Nominate a Fellow
Purpose
Modeled on the Aspen Institute's other esteemed leadership initiatives, The Catto Fellowship Program identifies young professionals from around the world who have already achieved success in their fields and encourages them to reach yet farther. This next generation of leaders will be chosen from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds in collaboration with environmental groups, other Aspen Institute fellowship programs, and our international partners. This unique two-year international fellowship strives to expand the role of environmental leadership by exposing environmental professionals, and others from different backgrounds, to a broader array of issues and challenges as well as to each other.
Criteria
To choose each class of Fellows, the Initiative relies on an international network of sponsoring organizations and Aspen’s affiliated international partners and Institute leadership initiative programs, as well as others who understand and endorse the goals of the Initiative, to nominate potential fellows. A small multi-sector Selection Committee will make the final selection of nominations aiming for a balance of Fellows from environmental NGOs, business, government, religious and journalism organizations, as well as other segments of our society. The Selection Committee will seek nominees who have:
- five to ten years of professional experience in the public or private sector with recognizable promise for future leadership;
- demonstrated accomplishments and potential as interdisciplinary problem solvers and effective communicators; and
- a clear and articulate understanding of how their specialized work fits into complex social, economic, and environmental issues.
The Program
Drawing from the noted success of the Aspen Institute’s Henry Crown Fellowship Program and Aspen's international leadership initiatives, every other year a diverse class of 20 Fellows between the ages of 30 and 45 undertakes a program of advanced seminars and development activities under the direction of experienced Aspen Institute moderators. The Initiative offers intensive leadership, skills training and opportunities for personal and professional reflection. The two-year program involves four seminars of approximately five days each year, one of which will take place abroad.
