MPIRO's Global Leaders Initiative
What is the Global Leaders Initiative?
The Global Leaders Initiative (GLI) is an entry pathway designed exclusively for new students enrolled in the Master of International Relations (MIR) course here at the University of Melbourne.
At MPIRO, we recognise that extra-curricular and volunteer experience gets your resume noticed and separates your graduate and job applications from the rest, so we wanted to extend the opportunity for first year MIR students to get involved in the IR community by joining the MPIRO Committee right at the beginning.
Through a two month program, the GLI offers a unique opportunity to equip you with the skills, networks, and organisational knowledge required to successfully transition into executive roles within the MPIRO committee in your subsequent semesters. Within the program, you will:
Gain foundational experience needed to confidently apply for and succeed in executive leadership roles within MPIRO, and in graduate roles after graduation.
Obtain practical experience in event planning and facilitation, people management, finance support, communications, and stakeholder engagement that will carry into graduate roles and employment.
Build immediate connections with students, faculty, and industry professionals who we collaborate and engage with.
Take an active role in planning and delivering worth while and informative events for your cohort, develop communications and podcast strategies for optimal delivery and ultimately steer MPIRO aligned with our values, interests and constitution.
Read our FAQ’s for more information, or send us an email at admin@mpiro.org!
APPLICATIONS OPEN
24th August - 4th September 2026
So why apply?
Program forecast
Program coordinators
Kari Knight
MPIRO President
Nathan Coldrey
MPIRO Events Director
Global Leaders Initiative application
OPEN
FAQ's
Who qualifies for the GLI program?
You must be a first semester/year Master of International Relations student at the University of Melbourne to apply. All MPIRO committee positions have a minimum tenure of 1 academic year (two semesters), so you must be a current student to see out the program and apply for the next committee.
Qualified MIR intakes:
- Semester 1 2026 (200pt program only)
- Semester 2 2026 (150pt program or 200pt program)
Disqualified intakes:
- Semester 2 2025
- Semester 1 2025
If you’re unsure, please send us an email – admin@mpiro.org.
Do I need previous committee or leadership experience to apply?
No. The purpose of the program is to assist you in building leadership skills, so you essentially start from scratch!
If you have some experience already, great! The program will sharpen your existing skills while developing new skills in the process.
Am I guaranteed a committee position after the program?
No. As full believers of democracy, committee positions are voted on through the formal Annual General Meeting (AGM) process at the end of every academic year (around October/November). While a committee position is not guaranteed (necessarily…), the hands on experience, practical skills, and internal network you build will make you a highly competitive candidate when the AGM is held.
Throughout the two month program, you will spend time working with the current committee and engaging with our members which will allow people to get to know you and your future aspirations with the club.
During the AGM, the current committee will begin with formal introductions that include an overview of the GLI program and its successful participants. GLI participants who wish to apply for an executive/committee position after the program will receive an individual summary of who they are, their work during the program and what position they’re applying for.
Will this interfere with my studies?
The GLI program shouldn’t impact your studies, meaning if you believe that you’re unable to commit to a standard committee position, this program might not be for you – and that’s okay! That being said, we’re here to help. Our committee operates flexibly, particularly around assignment deadlines and exam periods. So, assess whether you could take on a standard voluntary position that includes running events, the occasional meeting, and general support.
What activities will I complete throughout the program?
Through the two month program, you will complete two shadowing rotations of committee areas you prefer. For both, you will be partnered with an executive or general committee member to shadow and perform supportive tasks.
For example, you may wish to shadow our Director of Events to learn how to procure venues, manage a small team, liaise with the treasurer for budgeting for catering, and submit event forms to the Graduate Student Association (GSA). If you wish for this to be your first preference, preference ‘general committee’.
For your second rotation, you may wish to shadow our President to understand people and performance management, stakeholder engagement with faculty and externals, and website creation and editing.
In your submission, you will be able to input your preferences for either the executive committee or general committee. From there, you will be partnered with a committee member for your shadowing opportunity. Please note that preferences aren’t guaranteed, however we will ensure that each GLI participant gains valuable experience.
Each committee member carries varying skills and responsibilities to offer in your rotations, and we’re all here to offer insights, and tips and tricks while you complete the program.
Completing the program
To complete the program, you will complete:
- an interview based scenario provided by the committee to test your skills.
- two shadowing committee rotations.
- attend and support two social or academic events throughout the semester.
The President will also host a cover letter, resume and interview preparation workshop to get you a head start for any graduate and job applications you may be planning for. This is optional.