“How do we grow and protect the work of the Order?” This question was top of mind for me during the inaugural Global Leadership Development Program. The short answer: by behaving as a family.
Background of the Program
Earlier in 2024, St John International (SJI) announced its first international leadership program for 24 participants, representing various parts of the St John world. While many countries have their own leadership programs, this initiative aimed to help senior leaders develop a global perspective – critical given that international challenges differ from those at national, state, or regional levels.
Nearly 150 people applied, with over 50 submissions coming from Australia. Each applicant provided a written profile, a four-minute video, and a letter of approval from senior leadership. Given my roles in both Victoria and Singapore, I applied with endorsements from St John Victoria and the Priory of Singapore. I was fortunate to be selected in early September.
Although this is a nine-month program continuing until mid-2025, its cornerstone was a two-week residential program in the UK (November), where 23 participants met face-to-face for the first time. The group represented a broad geographic range, with the Asia-Pacific region contributing 12 participants:
- Australia: 5 participants (WA – 2, NSW, National Office, Victoria)
- Rest of Asia-Pacific: New Zealand (3), Singapore (1 – excluding me), Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Malaysia
- Rest of the World: Kenya (2), South Africa, England and the Islands, Wales, Gibraltar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ghana, USA, and the St John Eye Hospital.
Participants ranged in age from 28 to 57 and included both volunteers and salaried employees, bringing diverse life experiences and perspectives.
The Program Itself
The two-week residential component, funded by St John International, was divided into two parts:
- Upskilling leadership principles.
- Applying those principles to address key challenges facing the Order (Business Incubator Challenge)
While it might have been tempting to dive straight into problem-solving, it was crucial to first align on concepts and terminology. After all, St John spans 44 establishments (11 Priories and 33 Commanderies and Associations), each with unique community services, revenue streams, and levels of operational maturity. For instance, in WA, NT, and New Zealand, St John operates statutory ambulance services worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, some smaller establishments operate on budgets of a few hundred thousand dollars.Naturally the needs of each establishment is different, this goes for leadership principles & acumen. Therefore spending time to align on concepts & terminology was important to ensure no-one was left behind. Importantly, despite these differences, all establishments share the same mission: serving humanity.
Understanding St John International’s role was also pivotal. As the peak governance body, SJI operates similarly to the United Nations or World Health Organisation, providing guidance and direction through its Trustee Executive Committee (TEC). Leadership at this level emphasises influence and diplomacy – a nuance that had a significant impact on broadening my perspective on global collaboration.
Key topics of discussion during the program included:
- Volunteerism pre and post-pandemic and the evolution of volunteer management
- Rising costs of living and their impact on members and communities served
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion – recognising diversity in its many forms and the work ahead
- The relevance of the Royal Order of Chivalry in modern society
- Reward and recognition, including the unique use of Order awards to incentivise valued behaviours
- The role of cadet/youth programs
- The relevance of drill practice
- Bridging divides between volunteers and paid staff
- Embracing faith and inclusivity while honouring traditional Christian values
Many of these discussions occurred outside of structured sessions, fostering robust and challenging conversations that helped build strong relationships – a key program outcome.
The Business Incubator Challenge
Participants were divided into groups to tackle key challenges through a Business Incubator format. The challenges included:
- Enhancing financial sustainability in establishments while increasing mission delivery.
- Achieving consistent, high-quality standards of first aid service provision globally.
- Promoting understanding of St John’s role as an international NGO.
Each group presented its findings to the TEC at Chapter Hall at St John’s Gate. The shared challenges highlighted that the only way to grow and protect the Order’s work is through collaboration within the St John family. The Q&A on these incubator challenges included interesting points on partnering with organisations like the International Red Cross to amplify community impact.
Key Takeaways
- To protect and grow the Order’s work, internal collaboration across establishments must improve.
- Understanding where to compete and collaborate with local partners is essential for fulfilling our mission.
- being commercially-minded, as a social enterprise, is not a contradiction in terms. It is vital for sustainability.
- One of St John’s unique selling points, its Crown Order of Chivalry, is underutilised as a tool for reward and recognition.
- We want to behave as one at a global level, but there is much work to be done at grassroots level, where the divide between paid staff & volunteers continues to present challenges.
What’s Next?
Given the program’s success, SJI anticipates increased demand for future iterations. Establishments may need to prioritise applicants for senior leadership endorsement. Look out for details in the St John Review.
Credit to St John International & the Trustee Executive Committee for their vision and effort in launching this program. It demonstrates the power of unity and collaboration in addressing challenges and ensuring the Order’s future. The real test lies in how we collectively navigate these challenges moving forward.
It was an honour to represent both St John Victoria and St John Singapore in this inaugural group, and on behalf of St John Victoria, I proudly presented a Johnny Bear to the International Office and donated three signed books by Dr. Allan Mawdsley to the International Chancery. The Johnny Bear was a hit, finding a home on the Christmas tree (albeit just out of view in the Lord Prior’s 2024 Christmas message).
This article by Krishna Rajendram was initially published by St John Ambulance Victoria: https://intranet.stjohnvic.com.au/recap-of-the-global-leadership-development-program/
