A new cohort of 23 young leaders from across the Commonwealth has been selected to helm the international taskforce responsible for designing and rolling out the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF), which will take place alongside the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda. This diverse group of emerging leaders will partner closely with three key stakeholders: the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC), and the government of Antigua and Barbuda, to bring the forum to life. Key responsibilities for the taskforce include refining the event’s agenda, drafting youth-led policy recommendations, and coordinating critical on-the-ground logistics to ensure smooth operations.
Drawn from multiple Commonwealth regions and representing a wide cross-section of youth interest groups, the taskforce is centered on a core mission: pushing global policymakers to prioritize initiatives that drive inclusive sustainable development, shared economic prosperity, and targeted youth investment across the 56-nation bloc. Established in 2010, the CYF was founded to address a longstanding gap in global governance, ensuring that youth voices and concerns are not overlooked by national leaders ahead of CHOGM deliberations. Over more than a decade, it has evolved into one of the world’s most influential institutional platforms for young people to engage directly with heads of government and shape multilateral policy. The 2026 iteration of the forum is scheduled to run from 1 to 4 November in St. John’s, Antigua, carrying the official theme “Investing in Youth Agency—Co-Creating Pathways towards Shared Prosperity.”
Host nation officials have reaffirmed their full commitment to supporting the taskforce’s work. Senator Shenella Govia, Minister of State in Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Works and Housing and the 2026 CYF lead, emphasized the significance of the new cohort. “I’m pleased to announce the Official Commonwealth Youth Forum Taskforce; a team we are confident will design and deliver a successful forum that reflects the diverse perspectives of our Commonwealth youth and provide a meaningful platform for dialogue and action,” Govia stated.
Jennifer Namgyal, Officer-in-Charge of the Social Development, Youth and Gender Directorate at the Commonwealth Secretariat, highlighted the outsized role the taskforce will play in centering youth needs across the bloc. “We are delighted to be collaborating with the official Commonwealth Youth Forum Taskforce, an important team of young leaders amplifying the aspirations of the Commonwealth’s 1.6 billion young people by highlighting their innovations, elevating their solutions to global challenges, and providing a global platform for their voices to be heard,” Namgyal explained.
For taskforce co-chair Neema Sheikh Abdikadir Abdikadir, who also serves as CYC Vice Chairperson for Inclusion and Engagement and represents Kenya, the forum comes at a critical geopolitical moment. “At a time when young people are questioning multilateralism in the current geopolitical context, this CYF will enable young leaders and other stakeholders to build their skills and co-create solutions that will shape the future,” Abdikadir said.
Donte Walter, the taskforce’s second co-chair and the host nation’s representative from Antigua and Barbuda, shared his pride in taking on the role. “I am deeply honoured to serve as Co-Chair of the Taskforce, representing the voices and aspirations of young people in Antigua and Barbuda and across the wider Caribbean region. I look forward to collaborating with fellow leaders and stakeholders to deliver a transformative and impactful youth forum, one that unites visionary youths, strengthens meaningful engagement, and empowers emerging leaders with the resilience and capacity to shape a more sustainable and inclusive Commonwealth,” Walter said.
In addition to the two co-chairs, the full taskforce roster includes Shacia Albertine (Antigua and Barbuda), Stanley Anigbogu (Nigeria), Eleala Avanitele (Tuvalu), Selena E. Jn Baptiste (Saint Lucia), Byron Christopher (Antigua and Barbuda), Lucia Ene-Lesikar (Tanzania/United Kingdom), Fathima Haneekah Rahil (Sri Lanka), Deborah Hatten (Antigua and Barbuda), Kaiesha Joseph (Antigua and Barbuda), Kristine Louisa (Antigua and Barbuda), Bodh Maathura (Sri Lanka), Desrie Markham (Antigua and Barbuda), Rondell Nedd (Guyana), Arielle Neely (United Kingdom, Turks and Caicos Islands), Eunice Oluwafeyisayo Oladejo (Canada), Christal Percival (Antigua and Barbuda), Vida Betances Reyes (Antigua and Barbuda), Janet Simon (Antigua and Barbuda), Vikrant Srivastava (India), Makiba Oliveia Ward (Antigua and Barbuda), and Amelia Williams (Antigua and Barbuda).
Organizers project that roughly 300 youth delegates from across the Commonwealth will travel to Antigua to attend the four-day forum in 2026. Additional details about the 2026 CYF and the accompanying CHOGM are available through the Commonwealth Youth Programme, with further updates expected to be released in the lead-up to the event.