The fellowship opened with remarks by Samira Aoumeur, Campaigns Manager at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, who welcomed the fellows and set the stage for the intensive training programme. This was followed by an introductory session on international cyber stability, led by Briony Daley Whitworth, Director of Cyber and Technology Multilateral Engagement at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Through interactive discussions and scenario analysis, participants explored key concepts of cyber stability, with a focus on practical applications in multilateral negotiations.

A key component of the first day was a hands-on exercise simulating responses to cybersecurity incidents. Led by Klée Aiken, Director of Community and Capacity Building at the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the session required fellows to navigate the complexities of managing a cyberattack on critical infrastructure. The exercise challenged them to assess threats, coordinate with relevant stakeholders, and formulate effective response strategies.

The second day of the fellowship began at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN, where a representative from Germany’s Federal Foreign Office provided opening remarks emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in cybersecurity policy. The morning session included a debrief on the previous day’s exercises, facilitated by Klara Marland of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE). Fellows reflected on key takeaways and discussed best practices for applying their newfound knowledge in real-world diplomatic settings.

The day continued with Scenario Exercise 3: Scenario Responses and Resilience. Briony Daley Whitworth facilitated this hands-on session, which challenged fellows to engage in intervention and attribution strategies in response to cyber incidents. Through role-playing exercises, participants simulated high-level diplomatic discussions, testing their ability to coordinate with international actors, identify responsible parties, and propose collaborative solutions to cyber threats.

The day concluded with an in-depth discussion on the expected outcomes of the OEWG’s tenth session. Katherine Prizeman, a Political Affairs Officer at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, and Matthew Wong, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Singapore, provided an overview of the state of play in the OEWG negotiations. They outlined the key elements of the upcoming annual progress report and engaged fellows in a discussion on the implications of these negotiations for global cybersecurity governance.

Following this, OEWG Chair Ambassador Burhan Gafoor of Singapore held an informal Q&A session, offering insights into the dynamics of cyber negotiations and the evolving priorities of the OEWG. The fellows had the opportunity to engage directly with Ambassador Gafoor, gaining valuable perspectives on the future direction of multilateral cyber discussions.