One Young World Managing Director Ella Robertson McKay is helping to shape the next generation of global change-makers — all 18,500 of them. From her vantage point at the helm of the premier global forum for young leaders, Robertson McKay has spent over a decade nurturing a powerful network of ambassadors whose projects have touched more than 50 million lives worldwide. At the organization’s recent Montreal summit, these rising stars gathered once again to share their visions for driving meaningful change, from investing in female founders to taking bold stands on critical global issues.
“Their dedication to creating positive change is truly commendable, and it’s a privilege to witness their game-changing contributions,” Ella Robertson McKay shared in a LinkedIn post.
How One Young World’s Ambassadors Are Chosen
One Young World builds its global network through a simple yet powerful approach: Every delegate who attends its annual summit automatically joins its ambassador community. The organization has created a network of more than 18,500 change-makers since 2010, with their projects touching over 50 million lives worldwide.
The group’s core strength comes from its coordinating ambassadors, who serve as regional representatives connecting local initiatives to the London-based headquarters. These positions, highly sought after by summit attendees, offer a two-year commitment with significant benefits: full funding for summit attendance, targeted leadership training, and management experience. Current openings span multiple territories, from the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe to the Pacific Islands.
Candidates must complete an application process by December 2024, including interviews for selected applicants, with successful nominees beginning their roles in January 2025. The volunteer program has garnered respect among major corporations and institutions, making it an attractive stepping stone for ambitious trendsetters seeking to broaden their impact.
Ambassadors Efforts Shine Across Globe
After One Young World’s Montreal summit wrapped in September, the organization released a video sharing the impact some of its ambassadors have been making.
From Ukraine to Sudan, these groundbreaking individuals are working toward solutions for climate change, food security, and more.
“We are innovators, entrepreneurs, activists, and peacemakers,” Roberta Avelino, a One Young World ambassador, declared in a video.
Avelino posted on her LinkedIn that she’s “Passionate about challenges, self-development, gender balance, innovation, technology, mobility, diversity, inclusion,” which are all facets of One Young World’s mission.
Noor Azizah, co-founder and director of Rohingya Women’s Network and a One Young World ambassador, revealed in a video, “We find solutions where others see problems.”
Azizah said she was “privileged” to become part of One Young World in October 2023.
“Among 6,000 young leaders hailing from 196 countries, each driven by a shared passion for instigating positive global change, I felt deeply honored to be selected,” Azizah stated. “The summit served as a crucial forum for shedding light on a spectrum of global issues, encompassing poverty, terrorism, health, business, and the profound impacts of climate change.”
Azizah said she feels “deeply honored to be selected.” She added that meeting with Hasina Safi, the former minister of women’s affairs for the Republic of Afghanistan, and Juan Manuel Santos, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of Colombia, were high points.
“During this transformative experience, I had the distinct privilege of addressing the audience from the main stage,” said the trailblazer, who was also appointed as a member of One Young World’s Indigenous Council and Global Security Council on Existential Threats in 2024. “Sharing my personal journey as a refugee and survivor of genocide, I focused on the Rohingya crisis, emphasising the urgent need for global intervention on behalf of my community.”
Delivering Humanitarian Aid
One Young World’s ambassadors hail from all four corners of the planet, and their influence has a vast reach. According to a One Young World video, its ambassadors have helped deliver over 90,000 kilograms (198,416 pounds) of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
“I have delivered seven ambulances full of aid and supplies through more than 15 personal trips to Ukraine,” David Barrett, a One Young World ambassador, said in a YouTube video.
Barrett also wrote on LinkedIn that he is “Honored and humbled to be recognized by One Young World for the work I’m doing to support those in need in Ukraine. It’s an incredible privilege to be included in their 2024 video of ambassadors in action, alongside so many inspiring change-makers making a real difference globally.”
He expressed his gratitude for One Young World “for creating a platform that empowers us to drive meaningful change. Together, we can continue to support communities in crisis and create a better future for all.”
As leaders like Ella Robertson McKay steer One Young World toward a more sustainable and inclusive future for all, she’s focused on “creating the next generation of more responsible and effective leadership. We get to work with the most inspiring young people from every single country in the world.”
