Next Generation Leaders inspired by UWA Fogarty Scholars
Leadership and communication were the key skills identified and workshopped at the 2020 Fogarty Futures Leadership Conference earlier this month.
Forty-Four impressive and motivated young West Australian’s were invited to join the UWA Fogarty Scholars for a four-day conference at the Bickley Outdoor Recreation Camp, where they were inspired to explore leadership and entrepreneurial opportunities in their schools and local communities.
Students in attendance came from a multitude of schools and towns around Western Australia, including Narrogin, Albany and Christmas Island.
“The conference empowers the students, by providing them with the mindset and skillset they require to enact change in their lives and the wider community. We expose students to new ideas about social impact, ethics and global challenges, and encourage them to incubate ideas about how they can tackle these issues,” commented Wini Taylor-Williams, UWA Fogarty Scholar and 2020 Futures Co-convenor.
“Our long-term goal is to build a community of passionate young minds capable of advancing positive change in innovative and entrepreneurial ways,” she said.
Throughout the conference, students shared discussions with Professor Peter Klinken, Chief Scientist of WA; Professor Fiona Wood, plastic surgeon; and Tri Suseno, business owner, teacher and entrepreneur; among other inspiring and innovative West Australians.
The Hon Ken Wyatt, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Dr Anne Aly MP, Hon Peter Collier MLC and Hon Kyle McGinn MLC spoke to the students about various societal challenges, being a voice for the community and how they, even as young students, can have a positive and wide reaching impact.
“You don’t have to be a Member of Parliament to make change, you can make change in your everyday life,” Dr Anne Aly told the students.
“Knowledge is power. Become knowledgeable and then have your say,” Hon Peter Collier commented.
UWA Fogarty Scholar’s Haseeb Riaz, Elizabeth Knight and Hayley Winchcombe shared their experiences in developing initiatives and projects, while encouraging the young participants to have an enterprising mindset.
“While Futures promotes attendees to think big, action on a global scale starts at a grassroots, community level. With a social issue in mind, the conference focussed on how students can become more involved in community-based leadership,” said Lachlan McDonald, UWA Fogarty Scholar and 2020 Futures Co-convenor.
The Fogarty Futures Leadership Conference was initiated by the Fogarty Scholars Association in 2013 and has been convened by first year Fogarty Scholars every year since.
You can find out more about Fogarty Foundation and the UWA Fogarty Scholars by visiting https://fogartyfoundation.org.au/.
