St Paul’s College is pleased to acknowledge the participation of two Graduate House students, Emmanouil Vourvahakis (Master of International Security, Middle Common Room Secretary) and Simon Homsany (Juris Doctor), in the National Leadership Forum 2025, held in Canberra at the end of August.
Established in 1997, the National Leadership Forum (NLF) is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading leadership development initiatives. The annual four-day program convenes emerging leaders from across Australia and the Pacific region to engage in values-based leadership exploration, personal reflection, and dialogue with national figures. Co-chaired this year by federal parliamentarians The Hon Julian Leeser MP (Liberal Party, Member for Berowra) and Luke Gosling OAM, MP (ALP, Member for Solomon), the Forum provides a unique platform for participants to critically examine their leadership identity and capacity for service-oriented leadership. The participating MPs included the two Paulines The Hon Andrew Gee MP (Independent, Member for Calare) and The Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP (ALP, Member for Parramatta, Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy).
The 2025 Forum focused on values-driven leadership, fostering connection across diverse backgrounds and encouraging participants to reflect deeply on their personal values and leadership philosophies. Emmanouil and Simon joined small group discussions and plenary sessions alongside Members of Parliament, business leaders, and fellow emerging leaders. Notable contributors included Julian Leeser MP, Luke Gosling OAM MP, Andrew Wallace MP (former Speaker of the House of Representatives), and Senator David Shoebridge. Reflections from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley offered valuable insights into the lived experience of political leadership in Australia.
A central theme of the Forum was Servant Leadership—a model that places service, empathy, and ethical responsibility at the core of effective leadership. For Emmanouil and Simon, this emphasis resonated strongly with the values cultivated within the Graduate House community at St Paul’s College.
Their participation exemplifies the College’s commitment to nurturing leadership grounded in intellectual engagement, ethical reflection, and public service. We commend Emmanouil and Simon for their contributions and for representing St Paul’s College with distinction at a national level.
To learn more about the Graduate House and postgraduate opportunities at St Paul’s College, University of Sydney click here.
