Apply to be the next Young ICCA Co-Chair
Are you interested in becoming the next Young ICCA Co-Chair?
We will soon launch the election to replace current Co-Chair Gustavo Kulesza, whose term ends in November 2026. We are now inviting expressions of interest from potential candidates until midnight (CEST) on Sunday, 23 August 2026. Please note that the application deadline will not be extended.
Young ICCA Co-Chairs are elected through a two-stage process designed to ensure a balance of merit-based succession, geographic and institutional diversity, and democratic legitimacy. Gender diversity is maintained through the election mechanism, which requires that each departing male Co-Chair be succeeded by a female Co-Chair, and vice versa. Accordingly, only female candidates are eligible for this election, just as only male candidates were eligible to replace former Co-Chair Eva Chan earlier this year.
Why become a Young ICCA Co-chair?
Being a Young ICCA Co-Chair is an unparalleled opportunity to uplift and empower young practitioners in international arbitration.
As a Young ICCA Co-Chair, you will have the platform to make a significant difference and support young arbitration practitioners and students in pursuing their aspirations for a career in international arbitration. In advancing Young ICCA’s mission, you will work with and connect with like-minded young arbitration practitioners, while also collaborating and engaging with leading international arbitration practitioners.
Young ICCA Co-Chairs direct and manage all Young ICCA activities. They are the public-facing representatives of Young ICCA and speak on its behalf, representing an organization with more than 17,000 members. Young ICCA Co-Chairs sit on the Young ICCA Committee alongside the ICCA President, Executive Director, and several ICCA Governing Board members. They also work closely with the ICCA Bureau and assist with a variety of projects and initiatives, including serving on ICCA’s Judiciary, Publications, and Congress Committees.
As a Young ICCA Co-Chair, you will oversee Young ICCA’s core pillars—Events, Scholarships, Mentoring, and Young ICCA Voices—and help improve access to scholarships, skills training workshops, publishing opportunities, and mentoring for young arbitration practitioners, regardless of where they are located in the world. For these reasons, serving as a Young ICCA Co-Chair requires a significant commitment of time, energy, and resources. However, it is also an exceptionally rewarding experience.
Do you want to help open the doors of international arbitration to young practitioners, and do you have the time and capacity to do so? If so, apply to become a Young ICCA Co-Chair today. We encourage anyone interested in submitting an expression of interest to review the two-stage election process outlined below.
Two-stage election process
Stage 1: During the first stage, the current leadership of Young ICCA and ICCA will select two candidates from among the potential candidates who have submitted an expression of interest. The selection criteria include the candidates’ previous involvement in Young ICCA or similar organizations, their demonstrable appreciation of the organization’s aim to open the doors of international arbitration, their capacity to dedicate the time and resources necessary to fulfil the day-to-day demands of the position, as well as considerations of geographic and institutional diversity.
Stage 2: During the second stage, Young ICCA members will be invited to vote for their preferred candidate via email. The election will take place from Monday, 12 October 2026, to Sunday, 8 November 2026. As part of the election process, each candidate will be asked to complete Young ICCA's version of a "Proust questionnaire" to present their personal profile. The completed questionnaires will be circulated electronically to Young ICCA members for their consideration (and entertainment!). The election results will be announced during the week of 9 November 2026.
Expressions of interest: Expressions of interest from potential candidates should be submitted to the current co-chairs through the online form. Applicants will be required to upload a current CV and a short letter of motivation not exceeding 500 words addressing the selection criteria outlined above. Queries can be directed to the current co-chairs at cochairs@youngicca.org.
Submit your Expression of Interest
Please note: Expressions of interest received after the deadline will not be considered. The decision of the Co-Chairs as to the selection of the candidates to proceed to the election phase is final.