Earlier this year I wrote about my experience representing both St John Australia and St John Singapore in the inaugural Global Leadership Development Program (GLDP). It was an experience that shaped how I think about leadership, community, and purpose.
In September that journey took a new turn. I was fortunate to attend as a panelist and facilitator at Grand Council 2025 – the Annual General Meeting, which governs and steers the Order of St John.
Grand Council brings together senior leaders from across the Order: Priors, Chancellors, CEOs, and representatives from Priories worldwide – to celebrate our shared heritage and to shape the Order’s future direction. As a Board Director for other organisations, understanding how the Order undertakes this global discourse was both eye opening and energizing.
Our GLDP-led session was one of eight sessions across Grand Council, reflecting the recognition that leadership renewal and capacity-building must remain central to St John’s global agenda. As panelists, we were fortunate to represent not only ourselves but also the other voices from the inaugural GLDP cohort, whose experiences continue to inform our collective journey.
Exploring Sustainable Leadership
Our panel, “Sustainable Leadership in a Global Context,” invited delegates to explore what it means to lead for the long term across different geographies, governance systems, and volunteer structures. Participants engaged in vibrant roundtable discussions framed around what sustainable leadership looks like locally, regionally, and globally.
Across every table, one theme was clear: sustainable leadership is not just about endurance; it is about renewal, inclusivity, and collective growth.
Key Themes Emerging from the Session: A Readout from the Room
As one of the presenters, these are my personal recollections of the key ideas across the few days of discussions:
- Leadership as Shared Stewardship
…with leadership cultivated at every level, empowering volunteers, staff, and youth to lead within their spheres of influence. Sustainability begins when leadership becomes a shared responsibility, not a title. - Clarity of Purpose
…ensuring that every decision and action aligns with our mission and values. Sustainable leadership depends on continual reflection and a shared understanding of why we serve. - Balancing Global Vision with Local Context
…upholding a unified global direction while allowing regions and associations flexibility to adapt to their local realities. Global unity thrives when grounded in local relevance. - Continuity Through Succession Planning
… identifying and nurturing emerging leaders early, ensuring smooth transitions and the preservation of institutional knowledge. Succession is not an event but an ongoing commitment. - The Role of Mentorship and Peer Networks
… strengthening mentorship and peer support to build confidence, resilience, and shared learning across borders. Leadership renewal grows through connection and collaboration. - Embedding Values in Action
… translating our chivalric values: service, respect, and compassion…into visible and consistent behaviours that guide decision-making and relationships. - Inclusive Leadership
… creating leadership pathways that reflect the diversity of our people and the communities we serve. Inclusion enriches our capability and deepens our impact. - Resilience and Wellbeing
… prioritising the wellbeing of leaders and volunteers, recognising that sustainable leadership depends on balance, reflection, and care for self and others. - Innovation and Adaptability
… embracing change, using creativity and data-informed decision-making to remain relevant and responsive in a changing world. - Global Collaboration and Family Spirit
… continuing to strengthen relationships across regions and establishments, working together as one global St John family; generous in collaboration, united in purpose, and steadfast in service.
Guiding Principles for Sustainable Leadership
I drew insights of how I could adapt my own leadership from the Opening & Closing Address from Lord Prior Mark Compton, and the sermon of newly-installed Prelate, Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. that the following are themes I felt were echoed throughout Grand Council, from formal presentations to informal conversations:
- Continuity: building structures that ensure leadership transitions without loss of vision, maintaining focus across generations.
- Capability: investing in equipping our people with both technical expertise and adaptive skills, empowering them to lead confidently in complex environments.
- Culture: fostering trust, inclusion, and shared purpose across teams, generations, and geographies, ensuring our environment reflects the values we uphold.
- Collaboration: strengthening partnerships across regions & establishments, learning from one another and advancing together.
- Compassion: ensuring that every leadership action reflects our mission of caring for humanity, because how we lead matters as much as what we achieve.
Both Mark and David spoke of leadership as a sacred trust, grounded in continuity, expressed through compassion, and sustained by community. Their reflections reminded me that leadership is not transactional but transformational: it is about shaping culture, nurturing capability, and ensuring that those who come after us inherit something stronger, kinder, and more connected than what we began with.
Looking Forward: The Next Iteration of the GLDP
During Grand Council, St John International announced the next iteration of the Global Leadership Development Program. This refreshed program builds on the success of the inaugural cohort, retaining its focus on peer learning and mentorship, whilst introducing locally grounded leadership projects that link global learning with tangible community impact.
It continues to champion inclusive, values-based, and adaptive leadership, equipping participants to navigate complexity and lead with purpose. Applications are now open, and I strongly encourage those with a passion for service and leadership to consider applying.
Acknowledgements
My heartfelt thanks to:
- St John International and the Priory of Australia for the invitation to attend and contribute to Grand Council
- The Lord Prior, Mark Compton, and Secretary-General, Susan le Jeune d’Allegeershecque, for their leadership & advocacy in sponsoring the Global Leadership Development Program. Their vision ensures the Order develops future-ready leaders capable of driving impact, fostering collaboration, and sustaining our mission globally.
- Chancellor of the Order, Tom Budd, whose mentorship during my time in the GLDP remains a lasting influence. His practical guidance on navigating leadership across diverse contexts, continues to shape how I view service and responsibility within the Order.
- Chancellor Cameron Oxley and Prior Sean Rozario, who continue to support and champion my work across both Australia and Singapore. Your guidance has made a lasting impact.
- My fellow GDLP panellists: Damian Kaushik (Aus), Chris Laufale (NZ), Jennifer Sorthi (Aus), Sophie van Wyngaarden (WA). Their contributions reinforce that leadership is strengthened through dialogue, challenge, and the exchange of diverse experiences.
Looking Ahead
Our discussions at Grand Council reinforced that leadership sustainability is not a fixed destination but a continuous journey of renewal. As we return to our respective Priories, the challenge before us is clear: to build leadership cultures that are resilient, inclusive, and deeply rooted in the values that define St John.
Because, as we learned through both the GLDP and Grand Council, the strength of our Order lies not only in what we do – but in how we lead, together.
This article was written by Krishna Rajendram, SJ GLDP Cohort 1.
