Our first CSC Global Alumni AGM since being redomiciled in the UK was a wonderful opportunity to launch the next phase of CSC Global Alumni.
After a warm welcome and introductions, our Chairman Michael Wright shared the history of our organisation, our origins at Greenpark and the primary objectives of the organisation which is to pursue the following charitable purposes:
- Enabling alumni from commonwealth study conference (CSC) and affiliated programmes to connect with each other as a sustained network;
- Delivering a biannual global conference – or as directed by the executive – for commonwealth study alumni and affiliated programmes;
- Enable the opportunity for continuing leadership development and connection of all alumni of the commonwealth study conferences and affiliated programmes and support for future commonwealth study conferences.
He went on to share our recent activity, which was to ensure the redomiciling of the organisation from Australia to the UK. In the process we have established the CSC Global Alumni Community Interest Company (C.I.C), wound up CSC Global Alumni Pty Ltd (Australia), finalized corporate compliance obligations in Australia and transferred assets to the UK Entity.
He emphasized the importance of all alumni becoming members of CSC Global Alumni to ensure a solid foundation for us to grow our alumni activities, including future alumni conferences, the Global Leadership Series, membership workshops and local pop ups.
Our fee structure has been recently updated as follows:
The CSC Global Alumni fits into the Commonwealth Study Conference ecosystem as follows:
Vice Chair, Ilka Dunne then went on to share our recent progress, including our support of the CSC Canada 2023 Global Conference, including our pop-up reunion in Montreal in June 2023 (you can read more here: CSC Canada Alumni Reunion – CSC Global Alumni) and reiterated our support for upcoming conferences planned for India & Malysia, Australia, the UK and Africa.
She reminded attendees of the Global Leadership Series, which included past sessions on:
- Creating Sustainable Communities through Sport, Culture and Heritage hosted in Kenya with AMB. (Dr.) Amina C. Mohamed, ECH, CAV – Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage.
- The role of Banking and Finance in driving sustainable futures with Bill Winters, CEO Standard Chartered Bank and Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, The Sustainable Markets Initiative.
- The Commonwealth Games – Driving sustainable Connections and Communities with Jan Paterson OBE in conversation with HRH The Royal Princess.
- Education and Solving the Gender Leadership Gap with Australia’s former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and CSC Global Alumni Vice Chair, Dr. Ilka Dunne.
- And The Next Generation of Farming; a discussion with HRH The Princess Royal and a panel including Anna Nawa – Zambia, Sir Nico Bacon – The Royal Agricultural Society, Leona Watson – Canada and Kenny Eng – Singapore.
And went on to share insights from our last UK Pop up, entitled Leading in Complexity – Lessons for Leaders held in London in November 2023. For more info you can read about it here: CSC Global Alumni Pop up – London Nov 2023 – CSC Global Alumni
She reminded attendees of the Think Tank held in June 2024 which provided an opportunity for alumni to play a role in articulating a future vision for CSC Global Alumni and invited attendees to answer the following questions:
- What is most important to you when it comes to ensuring a powerful continuing leadership journey with CSC?
- What do you think CSCGA should focus on for the next 3 years?
- How could you contribute to CSCGA in order for it to achieve this vision?
Inputs from this session will be important in helping the new board to craft the next three-year plan. You can read more on it here: Reflections on CSCGA THINK TANK: 24 June 2024 – CSC Global Alumni
Michael then went on to share our newly unveiled website and some social media stats from our various social media platforms including:
- Website database: over 1000 members
- LinkedIn company page: 1190 followers
- Facebook: 164 followers
- X: 240 followers
- Youtube: 61 video uploads
He emphasized the importance of maintaining a focus on hosting our first Alumni Conference planned for Kenya, which was put on hold due to Covid. We wrapped up by thanking our retiring directors Dr. Firoz Patel and Sarosh Batliwalla.
Welcoming onboard our new Directors.
and our Special Advisors.
The new Board now comprises:
Taimoor Baig
Ilka Dunne (PhD)
Ed Greig
Michelle de la Harpe-Germani, RTCA
ALPNA Khera
Peter Laurent
Beth Lawton
Dr Elizabeth Mkoba
Hayden Montgomerie JP
Hamlet Nation
John Thompson
Michael Wright FRSA
Special Advisors:
Dr. David M. Bynoe
Francis Fitzgerald
Tim Ingram
Margaret Meafua
Sakina Mwinyimkuu
Peter Ptashko
Jevaughan Rhymer
Saurav Sharma
The new board will be meeting shortly for the first time to finalize board portfolios and to begin designing our 3-year strategy. Thank you to everyone who attended the AGM and look out for more updates soon!