Imagine 23 strangers, representing 15 different countries, coming together for two weeks of intensive training, to prepare a presentation on a solution for a global business challenge. It may sound like the premise of a new reality show, but it actually describes the Order of St John’s first Global Leadership Development Programme. For two weeks in November and December, these 23 people from St John establishments around the world, including one from the Priory in the USA, were able to come together to share their visions for the Order of St John and its international work.
The program was developed over the last several years by staff at the Order of St John’s office in London. Secretary General Susan le Jeune d’Allegeershecque has led the effort to develop leaders in the Order across establishments.
The initial call for applicants was made in spring 2024 and described the program as “looking for passionate St John people from our international family, who are committed and dedicated to the St John mission.” The application process involved getting supporting letters from Priory leaders and creating a video explaining how the program would benefit applicants and their establishments. By the time the application process closed, there were many more applicants than spaces.
Those who were chosen represented nine of the Order’s 11 Priories: Australia, England and the Islands, Hong Kong, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the USA, and Wales. There were also staff members of the St. John Eye Hospital Group in Jerusalem, the Commandery of Western Australia, and the St John Associations of Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, and Gibraltar. It was truly a global representation of St John and the work being done around the world. Having served as a leader at the Priory level for a number of years, Dave Boven, CStJ, applied to the program and was accepted to take part. After several weeks of asynchronous pre-work studying leadership and management ideas, some early morning Zoom calls, and a good deal of reading, Dave was able to attend a two-week residential session in London in November.
The session in London brought all 23 of these developing leaders to share and grow together. It was an intensive period of workshops highlighting leadership theories, presentations from St John leaders around the world, and activities to get participants working toward a common
goal. The sessions were facilitated by the staff of St John’s international office in London with help from outside coaches and mentors. It was an amazing opportunity to learn from each other during sessions, but also over dinner in the evenings. There were chances to visit the Museum of the Order of St John at the historic St John’s Gate, to take part in a London St John Ambulance award ceremony at the Priory Church in Clerkenwell, and to speak to cadets at St John Ambulance meetings around London.
All of these efforts culminated in a challenging task set for the participants. Divided into four groups, they were asked to address problems facing the Order around the world, from maintaining high standards of first aid training internationally, to encouraging global coordination and communication, to filling budget holes in establishments large and small. The groups then presented their ideas to the Lord Prior and other members of the Trustees Executive Committee.
Being the first cohort of the Global Leadership Development Program, it is still difficult to say what exactly the legacy will be going forward. For Dave, it was certainly a chance to grow in his leadership skills. It gave him tools to take on greater roles in the Priory and in the Order more broadly.
But perhaps more importantly, it helped bring members of the St John family together from around the world. Making connections with people in New Zealand and Western Australia operating the state ambulance services, in Zimbabwe running the Order’s Mother and Baby Program, and in Malaysia building an amazing cadet program gave just a taste of what the Order does and who it serves.
Reflecting on the experience, Dave said, “Spending time with these people—being challenged mentally, breaking bread, sharing laughs, and seeing sites—helped forge lifelong bonds. We are all part of the St John family, but I really do feel that we built a new family.” As the Global Leadership Development Program continues and grows, it can only be good for the Order of St John to see new bonds being built. New partnerships and new initiatives will begin that will build capacity and help more people around the world to live out their faith by serving humanity.
This article was originally published in the Priory of USA’s December 2024 Newsletter: https://prioryusa.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/newsletter/Priory-Newsletter-2024-December.pdf
