What an incredible opportunity it was to spend time with CSC alumni in Canada for the 2023 Alumni reunion. Our theme for the reunion was Resilient Leadership in a Turbulent World and this provided a good platform for reflection and discussion. There is nothing that quite compares to engaging with people with perspectives from as far afield as Australia, Pakistan, Solomon Islands, Barbados, Canada, UK, Fiji and South Africa. Despite many of us meeting for the first time there is something about being a CSC alumnus that means it feel like a warm hug just coming into the room.
We began our time together with a keynote address from Cynthia Payne, CSC Australia, that focused on the topic Leadership under Pressure. This provided great food for thought as we considered how the global pandemic, AI, world conflict, social movements like #Metoo and #Blacklivesmatter and global uncertainty and crumbling economies were increasing a sense of turbulence and stress in the world. In this constrained context we noted how the leadership skills of adaptiveness, vision and clarity, communication, empathy, decisiveness, collaboration, learning, and authenticity became critical capabilities when leading change.
These insights carried through into our panel discussion with Cynthia Payne, Ben Almond, Spencer Dane and Wanda Wuttunee ably led by David McCredie.
Wanda reflected on how historically leaders had led by asking ‘what do we do?’ often moving directly into action. Her insight being that today leaders need to pause first to ask, ‘what do I need to do before I do?’ deeply considering how they themselves need internal alignment for authenticity. Her point, “What makes Wanda more Wanda?”
Ben challenged us on how easy it is for leaders to mistake being ‘connected’ with ‘connection’ and that it takes deliberate leadership action to build this connection, every day.
Spencer considered how in his visit to the Galapagos islands he’d learnt that it is no longer the survival of the fittest but rather the survival of the adaptable that allow leaders to thrive in complexity. He also expressed the deep wonder he felt on visiting Bhutan and getting a glimpse into how they are retaining a deep sense of their own cultural identity while introducing aspects of modernity into their way of life.
The highlight of the first day was very definitely the visit by Madame Sentenne, a 1962 CSC alumnus, who regaled us with stories of her time travelling across Canada by train as part of the 1962 cohort. Thanks must go to Aileen Rafferty for arranging this truly special conversation.
We also got to spend some time at SNC Lavalin hosted in their Lavalab, a dynamic innovation space. Thanks to Ben Almond and his amazing team who hosted us and are obviously deeply passionate about the role SNC can play in making the world as better place through engineering.
During our time together we experimented with some alternative processes for mapping our ecosystem which led to some interesting ‘ah ha’ moments and some great debate. Big questions that seemed to come up for all in the room were around ‘where is my leadership most needed right now?’ and ‘how do I become more proactive in bringing it to those spaces?’ This led to three key opportunities being explored; firstly, finding ways to rally people around real big problems, secondly, how alumni could be more deliberate around creating spaces for sharing and learning between alumni and thirdly ways in which alumni could contribute to future CSC conferences. In all of them there was a definite energy for the magic that is possible when alumni reconnect!
Spending time in the John Lennon and Yoko Ono room was truly magical. There was a real sense of connection just sitting on that iconic bed together. This led to some spirited singing, yes alumni know how to have fun together! Thanks, must got to Priya Dass for getting us started.
Saturday and Sunday gave us the privilege of listening in to the report backs from the 2023 delegates. What a roller coaster ride to feel like you have travelled the journey with them through their reflections and insights. This was followed by a joyful gala dinner with some spirited dancing!
What a privilege to partner with Agnes Di Leonardi, Daniel Boulet, Aileen O’Rafferty, Ian Anderson and all the other alumni who made this alumni reunion a reality despite all that was on the go in organizing the first global CSC conference in many years. Thank you all.
Some reflections from our alumni:
How wonderful that we were able to set aside time to connect and engage in a very relevant topic- Leadership for turbulent times. We gained a consensus view about turbulence from our many varied and diverse background – how sobering and unifying was covid to all our worlds. The creative expression in our group work enabled a deeper dialogue and encouraged each of us to tap into the often not used- creative element of our thinking and group work. I valued every single interaction.
For those of us who managed to stay on for report backs – this was a treat and a privilege to hear directly from each study group. For a first-time traveler to Canada, it opened my eyes to each of the regions the study groups travelled. It was also evident that the CSC experience we have each experienced was alive and well for the 2023 attendees. So much wonderful energy and clearly collective work to bring together the very creative and varied approaches to report back
As a chair of the Australian selection committee, it was beyond words for me to connect with them directly and with our Australian Alumni I plan to engage them back in home country to encourage them to do the same – plan to pay it forward to the next generation of alumni.
It was lovely to connect with each of you and for the chance to participate and contribute.
Cynthia Payne – Australia
It was a joy to spend some time with you all reflecting about our shared CSC experience and also thinking about the future.
The enthusiasm and commitment of the 2023 delegates was a reassuring reminder of the leadership qualities which exist in every country and which I hope will contribute to saving the planet and building strong people-centered communities.
I hope very much that for us and for the many others who could not be there, CSC Reunion activities will gather pace, perhaps in each country as well as internationally.
In the meanwhile, thanks for the opportunity to reconnect and I wish everyone the very best for the future.
Jeff Chandra – CSC 1986 UK Delegate
Honest, hopeful exchanges with caring alumni whose journeys differ and values converge – in person! – nourished and rejuvenated me.
Morah Fenning – Canada
It was great for me to meet most of you and as people have been saying hope we can all meet again.
Dr Mohammed Ali OBE – Pakistan
I think it is amazing to have been able to see how influential CSC is, not just in terms of the strength of delegates but of the strength of the experience that Agnes, Ian and the Canadian team put together for them. The strength of the Commonwealth is not bound by the Commonwealth architecture, but by the people who put in to make it come to life. For me as an Alumni, to be able to engage with the Alumni together for those days in Montreal was something quite exceptional for me personally. A much-needed reminder of what we can achieve together will always outshine what we can do alone. Indeed, I think the most often used quote in the report backs was “if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together.” We have that opportunity again now to stand on the shoulders of this conference to build on the strength of what has been provided to these new Alumni, but also of those of us from other experiences to build that next opportunity, to “pay it forward”.
The “why” of this has never been so clear for me – the “what next” is now just as important and I look forward to continuing to put my hand up to be a part of the ongoing renaissance.
From the event in Canada, it is clear that in the turbulent times that we are in and that will continue to face the world, being able to listen and engage with people from across the Commonwealth and across the world is only going to continue to grow in value. The CSC programs ability to provide participants with the opportunity to develop these skills to listen and learn about the challenges of others; engage in deep discussions with honesty and bringing their insights and perspectives into discussions on improving our world; and recognising how and supporting each other to take on leadership roles no matter who we are, or where we are, to make the changes that we want to see in the world. The networks of extraordinary people provide us with an extraordinary opportunity. As Alumni, we bear that responsibility. I for one am committed to playing my part in what’s next.
I look forward to seeing you all again soon- and working with you all on what is next, especially Africa and India, to make them the sort of success we saw in Canada.
Dave McCredie OBE – Australia
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make the alumni reunion, but I have the unique perspective of being in Banff for the opening. With hindsight, it was important for CSC Global Alumni to be present at the opening as well as the closing alumni conference.
In terms of my observations:
- The excitement and sense of anticipation amongst all the delegates was pulpable… they were already discussing meaningful ways to bring The Commonwealth closer together. I was particularly impressed with the diversity of the conference in all senses. It represented all that is good about The Commonwealth and highlighted the value it is as a force for good in the world – and don’t we need it right now!
- It was great to see and meet many of the Canadian alumni who were instrumental in designing the various study tours and then were to meet the relevant study groups on location.
- It was also great that a number of the key speakers were alumni themselves so were able to connect much deeper with the delegates – sharing their own leadership journey and the way their own CSC experience has impacted that journey.
- The organisation was outstanding! So many moving pieces yet, because of the experience and capability of all those involved, the operation ran incredibly smoothly.
On a personal basis with close Commonwealth CSC connections into Australia, Malaysia and Africa (as an alumnus of ELDA 2016 & CSCLeaders 2017), it was wonderful to see some familiar faces. As Chair of the CSC UK Organising Committee, it was wonderful to be able to meet the UK delegates in person, to connect them to each other and watch their own friendships and relationships grow throughout the two weeks. We are now planning a UK alumni get-together.
John Thompson – UK/Australia