Young Leadership Programme | 25–26 August 2026
As we face climate change, biodiversity loss, and social and political uncertainty, the need to adapt is clear. Advances in AI, digitalisation, material sciences and circular design, together with the circular bioeconomy, promise major changes in how forest-based operations are managed. However, addressing the challenges ahead requires new mindsets to reimagine the future circular bioeconomy.
Future forests, future leaders
EFI’s Young Leadership Programme (YLP) 2026 focuses on adding value locally, drawing on the example of Northern Europe, a region shaped by forests, knowledge and innovation, yet facing significant changes.
Bioeconomy is emerging across traditional economic sectors of primary production, manufacturing, processing industries and services. It embraces the promise of a profound system change to rethink production and consumption from new perspectives on natural resources, biological materials and processes beyond mere technological fixes. Such transformations, however, are complex to set forth.
Centred on futures thinking and innovation, YLP 2026 combines expert-led discussions with capacity-building activities to strengthen leadership and strategic skills. Participants are invited to explore ways to anticipate disruptions, address challenges and foster proactive innovation.
YLP 2026 will take place from 24 to 28 August 2026 in Joensuu, Finland, in collaboration with local partners.
Who can join?
EFI's Young Leadership Programme 2026 is aimed at young professionals working in research and development, governance, administration, or business in the forest sector or in a related field.
The five-day programme offers a unique opportunity for young professionals with leadership potential to interact with a network of peers and experts, gain new hard and soft skills to support their leadership capacities by challenging their thinking, and receive tools and a network of peers to test and apply them.
The programme places particular emphasis on innovation for local value added and on futures thinking. Experts will share real-life examples of successes and failures and engage participants in bilateral reflection. As a result, participants will gain practical experience through group exercises that connect future thinking with innovation, helping cultivate a more receptive, agile mindset.
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