Spotlight: Equipping ISS leaders to take on global challenges

ISS Executive Director, Anton du Plessis, recently participated in Harvard Kennedy School's executive global leadership programme to help the ISS confront Africa's human security challenges.

Published on 20 April 2016 in Impact

As part of its quest to find innovative responses to new complex threats that undermine Africa’s growth and development, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is empowering its leaders through participation in key leadership programmes. 

‘Our new strategy has anticipated what some of the emerging threats might be and we’re already working on ways to tackle them’, says Anton du Plessis, Executive Director of the ISS.

‘The uncertain and unpredictable nature of these threats, as well as the challenging environment in which organisations like ours work, requires dynamic leaders who can develop flexible responses’.

Du Plessis recently completed the Harvard Kennedy School’s Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century executive leadership course. The two-week intensive programme featured lectures by leading global experts, including President Emeritus of Harvard, Professor Lawrence Summers, and esteemed political scientist Joseph Nye.

The ISS uses its networks to provide partners with sound analysis, policy advice and training

The course was offered as part of a series of executive leadership modules for the Young Global Leaders Programme of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Du Plessis was appointed as a WEF Young Global Leader in 2014. 

As a WEF Young Leader, du Plessis’ participation in the course was funded by the Dangote Fellowship, which currently supports attendance by all African Young Global Leaders. The WEF programme aims to increase the capacity of young leaders across all sectors in Africa and elsewhere to empower the next generation and help them think critically about how to respond to global challenges.

The ISS strives to be a leading organisation on understanding and responding to the changing human security dynamics in Africa and globally. With research as its cornerstone, the ISS uses its well-established networks to provide government and civil society partners with sound analysis, policy advice and training. 

For more information, contact:

Anton du Plessis, ISS:  +27 78 781 3619, [email protected]