By Clifford Agugoesi, Editor-in-Chief

The International Institute of Communications (IIC) is delighted to be back for its seventh year and announces the topic for this year’s IIC Future Leaders Competition.

The competition provides international exposure to ambitious young professionals, aged 35 and under.

This year we are asking young professionals to produce an essay on the following topic:   Breaking down barriers to sustainability.

A green and digital ‘twin transition’ is underway but can both targets be met? What can the communications industry do to assure future sustainability? Are policies sufficient to achieve the targets, what regulations and structures are needed, and who should pay?

So, this is a fantastic opportunity, according to the IIC, for participants  to demonstrate their knowledge and skill as they build their career. With so much talent in the TMT sector, analysts  hope to encourage submissions from across the digital ecosystem.

Here are the Chair and Vice-Chair of this year’s judging panel:

• Chair, Principal, Millwood Hargrave Ltd, Andrea Millwood Hargrave
• Vice-Chair, Professor Emerita of New Media and the Internet in the Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics and Political Science, Robin Mansell

2023 winner, Nicole Darabian, said:  “I have followed the IIC Future Leaders Competition in previous years and I had told myself if cybersecurity was ever the chosen topic, I would enter! This is a great opportunity for young professionals to exercise their analytical, research and writing skills in a communications and policy area they are passionate in. I found the experience immensely rewarding, both professionally and personally. I will be forever thankful to the IIC for nurturing and promoting an initiative like this one and would encourage anyone eligible to enter!”