Fellow of the Academy of Austere Leadership

Post-nominal: FAALead — Fellow of the Academy of Austere Leadership

Purpose

The Fellowship of the Academy of Austere Leadership (FAALead) recognises individuals who have demonstrated outstanding field leadership, operational planning, ethical decision-making, and a sustained contribution to the advancement of safe, effective, and adaptive leadership in austere, remote, and high-consequence environments.

This earned fellowship serves as a professional marker of distinction across sectors such as expeditionary leadership, humanitarian logistics, wilderness field coordination, and disaster response command roles.

Eligibility

Open to professionals from any sector with substantial field leadership experience in austere or expeditionary environments, including:

• Expedition leaders (mountain, polar, jungle, desert, scientific)
• Disaster or humanitarian response team leaders
• NGO field coordinators or operations officers
• SAR team leaders or incident commanders
• Outdoor programme or wilderness therapy directors
• Tactical, logistics, or multi-role field supervisors

First responders or non-clinical professionals are welcome, provided they meet leadership and fieldwork thresholds.

Fellowship Criteria (Points-Based Portfolio)

Candidates must submit a portfolio totalling at least 100 points, with minimum contributions in each of four domains:

Domain	Min. Points
Training & Credentials	20 pts
Field Experience & Leadership	30 pts
Contribution & Instruction	20 pts
Professional Development (CPD)	10 pts

 

1. Training & Credentials (20 pts minimum)

• Diploma in Austere & Expedition Leadership (DipAEL IAES): 20 pts
• Graduate-level course in expedition, wilderness, humanitarian, or leadership studies: 25–30 pts
• Military, NGO, or emergency leadership course: 10–20 pts (case-by-case)
• IAES short courses (e.g. Risk in Austere Ops, Field Comms): 2–5 pts each

2. Field Leadership Experience (30 pts minimum)

• 1 pt per expedition, deployment, or remote operation as leader or deputy (max 10/year)
• +2 bonus pts for operations in conflict, disaster, or high-risk contexts
• +5 pts for leading expeditions or deployments in 3 or more distinct austere environments
• +5 pts for managing 10+ team members or multi-team coordination

3. Contribution, Instruction & Innovation (20 pts minimum)

• Instructing leadership-focused courses (e.g. DipAEL, AAEL): 2 pts per course
• Development of training materials, SOPs, or safety guidelines: 5–10 pts
• Published articles, briefings, or case studies on leadership or safety: 5 pts each
• Mentoring emerging leaders or running team-building simulations: 1–3 pts/year

4. CPD & Reflective Development (10 pts minimum)

• Attendance at IAES-accredited CPD or leadership workshops: 1 pt per 5 hours
• Completion of reflective leadership logs, journals, or self-assessments: up to 5 pts
• Participation in leadership panels, webinars, or roundtables: 2–3 pts each
• Annual review and safety audits led: 2 pts each

Application Process

1. Portfolio Submission
   • Includes résumé/CV, point breakdown, supporting documents, and reflective statement on leadership philosophy and lessons learned
2. Peer Review Panel
   • Evaluated by senior IAES or Academy of Austere Leadership Fellows
3. Approval & Conferral
   • Recipients awarded the FAALead post-nominal, formal certificate, and listing in the IAES public registry
   • Fellows may be invited to mentor, instruct, or serve on review panels

Maintenance of Fellowship

• Must maintain Full or Life Membership in IAES
• Complete 20 CPD points every 2 years, including at least 5 in leadership-specific domains
• Comply with the IAES Code of Conduct and field leadership standards
• Subject to review in cases of professional misconduct or leadership-related negligence

Pathways Beyond FAALead

Fellows who go on to earn multiple IAES fellowships (e.g., FAAMed + FAALead) may be eligible for nomination to:

FIAES — Fellow of the Institute for Austere & Emergency Sciences,
reserved for those with cross-disciplinary excellence and leadership across IAES Academies.