Leadership Festival 2025

26 Aug 2025

Canteen’s Leadership Festival 2025, hosted by Canteen Australia, was a powerful three-day event that brought together rangatahi aged 16–25 who have been impacted by cancer. Held in Sydney, the festival united young leaders from across Aotearoa and Australia to connect, share experiences, and grow their leadership skills.

Canteen has a proud history of rangatahi leadership. Rangatahi development aims to provide opportunities to develop skills and connections that will benefit their long-term future while also contributing to the direction of the organisation.

This year’s festival opened with a moving Welcome to Country and Karakia, setting the tone for a weekend filled with connection and inspiration.

Highlights included keynote talks from Samuel Johnson, who shared his remarkable fundraising journey in honour of his sister and his powerful “now is awesome” mindset. And Hugo Toovey, a two-time cancer survivor and Army Major, who spoke on resilience and turning adversity into impact.

Workshops explored themes of storytelling, authenticity, connection, and the future of leadership, giving rangatahi practical tools and confidence to lead in their own communities. Alongside the learning, there was plenty of time for fun and friendships, with shared meals, social activities, and space to unwind together.

Leadership Festival 2025 was more than just an event, it was a chance for rangatahi to see what’s possible, to be inspired by each other, and to take bold steps forward as the next generation of leaders.

Reflecting on the weekend, Canteen Aotearoa CEO Nick Laing said: "Seeing rangatahi connect with their peers across the Tasman and grow in confidence was inspiring. The future of Canteen is being shaped by their voices and their leadership."

As the festival came to a close, farewells were filled with energy and excitement for what lies ahead. The bonds formed and lessons learned will stay with rangatahi long after the weekend, a lasting reminder of the strength, creativity, and leadership within our community.