National Student Leadership Forum (Georgie)
‘A leader is a dealer in hope’
~ Napoleon Bonaparte
How to describe the fantastic opportunity that was afforded to me when the Arts Faculty sent me to the National Student Leadership Forum? Phenomenal? Insightful? Tiring? Fun?
The truth is, it is difficult to properly explain the amazing experience I had at the 2009 National Student Leadership Forum (NSLF) held in Canberra in September. But, I shall try.
The NSLF is a four day forum that brings together 180 young leaders from across the country and focuses on faith and values in leadership, or to put it another way, what makes great leaders tick. Held in the nation’s capital, the Forum is hosted by over 45 Members of Parliament and we were lucky enough to be addressed by both the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition. Yet there was not a great political focus. When Mr. Rudd and Mr. Turnball spoke to us, it was not of party policies and partisanship, it was of their morals, their upbringing and the reason they both strive to better Australia as a country.
We attended lectures on leaders and leadership and round tables with Liberal, Labor and Independent parliamentarians, but the true focus of the week was on small group work. Here we had in depth discussions on what our values were and were able to reflect on what it is that makes a truly great leader.
Servant leadership was also a topic around which there was great discussion, and this was put into action on the third afternoon when we engaged with the community through anything from baking scones and mending fences to giving free flowers and singing karaoke with the elderly.
The NSLF was inspiring, and not just because of the fantastic speakers and activities we were treated to, but because it was an event full of intelligent, creative and passionate youth committed to making the world a better place.
I would like to thank the University and specifically the Arts Faculty for supporting my trip to the NSLF, without which I would not have been able to attend.