Leadership potential: Peter Townsend

One of the most exciting programmes we run at Te Papa Hauora Health Precinct is our “Future Leaders Programme”.

We have just completed two, week-long programmes involving over 40 final year health sector students, from a variety of disciplines.

In a sector and a society calling out for strong leadership, it is encouraging to witness committed students exploring their leadership potential.

The programme involves input from health leaders sharing their experiences, technical aspects of leadership, plus presentations from futurists, and business leaders. There is continuous two-way interaction during the week, the programme is designed to be experiential.

The entire course is embedded in the recognition of equity, with particular emphasis on Māori and learnings from a Māori perspective.

The students were encouraged to explore their leadership potential, to question how best to adopt leadership roles, to challenge the status quo, and to recognise that leadership is vital at all levels, in all parts of our health system.

The feedback they gave at the end of the course gives me great reassurance. It is so good to see their potential being realised, and their commitment as future leaders to continuous improvement of the Canterbury Health system. They will make a difference, part of which will emanate from their learnings from their participation in the Future Leaders Programme.