CEO Update: Q3, 2025

Operational highlights for Q3 

Your quarterly inside track on the work of the World Scout Foundation from CEO, Mark Knippenberg

Renewed Messengers of Peace Funding and Additional Board Meeting in Riyadh

In September, the World Scout Foundation Board met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the occasion of the launch and celebration of a new chapter of Messengers of Peace. Board Members engaged in intergenerational sessions with Rover Scouts from Saudi Arabia and around the world who were participating in three days of training on youth leadership, peace education and innovation, and attended the launch held at the Ministry of Education on 14 September. 

HRH Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, our Immediate Past Chair and current Board Member, addressed both the youth gathering and the inauguration hosted by the Minister of Education. HE Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Minister of Education and President of the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association, commended Messengers of Peace as a global model for empowering young people and promoting a culture of peace. Inspiring impact stories from Scouts in Bangladesh, Niger, Palestine, Romania, and Tunisia set a powerful tone for the next decade of action.

 
We took the opportunity of being in Riyadh to hold additional important meetings. Nicole Gooderson, Deputy CEO,  and colleagues from the World Scout Bureau participated in an annual planning meeting with our long-standing and valued partners from Alwaleed Philanthropies. Board Members, including World Scouting’s Secretary General, David Berg, explored potential areas of cooperation and exchange with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre. We were also delighted to engage with new Young BP Fellows from King’s College Riyadh. Full web story.

World Scout Moot, Portugal

In August, we were delighted to participate in the World Scout Moot in Portugal. Together with Board Members HH Princess Sama Bint Faisal Al Saud and Jennifer Hancock, we hosted a lively reception and operated an interactive booth, connecting with prospective supporters and showcasing the impact of Scouting worldwide. The event created an excellent platform for outreach and engagement, resulting in the onboarding of 20 new BP Fellows, including five BP Fellows and 15 Young BP Fellows! Full web story.

77th BP Fellowship Event, Kuala Lumpur

Our 77th BP Fellowship Event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is fast approaching, and we look forward to seeing those of you attending soon. Final preparations are well underway with the invaluable support of our Board Member Dato’ Soo Keng Yeoh and the Scouts Association of Malaysia, including for the logistics and city security in view of the coinciding ASEAN Summit. 

All Event participants have been emailed requesting them to download our dedicated event app to enable real-time updates and changes, connections and networking with other BP Fellows, personalised schedules, access to detailed venue floor plans, and more! We can’t wait to experience dynamic Kuala Lumpur together! 

9th Honours Programme Field Visit, Tunisia 

We’re delighted to confirm that our 9th Honours Programme Field Visit to Tunisia, taking place 5–8 December 2025, is fully subscribed! Nicole continues to lead the planning in close cooperation with the National Scout Organisation of Tunisia to deliver a rich and inspiring programme for all participants. 

Our BP Fellowship 

During the third quarter, we welcomed 16 new BP Fellows, 15 new Young BP Fellows, and eight Members of the Honours Programme (both new and advancing through our Circles). 

In August, I had the pleasure of attending at the 18th European Scout Conference where I welcomed the opportunity to engage with BP Fellows present as well as staff and volunteers from the regional structures and European National Scout Organizations.  In September, we were delighted to bring together 65 BP Fellows and guests at two receptions in the USA, generously hosted by Board Member Darci Swanson and Life Board Member Margot Bogert. A special highlight was a surprise visit from our Honorary Chairman HM King Carl XVI Gustaf and HM Queen Silvia of Sweden at the New York reception! 

Mischa Rychener, Director of Philanthropy and I then joined several Board Members in New York for events on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where we connected with local BP Fellows. Board Member HH Princess Sama and Mischa participated alongside the WOSM delegation at several high-level events, advancing strategic partnerships and highlighting Scouting’s global contributions to peace and development. A key highlight was meeting HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, to celebrate the new Messengers of Peace agreement and strengthen Scouting’s profile in the Kingdom. 

Founder’s Heritage 

In September, we celebrated International Legacy Giving Day with outreach to BP Fellows and our wider network, resulting in several new expressions of interest in our planned giving programme. 

If you would like to explore leaving a legacy to World Scouting, find out more. We would be delighted to offer a personal consultation on how the Founder’s Heritage can help you align your philanthropic, financial, and personal goals while shaping Scouting’s future for generations to come. 

Institutional Fundraising

In collaboration with World Scouting, our team is advancing final concept notes for five funding priorities and currently has eight active applications under review across all Scout Regions. Three exciting opportunities are under development, all focused on multi-year partnerships to support youth leadership, innovation, and sustainability.

78th BP Fellowship Event – Sweden


Plans are well under way, with the strong support of Scouterna, Swedish BP Fellows and a great team of Swedish volunteers, for our 78th BP Fellowship Event, which will take place 7–10 May 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden.  
 
Registration is planned to open towards the end of November, firstly to Honours Programme Members, and then to BP Fellows. We understand that there is great interest in the event and will communicate more about the registration ahead of this going live. We must, however, be clear that only a fully paid registration guarantees a place at the event (not pre-arranged flights or hotel bookings). 
 
We look forward to welcoming you to celebrate Scouting’s enduring impact in Sweden’s capital and our Honorary Chairman!

Photo Credits: WSF; Pablo Cuadra Caro/World Scouting; João Pedro Orban