Leadership Week is one of the most valuable weeks on the St Paul’s calendar – and this year was no exception. 

In the week leading up to Welcome Week, our student leaders and residential staff came together for leadership development, training, and planning – beginning with a three-day offsite retreat for members of the Middle Common Room (MCR), Students’ Club Committee and Junior Deans.

Annual offsite leadership retreat

This year’s retreat was held in the Southern Highlands – a peaceful setting before the busyness of the year set in. The retreat offered something unique: time to properly step back, connect as a wider leadership cohort, and reflect on what kind of year they wanted to build together.

The three-day program included sessions that reconciled abstract principles of ethical leadership with day-to-day application at College, helping students to think both philosophically and practically about their role as leaders in the year ahead. There was also plenty of time to connect through fun team activities and shared meals.

Leadership development continues back at College

On day three, staff and student leaders returned to College where they were joined by their Peer Support and Welcome Week leader peers. Alongside planning for the week ahead, the week continued at College with a packed schedule of sessions from College staff and specialist external providers on topics including mental health, ethical decision making, leadership as influence and more. 

Together, these sessions laid a strong foundation for our leaders — supporting their own wellbeing and preparing them to welcome and guide the students who would soon arrive through our gates in the week and year to come.