Designed for professionals aged 20–30 at the start of their careers, this free initiative offers events, networking opportunities, and a supportive community to help young professionals grow their knowledge, expand their network, and engage in global issues.
Why Join RUSI NextGen?
- Free membership – no cost to join, no hidden fees.
- Networking opportunities – connect with peers and senior experts in international affairs, defence and security.
- Exclusive events – attend panels, roundtables, and social events throughout the year.
- Professional development – gain insights from RUSI’s world-leading research and thought leadership.
- Monthly newsletter – stay informed about upcoming events, opportunities, and global affairs discussions.
👉 Apply now to join the RUSI NextGen community
Who Can Join?
RUSI NextGen is open to all young professionals aged 20–30, regardless of background, sector, or prior expertise. Whether you’re in government, business, academia, NGOs, or simply passionate about global affairs, you’re welcome to be part of the network.
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Find out more about our NextGen initiative
Alessandro Cutolo
Alessandro Cutolo is a geopolitical analyst focused on Irregular Warfare, European security and defence, and democratic resilience, with experience in politics, strategic communications, and civil society representation at the UN and OSCE. He holds a BSc in International Politics, Law and Economics (110/110 cum laude) from the University of Milan and is currently completing a Double Master's degree in International Affairs at the London School of Economics and Peking University. Alessandro is also the Founder and Director of Art The People, a social and cultural association that organizes art shows, events, and workshops around Milan.
Zoe Dharma Ciaccio
Zoe Dharma Ciaccio is a cyber threat intelligence analyst focusing on Russian threat actors targeting Europe. Prior to this role, she worked in intelligence covering the EMEA region. She started her career as an intern in NATO’s Defence Investment Division.
Zoe studied at SOAS, obtaining an MA in International Security and a BA in International Relations. She is also a certified SANS Cyber Threat Intelligence analyst.
RÃoghnach Kearney
Ríoghnach Kearney’s experience includes international analysis, governance and regulations, and negotiations, with a top tier global investment bank. Growing up in Northern Ireland, Ríoghnach was born just before the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement brought an end to the ‘Troubles’. She witnessed first hand the power of dialogue and diplomacy, and the critical importance of relationships, rights and reconciliation in building pathways to peaceful social progress, values that she believes are vital in managing conflict. A law graduate from Ulster University, Ríoghnach maintains a strong interest in geopolitics and global economics, and legal and policy reform agendas.
Leila Laing
Leila is a strategic communications and public affairs consultant with deep expertise in policy coordination, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector advocacy. With a track record of advising governments, international organisations, and NGOs, Leila specialises in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, countering disinformation, and shaping strategic narratives that drive impact.
Drawing on experience across government, think tanks, and the private sector, Leila has led high-profile international initiatives spanning security, defence, trade, and governance. From designing counter-disinformation frameworks to executing targeted engagement strategies, Leila equips decision-makers with the insights and strategies needed to respond to global challenges.
Tom Layhe
Tom Layhe is a young professional in the security domain, working as a Deployment Strategist at Palantir and a Reservist in the British Army. He previously worked as a data scientist in the UK Government and as a graduate analyst at JP Morgan. Tom is completing an MSc in Applied Social Data Science at the London School of Economics (part-time), where he is exploring computational disinformation attribution as a research assistant with the Phelan US Centre.
Tom holds a BA (Honours) in War Studies from King’s College London, where he was awarded the Sir Michael Howard Award for Best Graduating Student. Tom continued his research as a Future Maritime Strategist at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. This work was published in The Naval Review and RUSI's Nuclear Reactions and was presented at the 2023 Project on Nuclear Issues Conference.
Alongside his role as an Ambassador for RUSI NextGen, Tom is a Freeman of the City of London through the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, and is a sub-par rugby union player in his free time.
Emma Lowden
Emma Lowden joined the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in August 2024. Prior to this, she worked for The Shaikh Group, a conflict resolution and mediation organisation, for three years, leading the development and implementation of Track 2 dialogues in the Middle East with a focus on GCC states, Iran and Iraq. She is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a first class degree in International Relations. Alongside her role as an Ambassador for RUSI NextGen she leads a local community run club in London.
Ethan Sanderson
Ethan Jeremiah Sanderson is an international security-focused young professional who works as an Embedded Intelligence Analyst at Sibylline, while simultaneously leading the Africa Desk at London Politica, a geopolitical risk consultancy. Thematically, Ethan's main specialties/interests are counter terrorism, counter intelligence, conflict resolution, and humanitarianism. He has no particular regional focus but has an interest in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Ethan speaks Spanish fluently and is currently learning Arabic.
Sophie Somerville Roberts
Sophie Somerville Roberts is an undergraduate at University College London reading Politics and International Relations, with a focus on defence and strategic communications. She has presented at RUSI's Project on Nuclear Issues on nuclear narratives, and writes for the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aerospace magazine, where she has covered Gen Z perceptions of and recruitment into the defence sector. She is co-creator, host and editor of the Resilience State podcast. Sophie is an Officer Cadet in the Officers' Training Corps.
View past NextGen events
Contact [email protected] if you have any queries regarding our NextGen offering.