Leading with purpose: How BIS Hanoi is paving the way for student leaders with a mission

Imagine a gathering of young leaders from across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and India? 122 students from ten different schools, all convening at the British International School (BIS) Hanoi. Their mission? To learn how to lead with purpose, not just for themselves but for the world around them.  

BIS Hanoi was selected to host the inaugural Nord Anglia Education (NAE) Regional Student Leadership Conference on 13-14 September 2024, an event dedicated to building student leaders who are as socially conscious as they are ambitious. The events focus on experiential learning and social impact was a deliberate move, orchestrated in collaboration with the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation. This partnership wasn't just about leadership; it was about fostering a deep-seated sense of empathy, responsibility, and action in these students.  

At the heart of this conference lay six foundational themes: empowerment, collaboration, inspiration, immersion, personal growth, and skill development. Workshops and talks were designed to broaden perspectives and encourage self-reflection. Among the featured speakers were notable leaders, including Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Nord Anglia Education, Shaun Williams, Regional Managing Director, Richard Vaughan, Principal of BIS Hanoi, and Mr Vi Do, the inspiring Founder and CEO of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. Each speaker hoped to spark the same passion for change within these young minds that had driven their own careers. The conference’s vision was clear: to give student leaders the tools to cultivate their abilities, form genuine connections with peers from other regions, and apply their skills to make a tangible impact.  

A unique approach to leadership: Learning through action 

The collaborative environment promised to open doors to fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, allowing students to return to their schools equipped not just with leadership skills but with a renewed purpose to serve their communities. One of the conference’s defining features was its immersive partnership with Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, a pioneering organisation dedicated to fighting human trafficking. This was not leadership training in a vacuum. Instead, BIS Hanoi and Blue Dragon crafted a hands-on experience that would have students applying their newfound leadership insights to one of the most urgent issues in the region. Grounded in research on experiential learning, the approach moved away from traditional classroom settings, offering students the opportunity to gain not only theoretical knowledge but also real-world experience in making a difference. The second day of the conference was to be a practical exercise, a team-based challenge in which students would design a student-led learning program me to raise awareness about human trafficking. The challenge required careful thought: how to involve whole school communities, how to apply principles of effective learning, and how to turn abstract ideas into a sustainable, impactful initiative. Students were to be provided with informational resources from Blue Dragon and given access to Blue Dragon representatives for consultation. By the end of the day, each team would present their plan to a panel of experts - a 10-minute presentation showcasing their solutions, reflecting on the past two days of learning, and receiving constructive feedback on their ideas.  

A stormy set back, but the vision remains  

But as the conference date approached, Typhoon Yagi made an unexpected arrival, sweeping away months of careful planning, anticipation, and excitement. The cancellation was a disappointment for everyone involved - students, organisers, and mentors who had invested so much in bringing this vision to life. Yet, BIS Hanoi remains undeterred. The school has already begun planning for next year's conference, carrying forward the momentum and learning from this year's preparations.  

With this foundation in place, BIS Hanoi hopes to welcome even more participants in 2025, bringing together another cohort of student leaders eager to learn, grow, and make a difference. For these young leaders, the journey may have been delayed, but the path ahead is still clear - a path that leads not only to personal growth but to meaningful change in communities near and far.

Chris Newman 

Head of Secondary