The 2025 Young Leadership Dialogue (YLD) US Retreat was held in Washington DC in March, with 25 leaders from across the United States, engaging in a robust three-day leadership program that included over 20 globally recognised thought leaders from government, industry, academia, space, and innovation.
Delegates spent the morning at Arizona State University (ASU) Washington DC campus, where they engaged with a range of thought leaders, including The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, former Australian Ambassador to the United States who provided a topical political briefing.
The afternoon program included dialogue at Capitol Hill with Congressional members and Senior Staffers, to learn about their roles and connections to the bilateral AU/US alliance.
Later in the program, it was an privilege to be hosted by Australian Ambassador to the US, HE the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC, and a panel of senior policy leaders, at his Residence for an engaging dialogue on Australian politics and the current political climate in Washington DC.
Another highlight for the YLD delegates was visiting NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, home to the largest organisation of STEM leaders who build spacecraft and new technology to study earth, the sun, our solar system and the universe. Delegates viewed samples collected from asteroid Bennu and viewed the current construction of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This telescope will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, potentially measuring light from a billion galaxies in its lifetime.
Several journalists provided insights on the coalface of politics, particularly before the impending 2025 Aus Federal Election.
Another highlight for the YLD delegates was spending the afternoon at Royal Military College Duntroon to participate in a Leadership Self-Assessment program used by the Army to determine motivations, behaviours, and relationship dynamics in teams and times of conflict.
