Each year the Faculty of Business and Law sponsors students to attend the National Leadership Forum – Australia’s premier event for young leaders. Our most recent delegates reflect on their experiences at the 2024 event.
The National Leadership Forum (NLF) is a four-day conference in Canberra that brings young leaders together from around Australia to help them realise their leadership potential.
Each year, as part of its commitment to nurturing future leaders, the Faculty of Business and Law invites high achieving students to apply for funding support to attend.
Selection is highly competitive with applicants’ academic and extracurricular activities considered by a panel of Business and Law academic and professional staff.
In 2024, Riley Pitcher (Bachelor Commerce/Bachelor Property and Real Estate, 2024/2025 Deakin Commerce Student Society President) and Paul Ting (Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws, 2025 DUSA student president) were selected alongside Nathan Notley (Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws, 2024 Beta Alpha Psi President) who had been invited to return as a group facilitator.
In a packed program, delegates heard from business leaders, parliamentarians and other leaders throughout the event.
Learning from leaders
A highlight for Riley Pitcher was the gathering with political leaders in Parliament, where conference delegates were addressed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, The Hon. Peter Dutton MP, and other parliamentarians.
This was followed by a grand dinner in the Great Hall of Parliament House, featuring a keynote speech by former Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison AO (retired).
A ceremony at the Australian War Memorial continued the military theme and, for Riley, it underscored the values of service and mateship, aligning neatly with the forum’s core theme of servant leadership.
Servant leadership in practice
Service was a feature of Nathan Notley’s participation this year, having attended the 2023 NLF and being invited back in 2024 as a group facilitator.
‘Returning as a facilitator allowed me to practice servant leadership in real time,’ he said. ‘Being entrusted with mentoring a group of passionate, driven young leaders was an incredible honour.’
‘Each story reinforced the importance of active listening and meeting people where they are. It reminded me that great leaders are, above all, great listeners.’
‘Facilitating required me to balance guiding conversations, supporting participants, and allowing space for organic growth,’ he said. ‘It’s a delicate art that taught me as much as it hopefully inspired my group.’
Leadership with heart
For Paul Ting the experience was a ‘transformative deep dive into what leadership truly means.’
‘I’ve never seen a conference foster vulnerability, openness, and self-reflection to this level,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t about politics or resumes but about creating the culture we want to see in the world.’
‘Community and connection were the biggest lessons for me,’ Paul added. ‘I walked away with a better understanding of how to lead by example, inspire others, and stay true to my values even in challenging circumstances.’
Bringing the lessons back home
Through mentoring sessions, discussions and heartfelt stories of resilience and service, the National Leadership Forum 2024 explored the power of servant leadership.
Deakin’s participants found the conference provided a rare space for them to learn, grow, and connect with other aspiring leaders.
Nathan for example found that the forum renewed his sense of purpose and said he felt ‘a deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve the next generation of leaders.’
Grounding their leadership in empathy, integrity and purpose, these young leaders will use their experience to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.