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Community Champions

Last updated: March 2026

  • Community Champions Mission & Mandate
  • Community Champions Responsibilities
  • Community Champions Annual Cycle
  • Project Showcase
  • Meet Our Champions 2025-2026
  • Community Champions Term, Selection Process & Eligibility Criteria
  • Community Champions Value Proposition
  • Community Champions Cancellation

Community Champions Mission & Mandate

Community Champions are the most trusted and experienced leaders in our network. Operating at the frontlines of our decentralized governance model, Champions support the Global Shapers Community development across 40 sub-regions by strengthening Hubs governance, accountability, and execution excellence, advancing institutional maturity at both local and global levels. They enhance the community’s multi-stakeholder value by guiding Hubs to build meaningful initiatives that deliver lasting impact and position Hubs as trusted youth actors in their cities. Through mentorship and cross-Hub engagement, they foster leadership development and a culture grounded in trust and collaboration. By leveraging the community’s global footprint, they connect Hubs, amplify best practices, and reinforce a cohesive, high-performing network. The regional Community Champions form our Advisory Group, placing support, knowledge-sharing, and key decisions directly in the hands of trusted members who understand the community from within.

Community Champions Responsibilities

Community Champions play a critical role in advancing the Global Shapers Community’s mission on the ground. As trusted leaders operating at the forefront of our network, they leverage their experience to strengthen Hubs, elevate impact, and foster a culture of accountability and collaboration. Acting with integrity and safeguarding the trust of all members, their responsibilities focus on the following:

  • Charter: Ensure all Hubs and members understand and uphold our Charter, values and standards, intervening when members do not fulfill community expectations.
  • Hub Governance and Sustainability: Support Curators and Hubs in their sub-region to establish strong governance practices, including distributed leadership, conflict resolution mechanisms and local charters, while guiding their development to ensure long-term sustainability and prevent Hub closures.
  • New Members: Track the total # of Global Shapers per hub and support Hubs in their respective region to achieve and maintain 20 active Global Shapers as per our Charter through annual recruitment.
  • Projects and Reporting: Support Hubs to deliver at least 1 Hub project per year that is shared on Forum Spaces and organize a yearly Project Showcase for their region in December.
  • Share Progress: Join regular check-ins with Global Shapers HQ to share sub-regional progress and learn about the latest community updates and priorities.
  • Meetings and Updates: Set up a sub-regional communication channel and organize frequent meetings with Hub Curatorships and members to share and solicit updates.
  • Newsletters and Liveshow: Promote the monthly Newsletter and Liveshow.
  • Opportunities: Promote opportunities including the Innovation Prize and other Membership Opportunities.
  • Hub Elections: Support Hubs with transparent Curatorship Elections process to ensure all Hubs in the region elect and submit new leadership teams before March 1st.
  • Annual Review: Maximize Annual Review responses.
  • Global Shapers Annual Summit: Contribute to the design and facilitation of the Global Shapers Annual Summit, and support the participation of Incoming Curators.
  • Retreats & SHAPEs: Support the design and delivery of SHAPEs and annual Retreats and ensure maximum representation and participation from their sub-region.
Community Champions who are active Global Shapers are still expected to fulfill Hub membership commitments and activities.

These responsibilities come to life through a structured annual cycle, illustrating how Community Champions drive impact across the year from alignment and execution to leadership and renewal.

Community Champions Annual Cycle

🟢 PRE-TERM | March – June

Focus: Preparation & Transition Outcome: Seamless handover and full readiness for the new cycle Key Actions:

  • Accept nomination, register for Champions onboarding session & GSAS, plan one alignment session with your Community Manager before the Summit
  • Transition with outgoing Champion
  • Meet/greet incoming Curators of your sub-region before GSAS to offer support
  • Finalise takeover from outgoing Champion (documents, working groups, priorities)

🔵 Q1 | July – September

July–August: Foundations & Governance

Outcome: Alignment, relationships with new leadership teams & structure Key Actions:

  • GSAS: contribute to Advisory Group pre-summit meeting, facilitate leadership circles, meet your new Hub Curators at the regional sessions
  • Help Curators finalize their annual Hub roadmaps
  • Set communication channels & meeting cadence
  • Identify Hub strengths, challenges & decide on retreat hosts
  • Reimburse Annual Zoom Pro license/train tickets if any to GSAS
  • Encourage stellar members to apply to the AM27

September: Hub Development & Sustainability

Outcome: Stable, sustainable Hubs Key Actions:

  • Assess sustainability of all Hubs and assess the status of Hubs under review
  • Suggest Hubs with no visible progress for closure
  • Connect with Hubs that fail to meet minimum membership criteria
  • Support recruitment planning where needed (20+ active members target)

🟣 Q2 | October – December

October: Recruitment & Membership Growth

Outcome: Strong, diverse, engaged membership Key Actions:

  • Support recruitment campaigns
  • Monitor diversity & composition
  • Promote community opportunities if any

November: Projects & Reporting

Outcome: Visibility and accountability of impact Key Actions:

  • Support project documentation
  • Collect projects for showcase
  • Ensure participation across Hubs

December: Showcase & Recognition

Outcome: Celebration, learning, and momentum Key Actions:

  • Deliver Regional Project Showcase (see details below)
  • Highlight success stories & identify prospects for Innovation Prize
  • Encourage future Curatorship candidates

🟠 Q3 | January – March

January: Elections & Transition Prep

Outcome: Transparent and well-prepared elections Key Actions:

  • Support elections process & remind eligibility
  • Identify your successors if it is your last term
  • Promote Annual Meeting engagement opportunities
  • Recommend best projects from your region for the innovation Prize
February: Elections results submission

Outcome: Ensure completion and compliant submissions Key Actions:

  • Verify Election results submissions
  • Identify Hubs with challenges and poor leadership pipeline
  • Support interviews of your potential successor & share your progress with your CM

March: Leadership Transition & Hubs Review

Outcome: Strong new leadership + accountability Key Actions:

  • Finalise Hub evaluations & closure recommendations
  • Recommend Hubs for review
  • Prepare GSAS participation (logistics, readiness)

🟡 Q4 | April – June

April: Summit & Planning

Outcome: Alignment for next cycle Key Actions:

  • Support GSAS design/delivery
  • Assist Hubs spring recruitment
  • Recommend stellar Alumni to be showcased at Alumni Celebration session

May: Community Re-Energisation

Outcome: Strong engagement & visibility Key Actions:

  • Support retreats and end of year gatherings
  • Celebrate achievements
  • Make sure all your incoming curators are registered to the GSAS and know their role there

June: Reflection & Next Cycle Planning

Outcome: Clean closure & strong transition Key Actions:

  • Conduct end-of-cycle review (governance, membership, sustainability)
  • Ensure maximum participation of your members at GSC Annual Review
  • Make sure you have submitted all pre-approved expenses from retreats by the end of the month

All Global Shapers are invited to give feedback about Champions to the Head of the Global Shapers Community. Curators are also invited to share information about their experience with their respective Community Champion in the Annual Review at the end of their mandate.

Project Showcase

The impact Hubs are leading around the world is incredibly rich and varied. Projects are diverse in terms of the issues addressed and implementation strategies, each with their lessons learned and best practices. The Project Showcase is designed to help spread awareness amongst the community about the amazing work being done in neighbouring hubs and help Shapers build on each other's work and achievements by scaling successful projects and their impact.

Community Champions should organize one Project Showcase for their sub-region every year in December, with the following objectives

  • Provide a space for Shapers to share their projects, including impact metrics, key takeaways and recommendations.
  • Give inspiration to Shapers for project ideas that they can replicate in their city.
  • Ensure that Hubs do not have to reinvent the wheel and that members share best practices to optimise project planning and fast-track to implementation.
  • Help Shapers get to know other members in the region and connect local efforts for more collaborations.
  • Prevent the discontinuation of strong projects by building momentum and engagement of members from different Hubs around these projects.
  • Identify and elevate the strongest projects in each region by featuring them at global events such as Retreats, GSAS, and by encouraging Hubs to submit them for the Innovation Prize
  • Celebrate the end of the calendar year and the great work achieved in the region.

Coordinating a Project Showcase involves the following steps:

Before the session
  • Contact each Hub in the region and ask them to prepare up to two projects to present, prioritizing projects that can more easily be replicated or lead to cross-Hub initiatives.
  • Send a calendar invitation at least two weeks in advance of the session. All Shapers in the region should be invited. Hubs that do not have a project to present are particularly encouraged the join.
  • All projects that will be showcased must have a detailed and updated project description on Forum Spaces.
  • Ask Curators to prepare two slides one with key information about the project and the other with a picture.
  • If possible, share the compiled deck with Hubs and encourage them to have a look before the session. This will help members get a sense of the projects being presented and prepare some questions.
During the session
  • The Project Showcase is introduced by the Community Champion.
  • Each project lead has 3 minutes to present the project and 5 minutes to answer questions, for a total of 8 minutes per project (this can change depending on the amount of Hubs presenting). The link to the Forum Spaces project page is shared in the chat for more information.
  • Plan for a 90 minute session, or maximum 2 hours. This might mean that Hubs will only present one project depending on how many Hubs are in the region.
  • Plan for at least one break during the session. This could be in the form of a 7-minute randomized breakout for Shapers to get to know each other and walk around or stretch.
After the session
  • Send an email to Hubs thanking them for their participation with the Forum Spaces project page links of all projects showcased.

Meet Our Champions 2025-2026

North Asia
  • Greater China: Luona Cai (Shanghai I Hub)
  • Greater China: Fan Hongyi (Chengdu Hub)
  • Japan, Mongolia and South Korea: Yuma Sumi (Fukuoka Hub)
Asia Pacific
South Asia
MENA
Africa
Europe and Eurasia
Latin America
North America and the Caribbean

Community Champions Term, Selection Process & Eligibility Criteria

After five years of successfully running the Community Champions program, we have seen growing interest from members who want to step into this regional leadership role. To create a more transparent and inclusive process, starting in 2025, Champions will no longer be appointed exclusively through internal selection. Instead, members can apply year-round to express their interest in future vacancies.

Community Champions serve a one-year term, renewable up to 2 additional consecutive terms based on strong performance and approval by the Head of Community. Terms align with the Global Shapers calendar year, beginning annually on 1 July. Should a Champion step down before completing their term, the vacancy may be filled outside the usual cycle.

New pathway to apply the Community Champion vacancy (Effective 2025)!

When a position opens, all eligible applicants from that region who filled in the application survey will be reviewed and invited for a panel interview. If you would like to be considered for the Community Champion role in your region when a vacancy arises, please complete this survey and speak with your current Champion to explore this opportunity together. Before applying, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria listed below.

To be considered for the Community Champion role, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be an active Shaper or alumnus who has been part of the community for at least 2 full years (based on Forum Spaces account creation date).
  • Have held a key leadership role in their Hub, such as Curator or Founding Curator or have served on the Advisory Council in the past.
  • Understand and advance the mission of the Global Shapers Community.
  • Possess a solid understanding of the Global Shapers Community Charter, rules, and processes, and be able to navigate them confidently.
  • Have participated in regional or global gatherings outside their Hub (e.g., SHAPE, regional retreat, GSAS, AMNC, Annual Meeting), expanding their perspective on the network.
  • Be trusted and respected by peers within and beyond their Hub, and viewed as a role model.
  • Have 5-7 hours per week available to support Hubs or members in need.
  • Demonstrate strong delegation skills and the ability to mobilize the Global Shapers Network and neighboring Hubs to effectively support Hubs in need.
  • Demonstrate a strong sense of moral and professional integrity, with the ability to prioritize collective goals over personal recognition.
  • Demonstrate a genuine ability to empower, uplift, and inspire others, with a talent for recognizing and nurturing the strengths in people.

To ensure this role is given the time and attention needed, the following community members are not eligible for the role of Community Champion:

  • Founding Curators of Hubs opened less than 2 years ago
  • Curators, Vice-Curators, Impact Officers or Core Collaborators who will serve in their positions that overlap with corresponding Community Champion mandate

Community Champions Value Proposition

To achieve this ambitious mandate and recognize the efforts and time required for this role, Global Shapers HQ provides the following support to Community Champions:

  • Participation in the Global Shapers Annual Summit to connect with their respective Hub Curators and fellow Community Champions to advance their mission and mandate.
  • Regular touchpoints with Global Shapers HQ to learn more about the community's latest initiatives, policies, practices and tools to facilitate successful regional engagement.
  • Travel grants to support 1-3 engagement trips per year upon Community Manager approval (typically, a regional SHAPE event or respective sub-regional retreat) to achieve their goals and key performance indicators.
  • Mass-communications to regional members to enhance retreats, project showcase participation.
  • Reimbursement of an annual Zoom Pro License to facilitate virtual communication with regional Hubs (requires a prior approval by Community Manager).
  • Support with the design, facilitation and programme of sub-regional annual retreats.
  • Recommendation letters or references from the Community Manager are available exclusively to Community Champions upon request.
  • Priority access to available trainings and capacity building modules.

Community Champions Cancellation

If Community Champions are unable to fulfill the responsibilities listed above, they may step down by writing to their Community Manager. Alternatively, the Head of the Global Shapers Community reserves the right to cancel a Champion’s mandate in cases where a Champion is no longer seen as the member best positioned to represent the headquarters in their region or has compromised trust within the community.

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