Highlights of the Senior Students Leadership Forum

On 24 September 2025, BritCham Shanghai and its Education Committee successfully led and hosted the Senior Students Leadership Forum on “Ethical Leadership in the Tech Age” at the British International School Shanghai, Puxi (BISS Puxi).

The event brought together around 70 outstanding student delegates from eight leading international and bilingual schools across Shanghai, creating a dynamic platform to explore the critical intersection of technology, ethics, and leadership.

The forum opened with a warm welcome from Andrew Joy, Vice Principal and Head of Secondary at BISS Puxi, followed by remarks from Tom Lewis, Head of Business Development at WildChina Education and Beyond Classrooms, representing the event sponsor.

Iain Kilpatrick, Executive Headmaster of YK Pao School and representative of the BritCham Education Committee, delivered opening remarks outlining the forum’s purpose and his hope that it would inspire meaningful dialogue and actionable insights among delegates.

The day featured two inspiring keynote presentations which set the tone for deeper exploration:

• In the morning, Haena Seongsin Kim, Director of WildChina Education and CEO of Beyond Classrooms, presented “How to AI-proof Your Future Career?”, offering strategic advice on navigating an evolving professional landscape.

• In the afternoon, Dr Katy Granville-Chapman, Deputy Head (Teaching Staff Performance and Development) at Wellington College, explored “What Does Neuroscience Tell Us Makes Great Leadership?”, providing a scientific foundation for the leadership qualities essential in any era.

Students participated in a series of interactive workshops across three sessions, encouraging collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking:

• Session 1 explored the creative and influential dimensions of AI through:
  “Leadership in the AI Era: Where Technology Meets Humanity” (Mandy Xu & Yifan Wang, Haleon);
  “AI and Sci-fi: The Relation Between Technology and Imagination” (Colin Chen, YK Pao School & Yang Li, East China Normal University); and
  “AI and Power: Who Shapes the Future?” (Steven Varty & Mark Cole, YK Pao School).

• Session 2 focused on practical leadership skills with “Leaders in the Spotlight” (Konnor Davis, KD Theatrics), which used AI-driven drama exercises, and “Artificial Intelligence & Ethics: Frameworks for a Responsible Future” (Nikola Serafimov, Lozo).

• Session 3 highlighted the human side of leadership through “The Value of Empathy for Leaders in a Tech/AI World” (Ian Crawford, Former Executive Director of BritCham Shanghai and Visiting Professor, Sino-British College) and “Perfectly Programmed – Leading with Character and Compassion in the AI Age” (Sam Owen, Wellington College), which built upon the earlier neuroscience keynote.

The forum concluded with a plenary session led by Ronan Jones, Head of Sixth Form at Britannica International School Shanghai, where student delegates shared their insights and reflections. Tracy Guo, Brand Specialist at Vita Group, delivered the closing remarks on behalf of the event sponsor and presented certificates of participation to all delegates, recognising their engagement and contributions.

The Senior Students Leadership Forum was more than a single-day success; it demonstrated the strength and collaborative spirit of Shanghai’s international education community.

For the BritCham Education Committee, the forum fulfilled several key strategic objectives:

• Fostering Community: Strengthening ties among leading international and bilingual schools under a shared, forward-looking agenda.
• Inspiring Future Leaders: Equipping the next generation with ethical frameworks and leadership mindsets for a rapidly changing world.
• Enhancing BritCham’s Profile: Reinforcing the Chamber’s role as a convener of thought leadership and a key contributor to Shanghai’s educational landscape.

This impactful event empowered young leaders with the knowledge and perspective to drive responsible innovation in the technology age.

Participating Schools:
Hiba Academy Shanghai, BISS Puxi, Britannica International School, Harrow International School Shanghai, YK Pao School, Dehong International Chinese School, NACIS Shanghai, and Nord Anglia International School Shanghai (Pudong).