At Payne Road State School’s annual Environment Leaders Day, students from across the district gathered to explore how young people can lead positive change for the planet.
It was a powerful feeling to be in a room full of enthusiastic and energetic young people who care deeply about the world around them.
Maverick Minds was invited back for a second year, contributing a session that helped students uncover and develop their leadership superpowers – the qualities, behaviours, and mindsets that support human-centred leadership in action.Curious what a day of student leadership and superpowers looks like?
I was delighted to be invited back to Payne Road State School’s annual Environment Leaders Day to explore leadership through the lens of sustainability, creativity, and community action. I really do get to do some seriously fun and meaningful work.
Rather than focusing on tasks or roles, we introduced a framework (developed with my colleague Helen Zink) designed to spark conversation about the deeper forces that shape how we lead: curiosity, candour, resilience, flexibility, and more. These are the kind of mindsets and behaviours that shape how we lead and connect with others.
Through group discussion and a creative body mapping process, students identified the superpowers they already use in their environmental leadership and those they want to grow. It was inspiring to see how they mapped out not only what they do, but who they are becoming.
The day coordinated by Payne Road’s Environmental and Sustainability leader Julie Robson also featured a brilliant panel of local changemakers, including:
🧵 Jane Milburn, founder of Textile Beat
🌱 Jonty Bush, state member for Cooper
🔌 Monique Lowndes, founder of eWaste Connection
🌊 The team from SOWN (Save Our Waterways Now)
Workshops with artist Suzon Fuks, the interactive performance work of SeamTogether’s The Seamstresses, and SOWN (Save Our Waterways Now) brought more creativity and hands-on learning into the space. If you haven’t encountered The Seamstresses before, keep a lookout – they are fabulous.
When asked what could be improved about the day, one student replied:
“Only that I wish we had more time.”
Now that’s music to my ears.
Equally I was delighted to hear from Julie that she received very positive responses from staff and students as well and providing me with her thoughts about my involvement –
Cathryn enriched our 10th Environmental Leaders Day by giving our students a language for understanding the qualities and styles of leadership. The 10 major ‘superpowers’ she introduced were then explored by a panel of community leaders across a range of environmental spheres – from e-waste and creek regeneration to sustainable fashion and government – illuminating how they were embodied in real life contexts.
Cathryn then helped students explore the superpowers in their own environmental practice. Guiding them through a dynamic and creative exercise called ‘mapping body the body of action’, she gave our young leaders the chance to articulate the tangible and important things they want to do moving forward, affirming the days focus on reflection, personal agency and mindful activism. I would highly recommend Cathryn for workshop facilitation and design.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to develop leadership in your group, one that’s engaging, human, and designed for real connection, I’d love to bring this experience to you. Get in touch and we can explore what this can look like in your context.