On Tuesday 10 October, eight Year 11 students attended the Empowering Young Women’s Leadership Masterclass held at Southern Cross University. As we were left inspired and motivated, we were honoured to hear from so many phenomenal masterclass speakers who shared their experiences, wisdom, and insights. Among them were Sheree Young, the CEO of Body Science International and the Gold Coast Woman in Business of the Year for 2022, as well as Samantha Reynolds, who not only won the Department Head of the Year and Teacher of the Year at the Australian Education Awards but is also an entrepreneur and owner of Braeside Estate. These talented women shared their journey as leaders and left us with valuable life lessons of adopting an agile mindset; Failing forward is the key to progress. - Samantha Reynolds.

Karen Phillips, the Executive Director of Women in Business Australia, highlighted the importance of female leadership in the business world and the opportunities that await young women. Perhaps the most awe-inspiring of all was Lisa Blair, who holds the record of being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop, and unassisted around Antarctica on her yacht, Climate Action Now. While Lisa set off to achieve a world record, she also collected important data on ocean health and climate change along the way to benefit Southern Cross University's Climate action program: ‘There is no planet B’.

On her next attempt at a world record, students who attended the workshop will find their sticky notes with what they do to help the environment on her yacht. Lisa encouraged our students to challenge perceptions and break free from self-imposed limitations. Her advice on embracing change and to seek help when needed, left an indelible mark on the audience.

In addition to the incredible speakers, the event offered an invaluable opportunity for networking. Our students engaged in one-minute conversations with other invited students from various schools, forging connections and discovering common ground. A.B. students left the event with a newfound sense of empowerment and a commitment to embracing leadership roles in their future endeavours. Their vision, resilience and empathy inspired us all. Despite the challenges and barriers, their voices inspired, their actions empowered, and their leadership paved an exciting light of new opportunity we can share in our own leadership journey. The Empowering Young Women's Leadership Masterclass was a resounding success, equipping our Year 11 students with the knowledge and inspiration they need to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Cate Ellwood | 2024 College Leader for Year 7-9 &
Tori Adamson | 2024 College Leader for Interact Senior