Diversity and experience are the hallmarks of the new leadership of the organisation that connects Commonwealth leaders from the Duke of Edinburgh’s CSC programs.

Chairman of CSC Global Alumni, Michael Wright, says the newly elected CSC Global Alumni board reflects the essence of the Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth represents 54 nations, including advanced and developing countries, that are home to 2.4 billion people working together to promote prosperity, democracy and peace across the globe.”

“Our new board reflects that amazing diversity, with directors coming from all corners of the world,” Mr Wright said.

The 10 new directors, including five women, were elected from Australia, Barbados, Canada, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“This is an extraordinary achievement that highlights the inclusive nature of not only this great organisation but the Commonwealth itself.”

“We are now well-positioned to provide ongoing support, connection and leadership development opportunities to our members – many of whom will play important roles in their respective parts of the Commonwealth as the world recovers from the COVID19 pandemic,” he said.

The AGM paid tribute to the four outgoing directors – Ashley Barratt, Leigh Cameron, ClaireYvonne Naisbitt and Nick Stubbs.

“We are deeply indebted for the contributions these alumni made to this organisation in getting it to the stage we are now – we would not be here but for their guidance, counsel and indeed hard work,” Mr Wright said.

CSC Global Alumni was established in 2019 made up of alumni from all Commonwealth Study Conference and related programs across the Commonwealth.

THE NEW BOARD

Alex Amolloh – Kenya * Sarosh Batliwalla – Australia * David Bynoe – Barbados * Justin Chinyanta – Zambia * Dr Ilka Dunne – South Africa Atalua Falekaono – Tonga *

Ian Govendir – UK Traci Houpapa – New Zealand * Shalini Kamath – India * Alpna Khera – India * Samukeliso Khumalo – Zimbabwe * Peter Laurent – Australia Caroline Marsh - UK

Julie Overton – Australia Dr Firoz Patel – UK   John Thompson – Australia Hanaa Wong Abdullah – Malaysia Michael Wright – Saudi Arabia Gary Yee – Canada *

* new directors

Counsel: Dr Chris Hartley

Dear CSC Global Alumni family,

It’s been a busy year or two and despite having achieved some early wins there is still so much more ahead of us.

Thank you to everyone who has had input so far.

Post our formal AGM on the 8 February 2021, the CSC Global Alumni Board will be hosting a strategy dialogue session.

In this session we hope to hear from you on how best we can Join Dots and Build Bridges for the future of the CSC Global Alumni community. The primary questions we want to answer are:

1. What? 
2. So what? 
3. What now? 
4. What should we be focusing on in the coming year? 
5. Why is this important? 
6. What is the obvious next step?

In order to give you some context to the conversation we are including a link below to a variety of presentations that were done for an HRH event late last year. They provide great insight into what our alums are doing around the world and are a good start towards considering the landscape in which we can already join dots and build bridges.

To join our conversation please register here:

https://www.cscglobalalumni.com/event-4096340

We look forward to an engaging and stimulating conversation on the 8^th February.

Warmest regards,

The CSCGA Board

Friends and colleagues, greetings! I trust this finds you and your families safe and well wherever you are in the Commonwealth or indeed across the world.

The end of year is a time for us to pause and to reflect.

COVID has put the spotlight firmly on the things that matter: our family, our friends, our community and our planet.

One of the big lessons for me from COVID has been the ability to invest in ourselves - to find ways to be the best version of ourselves.

And I'm really proud that CSC Global Alumni offers that opportunity.

The CSC Global Alumni provides us with a really unique opportunity... and that is to collaborate with one another and with people from all across the Commonwealth.

We were able to very quickly pivot and change direction into the digital space when we realised we weren't going to be able to physically come together.

That's provided further opportunities to engage with one another.

One of the things we realised was that we've increased our level of engagement and our aspiration in 2021 is to take it to another level.

But it needs you.

You're the missing link.  

In February of 2021, the board will meet for its annual general meeting.

Over the coming weeks, you'll receive some communication from my colleagues on the board inviting you to consider how you might re-engage or even engage with CSC Global Alumni.

Seasons Greetings and take care.

Michael Wright, Chairman

[Click here for Michael's full message]

At least 60 CSC alumni joined a webinar to brief our President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on the future of the Commonwealth Study Conferences.

Participants came from 17 countries across the Commonwealth:

Australia, Barbados, Burundi, Canada, Fiji, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Africa & UK.

Six groups of alumni presented ideas and recommendations about the future of the CSC, which began by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956.

The "pioneering spirit" of CSC global alumni was noted along with the importance of the alumni connections, particularly during the tough times being experienced across the world due to the COVID pandemic. 

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Global Leadership Series, a forum featuring distinguished alumni from across the Commonwealth.

CSC Global Alumni Chairman, Michael Wright, says he's excited by the initiative.

"We are continually looking for ways that we can add value for all alumni and facilitate important connections amongst this impressive group of people.

"The Global Leadership Series is a chance to tap into the experience and knowledge of some of the most distinguished alumni from across the Commonwealth," Mr Wright said.

The first speaker will be a former Australian Government Minister and now high profile businessman, Warwick Smith AO.

The online event will be held in October.

DATE: 26 October

TIME: UTC+1000

The series will promote global thought leadership on salient leadership issues to a global public audience.

Attendance at the events is open to all alumni of CSC programmes and their guests with Fellows (paid members) given priority access to the speakers for questions and networking.

The events are an opportunity to reconnect, network, listen and learn from prominent Commonwealth leaders and CSC alumni and for us to engage with potential corporate and programme partners.

We'd like to wish our President, HRH The Princess Royal, a very happy birthday.

  

We have heard your feedback and we are embarking on a new series events to bring alumni together in the study conference groups.

The series is called Re-CONN+CT.  

Given the current social-distancing environment, these events will also be conducted online.  The big advantage is that we will be able to bring more people together at the same time, and save time and money.

The first event will bring together participants in the 2015 CSCLeaders Commonwealth Study Conference.  You can register here

To help us find all those alumni whose details are out of date, please find any photos you might still have from our programme and post them on our social media platforms:

  

Please also use the hashtags:

• #RememberWhen 
• #TagAnAlumni 
• #CSCGlobalAlumni 
• #ConnectingCommonwealthLeaders

Please get in touch if you'd like to host a Re-CONN+CT session and we'll help facilitate and support you!

CSC Global Alumni is the organisation that brings together all alumni from CSC and related programs. 

As we grow and develop, we are keen to hear your views about what you want from CSC Global Alumni - after all, we are set up by alumni for alumni.

This survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

Please click here.

We believe that the real task of leaders is to create more leaders and as such we seek to provide opportunities for:

·        connecting with new and reconnecting with old friends

·        creating space for helpfully disruptive experiences

·        finding magic in the mix of our diverse backgrounds, histories, perspectives and interests

·        generative dialogue that seeks to build community both inside our group and within our projects

·        tapping into the wisdom in all of us

·        testing our ideas in a safe space

·        building our network for future possibilities

·        making our circles bigger

We uphold the Chatham House Rule enabling a safe, equitable and just space for dialogue that makes a difference. Through this we believe that we can make the Commonwealth a better place for all.

We thank you for taking the time to complete this short survey.

CSC Global Alumni has launched a major campaign to re-connect with long lost alumni.

Board members are personally reaching out to alumni who've taken part in Commonwealth Study Tours going back to the 1980s. 

CSC Global Alumni is THE organisation established to connect Commonwealth leaders who've taken part in CSC and other related programs.

Our aim is to facilitate these important connections and be a powerful force for good in a world.

We ask that you:

1. Spread the word to your own friends and colleagues who took part in your study tour, no matter how recent or far back it was

2. Connect on our social platforms - Twitter, Facebook & Linked

3. Register on our website (www.cscglobalalumni.com/join-us)

We hope we can create lasting and meaningful connections with the thousands of alumni that are out there.

 

As Covid-19 has taken hold around the world we, as leaders, are grappling with uncertainty, complexity and confusion unlike anything we’ve known before.

But how do you lead your organisation in times of fear and panic, deliver to your community when everything is uncertain, hold things together when it feels like it’s falling apart?

As a community of Commonwealth leaders, CSC Global Alumni will be hosting regular small group CONN+CT sessions.

These sessions are NOT presentations with more advice on Covid-19. After all, what we are dealing with now is unprecedented so it’s safe to say that no one has the right answer. 

Instead these sessions aim to bring the best qualities of the CSC Leadership programmes you have all attended; providing safe, non-judgmental spaces where leaders can discuss their challenges, find support and feel connected.

Visit www.cscglobalalumni.com to book a spot at one of our upcoming sessions.