Leadership and Exchanges
About this Program
Solving the toughest social and economic challenges in Asia and the Pacific rests not only on solid ideas and strategies, but on people. The most innovative and game-changing ideas will always fail if administered by poor leadership. The Asia Foundation invests in the human capital needed for Asian societies to develop and flourish and has long worked to identify, equip, and develop leaders of consequence—from emerging, next-generation development and policy leaders in Asia to highly accomplished leaders who seek to do more. LeadEx is TAF’s unit combining our leadership and exchange programs, including the Asia Foundation Development Fellows, LeadNext Fellows, Young Asian Diplomats, Fuller Fellows in Peacebuilding, Luce Scholars, and other leadership development exchanges.
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Open Applications
Fuller Fellows are early or midcareer professionals with demonstrated potential for leadership in the peacebuilding field and who are actively working to promote peace through research, advocacy, policymaking, community practice, or other fields.
Applications for the 2025 Fuller Fellowship are open through June 1, 2025.
How We Work
Asia Foundation Development Fellows
The Asia Foundation Development Fellows program is a dynamic and multifaceted learning program designed for highly talented individuals from Asia and the Pacific under age 40 to enhance their leadership skills, regional development knowledge, professional networks, and international exposure. The program reflects The Asia Foundation’s nearly seven-decade tradition of investing in the region’s most promising future leaders.
Young Asian Diplomats Program
The Young Asian Diplomats: Strengthening an Emerging Generation of Asian Leaders and Deepening U.S.-Asia Relations program identifies, trains, and develops the next generation of Asia’s diplomats and foreign affairs leaders who will play key roles in shaping the region’s response to today’s most critical development and policy challenges.
William P. Fuller Fellowship in Peacebuilding
The evolving complexity of subnational conflicts in the 21st century requires significant investment in an emerging generation of leaders to innovate and drive solutions for peace. The William P. Fuller Fellowship in Peacebuilding is dedicated to the professional development of the next generation of leaders committed to addressing conflict and peacebuilding in Asia and the Pacific. The program fosters collaboration through a small cohort model, connecting fellows with the global peacebuilding community and elevating their professional growth and work in the field.
Margaret F. Williams Fellowship in Asian Art
Offered every other year, the Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship in Asian Art supports two emerging contemporary art curators with a substantive three-month residency at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. The program aims to expand the curatorial field and build the capacity of an emerging generation of curators through exchange between emerging leaders from Asia and the United States.
Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Fellowship Program
The Chang-Lin Tien Distinguished Fellowship Program honors the talents and achievements of the late Dr. Chang-Lin Tien, former chair of TAF’s board of trustees and former chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley. The program fosters dialogue and understanding between Asians and Americans noted for their contributions in government, business, academia, media, and the arts. The fellowship is in keeping with TAF’s interest in facilitating a collegial network of professionals with leadership potential and with established leaders throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Luce Scholars Program
Established in 1974 by the Henry Luce Foundation, the Luce Scholars Program is a competitive and prestigious leadership development fellowship that provides emerging leaders with immersive professional experiences in Asia. The program aims to strengthen relationships across borders by offering scholars opportunities to deepen their understanding of Asia’s countries, cultures, and people. Through this yearlong immersion, the program equips scholars with knowledge and skills to address global leadership challenges and build a more interconnected world.
Leadership and Exchanges News
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Call for Applications – 2026 LeadNext: Ambassadors for a Global Future
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The Asia Foundation Announces 2026 Development Fellows
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2026 Call for Applications: Margaret F. Williams Memorial Fellowship in Asian Art
Leaders on the Frontlines
The Leaders on the Frontlines Awards underscore the Foundation’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders. Proceeds from the event support The Asia Foundation’s Leadership & Exchanges program. The Foundation’s diverse leadership initiatives offer emerging leaders from Asia and the Pacific the chance to enhance their skills and deepen their understanding of regional challenges.
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