadvantaged backgrounds in Wales.

“One of our goals is to help create a fairer society by supporting social mobility. We are committed to Wales and to its young people and are proud that we have this opportunity to help the leadership academy and the next generation of leaders.”