Knowledge Exchange

Special Event

2026 Senior Students Leadership Forum – Leading for Community Impact

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:15 - 16:00
  • In-person event
  • Language: English

Image from techfunnel.com

Event Details

Attendance is by invitation only.

This forum aims to provide senior student leaders with an immersive experience that goes beyond theoretical discussion. Through direct interaction with community members—including individuals with visual impairments—it seeks to foster genuine empathy and a deeper understanding of inclusive leadership.

The core objective is to translate the concepts of community service and social impact into tangible action. By engaging in meaningful experiences, students will be equipped with both the perspective and motivation to become proactive change-makers within their own communities.

By facilitating collaboration across different schools, the forum also aims to build a supportive network of young leaders. This platform will encourage the exchange of ideas, shared learning, and mutual inspiration among participants.

Furthermore, the event is designed to challenge and inspire both students and attending educators to rethink how inclusive policies and initiatives can be developed and implemented within their respective environments.

Ultimately, the forum serves as a catalyst for an ongoing commitment to building more inclusive communities, encouraging participants to carry forward the insights gained into sustained, real-world action.

Notes:

For any inquiries regarding this event, please contact BritCham Shanghai’s staff: yiwen.ling@britishchambershanghai.cn.

Agenda

  • 9:15 – 9:30 am | Arrival and Registration
  • 9:30 – 9:35 am | Welcome Remarks
  • 9:35 – 9:40 am | Opening Remarks by BritCham EDU Committee
  • 9:40 – 9:45 am | Opening Remarks by University of Southampton
  • 9:45 – 10:15 am | Keynote “The Power of Perspective: Leadership Beyond Your Own Experience” by Manbo Ouyang, University of Southampton & Kacci Kuang, Blue Sheep Crafts
  • 10:15 – 11:15 am | Workshop “Perspective Shift: Empathy, Inclusion & Leadership Workshop” by University of Southampton & BlueSheep
  • 11:15 – 11:25 am | Morning Break
  • 11:25 – 11:55 am | Keynote “Becoming the Bridge: Shaping Your Future as a Global Citizen in a Connected World” by Becty Yan, United Media Solution
  • 11:55 am – 12:00 pm | Short Break

 

  • 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Lunch and Networking
  • 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Workshop “Guiding with Empathy” by WildChina Education & Polar Lights
  • 2:00 – 2:30 pm | Keynote “Homelessness in China: The Story of the Renewal Center” by Jimmy McWhinney, Renewal Center
  • 2:30 – 2:35 pm | Short Break
  • 2:35 – 3:35 pm | Workshop “Becoming Someone Else: A Homelessness Role Play” by Renewal Center
  • 3:35 – 3:40 pm | Short Break
  • 3:40 – 3:50 pm | Plenary
  • 3:50 – 3:55 pm | Closing Remarks by WildChina Education
  • 3:55 – 4:00 pm | Group Photo
  • 4:00 pm | Event End

*The Chamber reserves the right to alter the above agenda at its sole discretion.

*Please note: Buses may drop off participants outside the school gate from 9:00 am onward. For pick-up, buses will be guided by the campus operations team to park just before 4:00 pm, and are scheduled to depart at 4:25–4:30 pm.

Disclaimer: By joining this event, you agree that photos, video, and audio recordings taken onsite may be publicly shared by the Chamber for promotional and communication purposes.

Workshop & Keynote Details

Keynote 1
  • “The Power of Perspective: Leadership Beyond Your Own Experience” by Manbo Ouyang, University of Southampton & Kacci Kuang, Blue Sheep Crafts

In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, meaningful leadership requires more than confidence, achievement, or influence. It begins with the ability to see beyond one’s own experience and understand the realities of others. This keynote explores how education, community engagement, and exposure to different lived experiences can fundamentally shape the way young people understand leadership, responsibility, and social impact. Through personal stories and reflections drawn from international education research, refugee advocacy work, and community-based experiences supporting young adults with special needs, the session will encourage students to think critically about empathy, inclusion, and perspective-taking as essential leadership skills.

Workshop 1
  • “Perspective Shift: Empathy, Inclusion & Leadership Workshop” by University of Southampton & BlueSheep

This interactive workshop, jointly facilitated by representatives from the University of Southampton and Blue Sheep Crafts, invites students to explore how perspective shapes the way we understand people, communities, and leadership.

Through a combination of interactive discussions, role-playing activities, creative expression, and collaborative exercises, participants will be encouraged to step outside their familiar viewpoints and experience situations from different perspectives. Using multisensory and creative approaches, the workshop aims to help students reflect on how empathy, environment, identity, and lived experiences can influence the way people think, feel, and interact with the world around them.

Rather than approaching inclusion and empathy as abstract concepts, the session seeks to create immersive experiences that encourage students to think more deeply about communication, understanding, and socially responsible leadership. By the end of the workshop, participants will be invited to reflect on how perspective change can foster stronger human connection, more inclusive communities, and more thoughtful leadership in their everyday lives.

 

Keynote 2
  • “Becoming the Bridge: Shaping Your Future as a Global Citizen in a Connected World” by Becty Yan, United Media Solution

In an increasingly connected yet complex world, students with international learning experiences are uniquely positioned to become bridges between cultures, ideas, and communities. Being a global citizen today is not only about studying different subjects or speaking multiple languages. It is about understanding perspectives, building trust across differences, and contributing positively to a shared future.

This keynote explores how internationally educated students can turn their diverse experiences into a lifelong advantage. Students can learn to see themselves as connectors—people who help translate ideas, collaborate across boundaries, and create opportunities wherever they go.

Through real-world examples and practical reflections, the session introduces some essential capabilities for future-ready global citizens: cultural confidence, adaptability in a rapidly changing environment, and the ability to work effectively with people from different backgrounds. Students will be encouraged to reflect on their own journeys and consider how the choices they make today can shape their impact tomorrow.

Workshop 2
  • “Guiding with Empathy” by WildChina Education & Polar Lights

Join Lina and members of the visually impaired community for an interactive workshop exploring accessibility, inclusion, and empathy. Through personal stories, open dialogue, and hands-on activities, students will gain a deeper understanding of the experiences, challenges, and strengths of individuals living with visual impairments.

Students will also learn practical techniques for guiding and supporting visually impaired individuals respectfully and safely, while reflecting on their own role in creating a more inclusive and supportive community.

 

Keynote 3
  • “Homelessness in China: The Story of the Renewal Center” by Jimmy McWhinney, Renewal Center

What does homelessness look like in one of the world’s largest and fastest-changing countries? In this keynote, Jimmy McWhinney shares what he has learned from nearly two decades serving homeless and vulnerable people in Shanghai through the Renewal Center. Students will hear about the challenges that can lead to homelessness, the services Renewal provides in Shanghai, and how its Yunnan program creates new pathways through training, community, and meaningful work.

Workshop 3
  • “Becoming Someone Else: A Homelessness Role Play” by Renewal Center

In this interactive workshop, students will work in small groups of four to six people. Each group will receive a different life scenario connected to experiences that can contribute to homelessness. Students will role-play these situations and discuss how the circumstances might affect someone emotionally, socially, financially, and psychologically.

Please note: some role-play scenarios may involve participants portraying people of a different gender, background, or identity than their own, including LGBTQIA+ individuals. This aspect is essential to the learning goals of the workshop.

Speakers

Keynote Speaker
Manbo Ouyang
China Recruitment Officer, University of Southampton
Keynote Speaker
Kacci Kuang
Managing Director, Blue Sheep Crafts
Keynote Speaker
Becty Yan
Senior Partner, United Media Solution
Keynote Speaker
Jimmy McWhinney
Director of Development, Renewal Center
Workshop Facilitator
Lina Cao
Head of Operations, WildChina Education
Workshop Facilitator
Jimmy McWhinney
Director of Development, Renewal Center
Workshop Facilitator
JANO YAO
Head of Polar Light, Certified Social Worker, and Social Work Internship Supervisor for Jing’an District

Booth Sponsors

ClassIn provides a integrated intelligent classroom solution (Future Learning Space) for K-12 international schools, which is available in two types: hardware and software.

In terms of hardware:

ClassIn interactive display combines eye protection technology certified by TÜV Rheinland in Germany; In addition, AG (anti-glare) etching technology was added, providing a sandpaper writing experience, allowing teachers to feel the comfort of screen writing, its also eliminating light reflection, which is visually friendly to students; Thirdly, the combination of generative AI functionality provides teachers and students with a better classroom experience.

ClassIn 360 ° ceiling array microphone can pick up vocal audio within a range of up to 80 square meters. 32 built-in microphones ensure clear sound, and AI noise reduction technology eliminates background noise and recognizes vocal audio only, making course recording sound absolutely clear. It can also expand the teacher’s voice to every corner of the classroom, ensuring that the teacher’s voice heard by the last row of students is at the same volumn as that of the front row of students, which is called Sound-Field Balance.

ClassIn AI auto-tracking cameras can automatically track and adjust angles based on the movements of teachers and students, and also have digital multi-zoom support, suitable for diverse teaching spaces.

In terms of software:

ClassIn LMS supports inquiry based learning, formative assessment, and seamless cross campus blended delivery. ClassIn has OMO (Offline-Merge-Online) capabilities, enabling cross campus and cross international classrooms; The integration of LMS and AI functions enhances the efficiency of teacher lesson preparation and student review; The open API architecture and other capabilities enable seamless integration with existing systems such as ManageBac, Canvas, and Google Workspace. ClassIn is trusted by over 60,000 schools in 160 countries, helping international schools create flexible, student-centered learning environments, whether offline, online, or hybrid.

Organiser

Location

Nord Anglia International School (NAIS) Shanghai, Pudong 

2888 Junmin Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai

上海英国外籍人员子女学校 (浦东校区)

上海市浦东新区军民公路2888号

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