Articles / Leadership for Future Generations Swansea: Your Complete Guide to Wales' Premier Leadership Programmes
Development, Training & CoachingDiscover how Swansea and Wales are pioneering leadership development for future generations through innovative programmes, the Well-being of Future Generations Act, and world-class partnerships with global leaders.
Written by Laura Bouttell • Sun 4th January 2026
Wales has positioned itself at the forefront of sustainable leadership development, and Swansea stands as the epicentre of this transformation. When we speak of "Leadership for Future Generations Swansea," we are referring to a constellation of interconnected initiatives that represent perhaps the most ambitious approach to developing tomorrow's leaders anywhere in the world.
This comprehensive guide examines the programmes, partnerships, and legislative frameworks that make Swansea and Wales unique destinations for aspiring leaders who wish to create meaningful, lasting change.
Leadership for Future Generations encompasses several distinct but complementary initiatives centred in and around Swansea, Wales. At its heart lies a fundamental question: how do we develop leaders who can balance present needs with the responsibility of safeguarding opportunities for those who come after us?
The answer, Wales has determined, requires both world-class educational programmes and groundbreaking legislation. Swansea University has emerged as a key institution in this ecosystem, hosting the Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges Programme and partnering with Welsh Government on leadership initiatives. Meanwhile, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales operates the Future Generations Leadership Academy, training young leaders aged 18-30 in sustainable leadership practices aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
In November 2023, Swansea University's Bay Campus hosted a landmark event that crystallised this vision. Former US President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton joined First Minister Mark Drakeford and Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Boyle for a public conversation on leadership for future generations. The 600-strong audience, including Seren Network students from local schools and further education colleges, witnessed discussions ranging from international security to the climate crisis.
Secretary Clinton expressed particular admiration for Wales's Well-being of Future Generations Act, describing it as pioneering legislation that other nations should emulate. This endorsement from one of the world's most influential political figures underscored Swansea's emerging reputation as a laboratory for sustainable leadership development.
The Future Generations Leadership Academy (FGLA) represents Wales's flagship programme for developing young leaders who understand and can implement sustainable development principles. Operated by the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, this eight-month programme has trained hundreds of emerging leaders since its inception in 2019.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 months (September to March) |
| Format | Hybrid: 70 hours of training |
| In-person events | 3 residential networking events across Wales |
| Online learning | 50% of programme delivered digitally |
| Cohort size | Approximately 35 participants |
| Age requirement | 18-30 years old |
| Cost | Completely free to participants |
| Travel/accommodation | Fully covered for in-person events |
The Academy's curriculum is built around the seven well-being goals and five ways of working enshrined in the Well-being of Future Generations Act. Participants engage with seven focused areas of study, each designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical leadership capabilities.
Module 1: Introduction and Foundation The programme begins with online catch-ups and a scene-setting event introducing participants to the Academy team, fellow cohort members, and the fundamental components of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. This foundation ensures all participants, regardless of background, possess the knowledge necessary to engage meaningfully with subsequent modules.
Module 2: The Seven Well-being Goals Core sessions explore each of the Act's seven goals in depth:
Module 3: The Five Ways of Working Participants learn to apply the sustainable development principle through:
Module 4: Change Plans A cornerstone of the Academy experience is the development of individual Change Plans. Participants apply their learning to real challenges within their organisations or communities, creating actionable strategies for sustainable improvement.
The Academy employs a dual-track selection process. Approximately half of each cohort is nominated by sponsoring organisations, whilst the remaining places are filled through a competitive open recruitment process.
Eligibility Requirements:
Sponsoring Organisations Include:
Principality Building Society has contributed 40,000 pounds specifically to support recruitment of young people with protected characteristics, demonstrating the programme's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Swansea University's relationship with Hillary Rodham Clinton began in October 2017, when the University conferred an Honorary Award recognising her political career, commitment to human rights, and ancestral connections with Swansea. During this ceremony, Secretary Clinton unveiled a plaque marking the naming of the Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law.
The Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges Scholars undertake the MA in Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice at Swansea University's School of Law. This master's programme, fully funded by Sky, addresses major societal challenges including:
Scholars benefit from opportunities to work with leading figures in their areas of specialism and undertake placements in relevant organisations. The programme emphasises innovative thinking, leadership development, and commitment to transnational collaboration.
The inaugural Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges Summit, convened and chaired by Secretary Clinton and sponsored by Welsh Government, featured conversations on:
These summits bring together thought leaders, policymakers, and emerging leaders to address the defining challenges of our era.
At the November 2023 Leadership for Future Generations event, Nick Gliddon, Vodafone's Director of Business, announced a world-first "living laboratory" project in partnership with Swansea University. This initiative positions Swansea as an innovation hub where leadership theory meets practical application.
For professionals seeking leadership development outside the youth-focused programmes, ION Leadership offers robust options. Led by Swansea University for fourteen years with Welsh Government funding via the European Social Fund, ION Leadership became part of Swansea University School of Management in January 2024.
| Programme | Duration | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| ILM Level 3 | 4 months | Emerging leaders and supervisors |
| ILM Level 5 | 7-8 months | Middle managers and senior leaders |
ION Leadership's track record speaks for itself:
The programme combines a two-day experiential launch event with monthly development days, focusing on practical, peer-based learning that addresses real workplace challenges.
Understanding the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 is essential for anyone engaging with leadership development in Wales. This pioneering legislation, unique globally, provides the framework within which all Welsh public bodies must operate.
The Act establishes seven legally binding goals for Welsh public bodies:
| Goal | Description |
|---|---|
| A Prosperous Wales | An innovative, productive, low-carbon society that uses resources efficiently and develops a skilled, well-educated population |
| A Resilient Wales | A nation maintaining and enhancing biodiverse natural environments with healthy functioning ecosystems |
| A Healthier Wales | A society maximising physical and mental well-being where healthy choices are understood |
| A More Equal Wales | A society enabling all people to fulfil their potential regardless of background |
| A Wales of Cohesive Communities | Attractive, safe, and well-connected communities |
| A Wales of Vibrant Culture | A society promoting Welsh language and culture |
| A Globally Responsible Wales | A nation considering global impact in all its actions |
Public bodies must demonstrate application of sustainable development principles through:
The Act created the role of Future Generations Commissioner, serving as guardian for future generations' interests. Derek Walker assumed this position in 2023, succeeding Sophie Howe. The Commissioner's office designs and delivers the Future Generations Leadership Academy, monitors progress on well-being objectives, and advises public bodies on sustainable development practices.
Graduates of Wales's leadership programmes have achieved remarkable success across multiple sectors. These outcomes demonstrate the tangible value of leadership development grounded in sustainable development principles.
Bleddyn Lake - Recognised as one of Wales's most influential LGBTQ+ people, Bleddyn graduated from the inaugural FGLA cohort and now serves as Head of Inclusion and Diversity at the Office for National Statistics. He also founded LGBTQYMRU, a charity empowering LGBTQ+ individuals to share their stories.
Josh - Elected at seventeen as Pembrokeshire County Council's first teenage councillor, Josh led the Waste Services Review resulting in over 10% increase in recycling rates during its first year. He also chaired the Net Zero Carbon group, producing the council's first climate action plan.
Najma Hashi - Now Partnerships and Networks Change Maker Support at the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner, Najma manages the Alumni Network and delivers the international action plan between the Commissioner and Welsh Government.
Nirushan Sudarsan - Following the 2021-2022 Academy, Nirushan became director at Grange Pavilion Youth Forum CIC and Ffair Jobs CIC, community initiatives serving Butetown, Grangetown, and southern Cardiff.
Ali Al-Anbaki - A former asylum seeker who graduated from the Academy, Ali now advocates for mental health awareness among people seeking sanctuary in Wales.
Graduates access an extensive network of ongoing opportunities:
Timeline: Applications typically open in spring/summer for September cohort start
Two Application Routes:
Route 1: Open Recruitment
Route 2: Employer Sponsorship
Contact Information:
Applications for the MA in Global Challenges: Law, Policy and Practice are managed through Swansea University's standard postgraduate admissions process, with scholarship selection conducted separately. Prospective applicants should:
Professional leaders can access ION Leadership programmes through:
Leadership for Future Generations Swansea refers to a collection of interconnected leadership development initiatives centred in Swansea and Wales. These include the Future Generations Leadership Academy operated by the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Swansea University's Hillary Rodham Clinton Global Challenges Programme, and ION Leadership professional development courses. All are united by their focus on developing leaders who can balance present needs with responsibilities to future generations, aligned with Wales's pioneering Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015.
Yes, the Future Generations Leadership Academy is completely free for participants. The programme covers all costs including tuition, materials, travel, accommodation, and food for in-person residential events held across Wales. Additionally, an accessibility fund exists to support participants who may require additional assistance to attend face-to-face sessions. The programme is funded by Welsh Government through a contract with the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales.
Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 years old. You must also live, work, or study in Wales to be eligible. The Academy welcomes applications from individuals across all sectors including public, private, and third sector organisations. Both employed individuals nominated by sponsoring organisations and those applying through open recruitment are considered equally.
The programme runs for eight months, typically from September through March. It comprises 70 hours of real-life hybrid training, including three in-person networking events held at various locations across Wales and approximately 50% of learning delivered through online platforms. The combination of residential experiences and digital learning allows participants to maintain employment whilst developing their leadership capabilities.
Whilst the Future Generations Leadership Academy does not confer formal academic qualifications, graduates gain something potentially more valuable: membership in an influential alumni network, deep understanding of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, practical leadership skills, and a Change Plan they have developed and begun implementing. Many alumni report that Academy participation has directly led to career advancement, board appointments, and international opportunities including speaking at COP climate conferences and One Young World summits.
Yes, employer sponsorship is one of two routes into the Academy. Approximately half of each cohort is nominated by sponsoring organisations. Current and past sponsors include Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Transport for Wales, Arts Council of Wales, Principality Building Society, Wales Millennium Centre, Public Health Wales, and numerous other public, private, and third sector organisations. Organisations interested in becoming sponsors should contact the Future Generations Commissioner's office directly.
The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 provides the legislative and philosophical foundation for leadership development in Wales. This Act requires Welsh public bodies to pursue seven well-being goals using five sustainable development ways of working. The Future Generations Leadership Academy curriculum is explicitly built around these goals and ways of working, ensuring graduates understand both the theoretical framework and practical application of sustainable leadership. Swansea University's programmes similarly align with these principles, creating a coherent ecosystem of leadership development grounded in Wales's unique legislative context.
Wales has accomplished something remarkable. Through pioneering legislation, innovative programmes, and partnerships with global figures such as Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Clinton, this small nation has established itself as a world leader in developing leaders who think beyond immediate horizons.
For aspiring leaders aged 18-30, the Future Generations Leadership Academy offers a transformative eight-month journey at no cost, with career outcomes that speak for themselves. For professionals at any career stage, Swansea University's ION Leadership and Global Challenges programmes provide rigorous development grounded in practical application.
The common thread uniting these initiatives is a recognition that leadership worthy of the name must account for those not yet born. In Swansea and throughout Wales, this principle is not merely aspirational rhetoric but legally mandated practice, creating an environment where tomorrow's leaders learn to balance present needs with future obligations.
Whether you are a young person seeking to make your mark, a professional looking to enhance your capabilities, or an organisation wishing to develop your talent pipeline, Wales's leadership ecosystem offers pathways that few other places can match. The question is not whether these programmes can transform your leadership practice, but whether you are ready to embrace a different way of thinking about what leadership truly means.