About

Transformative economic ideas, bold political leadership.

Leaders for a New Economy brings together dynamic political actors with expert economists, experienced world leaders and peers from around the world.

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People increasingly experience the economy as distant, unfair and hostile to their futures. Fundamental change will be impossible without political leaders who have the credibility and confidence to transform the policies that shape our economies.

Leaders for a New Economy brings together a hand-picked fellowship of dynamic political actors from different countries, who have the potential to be the leaders of tomorrow. Together, they will address today’s most pressing global challenge: how to make our economies work for both people and the planet.

Through engagement with expert economists, researchers and experienced world leaders, through peer-to-peer exchange, and through a programme of personal leadership development, fellows will build the knowledge, strategies and networks to translate bold economic ideas into credible political action.

Fellows

Fellows will be selected from a range of G20 countries and other larger economies. They are emerging political leaders at the national, regional and local level with a common commitment to help solve major economic problems:

  • The climate crisis
  • Economic inequality
  • The future of work

The inaugural 2026–2027 cohort of fellows will number 15–20 individuals from different political parties.

How to apply

Application is by invitation or recommendation. For more information please get in touch.

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The programme

The programme will run from December 2026 to November 2027.
In that time, it will feature:

  1. 9–12 Dec 2026

    In-person convening

    An in-person convening as part of the first Barbados gathering for economic renewal in Bridgetown, Barbados, hosted by prime minister Mia Mottley.

  2. Jan–Oct 2027

    Online sessions

    Online sessions will be roughly every other month to feature thematic economic deep-dives led by experts, peer-to-peer exchanges on shared political leadership challenges, and considerations of public participation, political navigation and strategic communications.

  3. Throughout

    Peer-to-peer

    Throughout there will be a focus on reflective leadership practice and peer-to-peer learning.

  4. Beyond

    The network

    An ongoing community of practice as part of an international alumni network for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

People

Leaders for a new economy Advisory Council

The programme will benefit from the advice and guidance of:

Winnie Byanyima

Winnie Byanyima

Executive director of UNAIDS Under-secretary general of the United Nations

Uganda

Winnie Byanyima is the executive director of UNAIDS and an under-secretary general of the United Nations. A passionate and longstanding champion for social justice and a global leader on inequality, Winnie was the executive director of Oxfam International. Previously, she was elected for three terms in the parliament of her country, Uganda, where she led the first parliamentary women’s caucus. She has served on numerous global advisory councils to the UN and G7/G20 presidencies on issues of gender, climate, inequality and the future of work.

Professor Ha-Joon Chang

Professor Ha-Joon Chang

Professor of economics, SOAS University of London

South Korea/UK

Ha-Joon Chang is a distinguished research professor of economics at SOAS University of London. He has provided policy advice to numerous international organizations, national governments, civil society organizations, and corporations and is engaged in promoting pluralist economic literacy among citizens through mass-market books such as Kicking Away the Ladder, Economics: The User’s Guide, and Edible Economics. His writings have been translated and published in 46 languages and 48 countries.

Professor Jayati Ghosh

Professor Jayati Ghosh

Professor of economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst

India/US

Jayati Ghosh taught economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi for 35 years, and is currently professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. She has authored and/or edited 21 books and 230 scholarly articles and has advised governments in India and other countries and served on many boards and commissions.  Professor Ghosh is currently co-chair (with Joseph E. Stiglitz) of the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Capital Taxation and vice chair of the Founding Committee of the International Panel on Inequality in 2026.

Guillaume Long

Guillaume Long

Former minister Ecuador

Ecuador/France

Guillaume Long has held several cabinet positions in the government of Ecuador, including minister of foreign affairs, minister of culture, and minister of knowledge and human talent. He served as Ecuador’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva. At the multilateral level, he has led initiatives on tax havens, bilateral investment treaties, and a UN treaty on human rights and transnational corporations. Long now teaches, advises and writes for the Centre for the Centre for Economic and Policy Research, Sciences Po and the Hague Group.

Organising and knowledge partners

The programme is coordinated by the New Economics Foundation (NEF),

One of the biggest independent think tanks in the United Kingdom. For 40 years, NEF has turned bold ideas, robust research, and community power into real world change to build a new economy that works for people and planet. From global debt justice to community housing, from the National Energy Guarantee to campaigning for a four-day working week, from promoting local economic development to championing the Green New Deal, NEF has helped change the rules.

The programme is supported by a network of economic justice think tanks from around the world.