This interactive and practical nine-day program will deepen participants’ understanding of the national security community and the range of strategic challenges it faces - now and into the future.

Through expert presentations, facilitated workshops, and collaborative leadership discussions, participants will improve their ability to think critically, problem-solve creatively, and contribute to policy and decision making in national security. The immersive learning environment also enables participants to build important professional collaborative networks.

The program is designed for emerging leaders in the national security community and Executive Level 1 (EL1) or equivalent officers working in both traditional and non-traditional national security agencies and departments. It will particularly benefit those who are involved in policy, strategic planning, capability development or coordination. State and territory government officers and private sector middle managers are encouraged to register. A minimum SECRET (NV1) security clearance is required.

Past presenters for this program include: Professor John Hewson, Professor Rory Medcalf, Ms Margaret Twomey, Professor Richard Rigby, Professor RADM (RET) James Goldrick, Dr Dominique Dalla-Pozza and others.

“This NSC EL 1 Development Program was one of the best constructed, high calibre, intensive courses I’ve undertaken as a professional working in the foreign affairs portfolio for nine years. It worked due to the excellent quality of presenters, the range and complementarity of subjects, the ability to share classified materials, and the dynamic, interactive nature of discussions that followed.” — Previous participant