On Saturday 23rd August, St Margaret’s School for Girls welcomed student leaders to a day-long Student Leadership Conference, designed to develop confidence, communication and leadership skills in young women.
The event brought together student leadership teams from St Margaret’s and St George’s, Edinburgh. Throughout the day, the girls were encouraged to reflect on the personal values which they would draw on in their leadership roles and to develop problem solving and communication skills.
The conference was hosted by Anna Tomlinson, Headteacher at St Margaret’s who was pleased to welcome Dr Susi Wiseman, Hydrogen Development Manager and Cromarty Hydrogen Projects Lead at Storegga, as a guest speaker. Drawing on her personal journey and career experience across the energy and pharmaceutical sectors, Dr Wiseman delivered an interactive session which encouraged pupils to think about the kind of leaders they wanted to be. Students were highly engaged and there was a warm and vibrant sharing of ideas.
Dr Wiseman also shared stories from her own life, from captaining her volleyball team in Brazil at the age of 12, to filing global patents during her PhD in hydrogen production, and navigating male-dominated industries. She reflected that at the heart of her leadership journey was a commitment to helping others to thrive, which the group found to be a refreshing contrast to some of the more stereotypical ideas of leadership.
Susi Wiseman
The pupils also enjoyed the opportunity to watch the Celebrate Aberdeen parade, which illustrated to them first-hand the role leaders play in bringing their values to life in the community.
Anna Tomlinson, Headteacher of St Margaret’s, added: “We were delighted to bring together student leaders from Scottish girls’ schools for a day of inspiration, reflection, and connection. This conference was about equipping young women with the confidence to lead in ways that are meaningful to them. Dr Wiseman’s experience and approach offered a valuable opportunity for students to think deeply about what leadership means in 2025.”
Those interested in learning more about opportunities available for girls at St Margaret’s are invited to attend our open morning on Friday 5th September. Further information and registration details can be found here or get in touch with us at admissions@st-margaret.uk