Leadership skills polished at forum

Future leaders: (top left, clockwise), Samuel Tuitahi, Gerard Edwards, Vanessa Jackson, Lychun Kouch. Picture / Glenn Jeffrey

No challenge is too tough for Auckland's young leaders, who have proved they can organise a formal dinner party for over 100 guests only hours after sweating through a gruelling Army exercise.

A school leaders forum at St Cuthbert's College over the past three days has seen 116 head and deputy prefects brush up leadership skills and build networks.

The annual non-profit leadership workshop started six years ago and was run by a board of eight trustees who aim to inspire "Auckland's future leaders" to work as a team.

Trustee and event facilitator Carl Ewen said the workshop threw students "in the deep end".

"We believe if you throw people into uncomfortable situations they are forced to come together and work through them."

Lynfield College head girl Vanessa Jackson, 17, said: "The facilitators are trying to create a buffet of different [experiences] and let us take what we like."

The programme featured eight guest speakers from various fields.

An Army officer ordered Vanessa and her team-mates to do "20 push-ups and press-ups then stand up and do them again because [they] weren't fast enough".

Business consultant Cheryle Randall challenged their ideas of leadership by explaining the importance of delegating.

These important leadership qualities helped them carry out their duties at school, Aorere College principal Mike Williams said.

He said the prefects had the unofficial responsibility of helping teachers make sure the school ran smoothly and also had important official duties.

"They are really involved in our school assemblies," he said.

"They do a lot of public speaking too, particularly at prizegivings."

He said the forum helped head prefects share their experiences with leaders from other schools who faced the same daily challenges.

Glenfield College deputy head boy Samuel Tuitahi, 16, was inspired by this year's event.

"It was really good, words can't define what I've experienced here."

Liston College head boy Gerard Edwards, 17, originally from Liverpool, was particularly impressed by the wealth of original ideas.

The workshop taught at least one student more about New Zealand. Aorere College deputy head boy Lychun Kouch, 16, was from Cambodia, and said that after four years in the country, this had helped him learn more about his new home.