Speeches
Thursday, 24 October 2024
The Youth Governor’s Leadership Foundation Graduation Ceremony
Rod and I are pleased to join you for this Youth Governor’s Leadership Foundation Graduation ceremony. Helping to grow leadership in South Australia is one of my six priorities for my term and it is great to see how this program is progressing.
To the graduates: congratulations!
Completing this program is a significant achievement, and I hope you enjoy, indeed savour, this moment.
Graduations are both a celebration and an opportunity to reflect on what you’ve achieved, and on what lies ahead using the insights you’ve gained.
We all know the world is changing rapidly.
The program you are graduating from has given you skills, relationships and knowledge which will help you navigate these changes.
It’s given you tools to help you with communication, problem-solving, planning, ethical decision-making, and conflict resolution.
That’s a pretty good start.
In addition, I hope you graduate feeling empowered and more confident.
At many times in life we can experience uncertainty and self-doubt.
This may be true when we step into new positions, especially leadership roles.
These feelings are common. I have experienced them myself and I encourage you not to let them hold you back!
Yes, have an awareness of the areas that you need to work on, but keep on turning up and stepping up.
You were selected for this program because you have something to offer … because you have qualities that can be nurtured and developed.
In 2024, good leadership has various qualities, and they go well beyond traditional ideas about authority and control.
Good leadership encompasses empathy, resilience, self-awareness, a willingness to listen and to collaborate, and – of course - vision.
Yes, it may involve a measure of intellectual intelligence, but that must also go hand-in-hand with emotional intelligence and people-smarts.
A great program like this one relies on great people and great supporters.
Thank you for your vital contributions to this program.
I thank the Leadership Institute board members and staff.
I thank the mentors who generously provide their guidance to students.
And I recognise the vital contribution of sponsors.
Last but certainly not least, I thank the families, parents and carers of the students here today.
The contribution that all of you make is important – not just to the students but to our state, because better leaders create a better South Australia - and a better world.
That global perspective is important. This year’s program members were placed in groups according to the United Nations Sustainability Goals they felt most passionate about.
Goals relating to poverty, health and wellbeing, education and gender equality.
To the graduates, I encourage you to aim high.
Be proud of yourselves for taking this opportunity to learn about leadership and service.
In the years ahead, I urge you to keep on seizing opportunities, and to keep on stepping up to make a difference – in your families, your schools, and your communities.
Once again, congratulations, and I wish you all the best for the future.