Panelists present to the students their experience as a leader and life principles that have guided their success.
The purpose of the forum is to connect this generations leaders with the next generation of leadership.
The forum was established in 2013 and is facilitated by the not for profit organisation ‘Kingdomworks’ in conjunction with Newcastle City Council’s Lord Mayor’s Office. Each year the panel has included the Newcastle Lord Mayor and guests that are leaders in their field of sports, business, services or education. Panelists present to the students their experience as a leader and life principles that have guided their success.
2018 Panelists
PANELIST 1. LORD MAYOR OF NEWCASTLE: Cr. Nuatali Nelmes
Nuatali Nelmes: was elected Lord Mayor of Newcastle in November 2014. In September 2008 prior to becoming Lord Mayor, Nuatali was a Councillor on Newcastle City Council, involved with grassroots community activism. Nuatali works openly and cooperatively with the community to position Newcastle as Australia’s most sustainable city.
She is married with three children and was born and bred in Newcastle.
PANELIST 2. FOUNDER OF IPROWD & NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL AMBASSADOR: Peter Gibbs
Peter is the founder of the Indigenous Police Recruiting Our Way and Newcastle City Council Ambassador. IPROWD is a specialist program to assist Aboriginal people to gain entry to the NSW Police Academy at Goulburn which is the first step to becoming an officer in the NSW Police Force.
http://www.iprowd.tafensw.edu.au/
How Death in Custody became Catalyst for IPROWD
PANELIST 3. SISTER DIANA SANTLEBEN
Sister Diana Santleben was born in 1948, the second eldest of five children, and grew up in the inner western Sydney suburb of Strathfield. The Santlebens poured their earnings into their children’s education. Young Diana went to a school run by the Dominican nuns, Santa Sabina. She was so inspired by them Di decided she too would join the order.
When it comes to social justice and education, Sister Di is not just an observer. She travelled overseas as a representative for the organisation Action for World Development, she taught in schools, including at Corpus Christi, Waratah, and worked with the deaf as an advocate.
“Why do I care about refugees?,” she says…“It’s not about refugees, it’s about basic justice and humanity, it’s the same thing anyone should fight about, we should all be outraged.”
In 2016 Sister Di established Zara’s House, a centre in Jesmond where refugee women can meet, make friends and share skills. Now she wants to establish a school, particularly for several dozen Afghan women. She has done a survey among recent arrivals from Afghanistan and estimates 80 per cent of the women can’t even read or write their own name. She is hopeful of having the school operating by late this year.
“You’ve got no idea of the look on these girls’ faces when you start talking to them about it,” Sister Di smiles. “It’s a dream come true. Sister Diana received the Newcastle Citizen of the Year award on Australia Day 2017 in recognition of her work with refugees and Zara’s House.
Student Leadership Forum Information
2017 Panelists
LORD MAYOR OF NEWCASTLE: Cr. Nuatali Nelmes
NSW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: Hon. Paul Green MLC
CEO BURN BRIGHT: Andy Skidmore
2016 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr,Nuatali Nelmes
Hunters Surf Life Saving Chief Executive Officer Rhonda Scruton
Group Captain David ‘Budgie’ Hombsch, CSC
2015 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr,Nuatali Nelmes
CEO Tim Pickles
Air Commodore Steve ‘ZED’ Roberton AM
Chief Inspector Dean Olsen.
2014 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr Jeff McCloy
Tennis Legend Margaret Court
St Philips Senior School Head Teacher Jamie Fahey
2013 Panelists
Lord Mayor Cr Jeff McCloy
State MP Tim Owen
Olympian Duncan Armstrong
