The Young Leader Summit tackles today’s pressing issues in sustainability
Singapore – August 2021.
The Young Leader Summit (youngleadersummit.sg) is a 6-month intensive programme that tackles the most pressing environmental and sustainability issues of today. The initiative is of the students, by the students, with a backbone of support from senior government, business, and academic leaders. This year, the aim is to provide an actionable set of recommendations to the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, giving young leaders a platform to design their future.
Joining the Young Leader Summit 2021 are a diverse, talented group of students from 6 schools in Singapore: Anglo Chinese Junior College, Dulwich College, Hwa Chong Institution, Raffles Institution, Tanglin Trust School, and United World College. Since the launch on 26th March, these students have been pumping out creative ideas and creating powerful and impactful exchange with leaders of the Government, Business and Academia.
“This is a classic example of how co-creation and bottom-up initiatives can help us reach our target in 2030,” said Desmond Tan, Minister of Sustainability and the Environment, at the 26th March Launch Event. Mac McKenzie, Executive Director of the Bridge Institute, added that “Our biggest hope for this is - we help all of you on your journey to becoming societal leaders”.
The structure of this programme is formulated to enhance design thinking and agile methodology, by working in 3 Sprints. Healthy competition between the 5 streams, Reimagining – Consumption, Corporate Purpose, Education, Infrastructure, and Living, ensues after each Sprint at the Milestone Events. So far, Sprint 1 has been successfully concluded with the First Milestone Event where students presented their big ideas to a 5-person judge panel comprising Carrie Tan (Parliamentarian, People's Action Party), Dr. Lynette Cheah (Associate Professor, Singapore University of Technology and Design), Matthew Tan (Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University), Ng Wee Wei (Country Managing Director, Accenture), and Dawn Lim (Head of Commercial and Professional Services, Singapore Economic Development Board). Georgie Passalaris, Lead of Impact Measurement and Management, World Economic Forum, graced the event as the Guest of Honour. “I enjoyed being one of the judges at the first milestone of the Young Leader Summit. It was a delight and an inspiration to hear the awesome ideas from the students who are part of this innovative program,” said Carrie Tan. “They addressed very relevant sustainability themes such as fast fashion, public transport, migrant worker dorms, education, and corporate purpose, which are at the heart of Singapore’s Sustainability vision. These ideas can help us Singaporeans realise the future set out by the Singapore's Green Plan 2030, with the help of these students and their peers.” “It was a great pleasure being part of the First Milestone Event. As a judge, I find inspiration from these young leaders, who are taking responsibility to redefine and reimagine this world - their home. I'm excited to see the new era of changemakers”. “I am looking forward to the successful completion of the uniquely designed program and the great ideas that the students birthed through it. Sustainable development is a very important issue that needs to addressed, keeping in mind both today and the future,” said Matthew Tan. “There is no better way to achieve that than through the cooperation and collaboration between youth, academia, and public and private sectors. It was a privilege to be part of this journey”.
Sprint 2 is ongoing with the Second Milestone Event just around the corner, to be held on 28th August. Teams have been assigned esteemed government representatives to empower their voices and guide their policy proposals. On the event day, teams will present their implementation plan and proof of concept. Looking forward, Sprint 3 will be purposed around refining solutions and aligning plans to the SG Green Plan 2030, as well as Sustainability Development Goals.
The program is currently in its 4th month, and the students have already brainstormed and narrowed down their ideas. Here’s what the students from each of streams have ideated so far:
• Reimagining Consumption: Introducing raw materials and waste reporting regulation, a one-stop digital platform and a sustainable fashion culture.
• Reimagining Corporate Purpose: Implementing "The Green Singularity" strategy to accelerate adoption of sustainability by SMEs.
• Reimagining Education: Incorporating micro-credentials and work experience into the secondary school curriculum.
• Reimagining Infrastructure: Introducing a personalized commute app, autonomous buggy, and a mileage scheme.
• Reimagining Living: Improve water, heat and electricity management, as well dormitory living conditions.
“The Young Leader Summit has been such a great practical learning opportunity and has allowed me to face various challenges head on,” said Shreya Mawandia, a student participant representing UWCSEA. “I’m also very grateful for the friends I have made through the program and am very excited for the rest of the program. What will be most fulfilling is when our proposals get adopted by the relevant government ministries. Now, that’ll help shape a brighter future for all of us”.
The Young Leader Summit has been created to empower future generations in a world where climate change and environmental degradation have so tangibly affected our lives. Bringing about a paradigm shift in youth towards their outlook on Consumption, Corporate Purpose, Education, Infrastructure and Living, will instil cardinal values of sustainability in the leaders of tomorrow for a brighter future.
For more information on The Young Leader Summit, please contact info@youngleadersummit.sg
