The IDEA is made up of ascending leaders from around the world, from many different backgrounds and heading into a range of careers.

Originally known as The G8 & G20 Youth Network, in 2006, our main focus was to organise the annual G8 & G20 Youth Summits, which brought together ascending leaders at the fringe of the G8 and G20 summits. 

Since 2006, we have held these prestigious events in Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Austrlia and Turkey. These flagship events continue under the new name of the Y8 and Y20 Summits.

In 2012, we became The International Diplomatic Engagement Association (The IDEA), to reflect the growing desire of young leaders to build bridges beyond our major annual summits. Our mission is to unite young leaders from around the world, and to facilitate their involvement in, and impact on, global issues through open dialogue and engaging diplomacy.

From Italy to Indonesia, South Africa to Saudi Arabia and the UK to the USA, our partners empower young people on every continent and recruit the best and brightest to represent their countries on the world stage. Over the past seven years, we have trained and empowered over a thousand ascending leaders, who have all gone on to pursue leadership challenges at home and abroad.

Below is the list of our founding partners. If you are a member of a national youth organisation that would like to become involved, get in touch.