The UNESCO International Centre for the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves is a partner of the 2018´s EFI’s Young Leadership Programme – Mediterranean edition (YLP-MED). EFI is the Barcelona-based European Forest Institute and through YLP-MED it provides training, knowledge sharing and networking on Mediterranean forest-based value chains and their contribution to a circular bioeconomy. Young professionals will interact with global and regional leaders, network with peers and develop strategic thinking on how to manage and use forest resources to address societal challenges. To launch the YLP-MED, EFI is organising an open seminar, "The role of leadership in times of transformational change: reflections on the bioeconomy" with two renowned keynotes to reflect on the importance of leadership for a sustainable bioeconomy. Esko Aho, former Prime Minister of Finland, and Xavier Marcet, President of Lead to Change, will stimulate discussion alongside Spanish and Catalan government representatives and EFI Director, Marc Palahí. The Opening Event will be held on the morning of 26 November in the Francesc Cambó Auditorium at the historic Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, in Barcelona, Spain. The YLP-MED will take place from 26 November to 1 December 2018, also at the Sant Pau Site, where EFI has its Barcelona Office.