In November 2024, a group of 19 WLI alumni (including men and women from five Pacific countries) completed a transformative week-long ‘residential leadership intensive’ in Tharwa through the 2024 WLI Leadership Lab.
The Pacific leaders came together on Ngunnawal country on the edge of the Namadgi National Park for an immersive learning experience designed to help them understand and address their own unique leadership biases and challenges.
The intensive week was part of the six-month Leadership Lab program empowering Pacific leaders to build skills, networks and knowledge needed to mobilise positive change in their communities.
Participants of the residential leadership intensive (who are LeadershipConnect and Women’s Developmental Leadership Program alumni) described it as “eye opening”, “inspiring”, and “the highlight of my WLI journey”.
The Leadership Lab is a program designed to support Pacific-based men and women WLI alumni to adapt and apply their leadership learning to their own career paths, cultural backgrounds, and change goals, enhancing their ability to drive impact within their communities.
The program blends adaptive and ontological leadership approaches and empowers participants to mobilise others, achieve greater self-awareness, and stay focused on challenges they care about. It fosters principles of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion.
Over six months, participants undergo a range of learning experiences, including individual coaching and peer consultation, to boost their ability to diagnose complex issues, foster strategic action, and develop adaptability in real-time.
In 2024, 19 men and women alumni of WLI's developmental leadership programs were selected to participate in the Leadership Lab.
The 2024 WLI Leadership Lab residential leadership intensive (4 – 10 November 2024) took place in the remote bushlands of Tharwa in Australia’s Capital Territory. During the week, participants also visited Australian Parliament House to ground their experiences within a broader political and social context.
Featuring a blend of structured workshops and group sessions, the week focused on leadership ‘from the inside out’, fostering connection and reinforcing key concepts learned throughout the six-month program.
The aim of the residential leadership intensive was to both provide participants an opportunity to consolidate and expand their leadership skills and knowledge in a safe face-to-face group environment, and to build a robust network of support – with each other and expert facilitators.
Each day began with reflective exercises, such as Chi Kung, and was followed by sessions and discussions on identifying leadership challenges, understanding systemic dynamics, and addressing biases.
These involved participants exploring evidence-based theories from neuroscience, ontology, and group dynamics to analyse their roles, values, loyalties, and biases in facing complex leadership challenges.
Participants also practiced techniques for identifying unconscious assumptions, addressing personal blind spots, and expanding their capacity for effective intervention.
For Tonga Fire and Emergency Services Fire Commander and LeadershipConnect Alumna Vika 'Unga, the residential leadership intensive provided valuable time for reflection on her leadership journey and her goals for driving change back home.
A Master of Public Administration graduate from The Australian National University, Vika shared, "This program has equipped me with the insights and frameworks I needed to enhance my effectiveness. One of the most eye-opening realisations was that leadership isn’t confined to formal positions; it’s about inspiring and mobilising change."
With experience in government and a desire to make a broader impact, Vika now feels more confident in her ability to build collaborative relationships in Tonga.
“I understand how to foster stronger relationships with those around me, because lasting change requires collective effort,” she said.
Similarly, Fiji Law Reform Commissioner and LeadershipConnect Alumna Raijeli Tuivaga found the week to be “truly enriching, empowering, and memorable".
Reflecting on the unique environment, she noted, “I’ve attended leadership retreats before, but they were always in conference rooms or hotels. Here, being in nature, away from daily distractions, provided an ideal setting for reflection and growth.”
For Papua New Guinean (PNG) LeadershipConnect Alumnus Jeremiah Ten, the residential leadership intensive was “the highlight of my WLI journey” so far – bringing deeper insights into the challenges faced by women across the region.
Armed with new tools and connections, the Master of Human Resource Management and Leadership (University of Queensland) graduate hopes to continue his efforts to break down barriers to women’s leadership in all spheres, including by having a greater say in shaping the national development goals of PNG.
“Resilient communication, engagement, and interventions with relevant stakeholders including the WLI community can break down these barriers,” Jeremiah explained.
Leadership Lab participants gain exclusive access to additional support and resources for WLI alumni returning home to the Pacific.
These include access to the Leadership Fund to address real leadership challenges in their own countries and access to professional development and workplace internship opportunities of their choice in Australia and the Pacific.
Leadership Lab participants and alumni also stay connected to and collaborate with the global WLI network of Pacific leaders through the WLI Leaders Hub.
