DENISE and DALIA, Grade 10 students at North London Collegiate School (NLCS) (Singapore), conceptualised and led the school’s inaugural Student Leadership Conference (SLC) earlier this year. Here, they reflect on their journey of student leadership, the school’s support in bringing together international students in Singapore, and receiving a personal message from an Olympic gold medallist.
From student leadership idea to impact
What began as a bold idea quickly became a defining moment for student leadership at NLCS (Singapore). In March 2026, over 100 students from seven international schools across Singapore gathered for the school’s inaugural SLC.
It featured interactive workshops, student-led discussions and collaborative sessions where participants designed and pitched their own leadership initiatives. Guest speakers included a communications expert, the Vice President of BlackRock, and an accomplished client expert from Standard Chartered Singapore.
The SLC was conceptualised and led entirely by Denise and Dalia. More than a month after the event concluded, its scale and success are still sinking in for the two international students in Singapore.
Denise reflects: “It still surprises me that we brought together seven international schools and managed to engage everyone in just one day. Seeing people connect, share ideas and genuinely enjoy the experience felt surreal.”
The most rewarding moments for them came from witnessing authentic engagement. “When students were actively participating, asking questions and even getting competitive during activities, that’s when we knew it had meaning,” says Dalia.
Behind-the-scenes of the NLCS (Singapore) Student Leadership Conference
The journey from ideation to actualisation of the SLC involved months of planning, coordination and problem-solving. This would test the resilience and commitment of both Denise and Dalia.
“There were moments when it felt overwhelming but it all paid off in the end,” says Dalia. “Everything ran smoothly as we were well prepared, and that gave us confidence.”
Denise describes how initial nerves gave way to a sense of purpose. “At first, I was really nervous; but once we got going and saw how engaged everyone was, it just felt right – like we had grown into the role.”
Special recognition for international students in Singapore
Adding to the significance of the SLC was a special message of encouragement for Denise and Dalia. In this video, Olympic gold medallist Anna Hopkin and the team at AP Race Swimming Academy wished the duo success ahead of the conference.
Student leaders through and through
The conference is one chapter in a much larger story of the leadership demonstrated by Denise and Dalia. Both students are founders of the Student Athlete Coaching Programme (SACP), a student-led initiative established in 2023 at NLCS (Singapore). What began as informal lunchtime coaching sessions for Junior School students has evolved into a structured and impactful service programme.
Since its initial launch, SACP has achieved much with the duo’s leadership. They have executed charity dress down days, donation drives, a junior school CCA coaching platform and qualifications in level 1 and 2 for The Leadership Skills Foundation based in England. During International Women’s Week, both girls led the assembly and had a key role in the celebration dinner.
“We realised there wasn’t a sports service society, so we decided to create one,” Denise explains. “We wanted to give younger students the opportunity to experience sport in a supportive and encouraging environment.”
Their shared passion for sport – particularly netball – has played a formative role in shaping their leadership approach. “Sport teaches you resilience,” Dalia notes. “You don’t win every game, but you learn to commit to your team, push through challenges and keep improving. That mindset applies directly to leadership.”
Through SACP, both students have not only developed their own leadership capabilities but also created opportunities for other international students in Singapore. Denise says, “It’s been empowering to realise that we can make an impact beyond our immediate circle. We’ve learned how to adapt, lead and bring people together.”
Support from the NLCS (Singapore) school community
Central to girls’ journey has been the support and trust from the school community. “The encouragement from teachers has been incredible,” says Dalia. “They gave us the platform but also the responsibility, and that made us step up.”
Ms Danielle Foyle, Deputy Head of Upper School, highlights the significance of this student-led achievement, “What stands out is their ability to think on their feet and lead with confidence. They didn’t just organise an event – they created a platform for others. This is only the beginning of what they can achieve.”
Looking ahead, Denise and Dalia are already thinking beyond NLCS. Denise shares, “We’d love to expand this beyond Singapore. The idea of connecting students across schools, and even internationally, is something we’re really excited about.”
From a simple idea to a large-scale conference, their journey reflects the essence of student leadership supported by NLCS (Singapore): initiative, resilience and the courage to create something meaningful for others.
North London Collegiate School (Singapore) is at 130 Depot Road.
nlcssingapore.sg
Keen to read more on NLCS (Singapore)? Find out why these parents chose the school for their children here; and get to know the Junior School and Senior School Principals here. You can also head to our Kids section for more articles on Schools.
Interested in knowing about editorial options? Email us at sales@expatliving.sg.
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