Abu Dhabi Student Leadership Conference
This is an evolving website. Bookmark now and expect keynotes, full schedule and other important details soon.
September 4 & 5, 2027
Hosted by American Community School of Abu Dhabi
Express your Interest here to get all the updates.
For Students G8-12
Why It Matters?
Leading without the right tools is hard. Students have opportunities to lead clubs, projects and initiatives, but how do we help them move beyond the title and turn their ideas into meaningful action?
Built around the Inspire Citizens Empathy to Impact framework, this conference brings student leaders from across the Middle East together to:
Build practical leadership skills: from discovering their purpose to designing reciprocal action and managing projects.
Connect with changemakers: learn alongside local community partners through reciprocal investigation.
Turn ideas into action: develop a clear action plan to take back to school and move their leadership projects forward.
The Empathy to Impact design framework supports students move from “I care” to “I take action”.
Conference Program
Day 1
LEARN
Registration & Welcome
Arrival, check-in and informal networking.
Opening Ceremony & Keynotes
Welcome from Inspire Citizens, followed by inspirational keynotes to set the stage for two days of learning and action.
Leadership Skills & Tools
-
Discover Your Talents & Interests
Identify personal strengths, passions, interests and opportunities for leadership. -
Community Assets & Meaningful Action
Map community assets, identify opportunities and explore how to design meaningful action.
Lunch
Lunch is included.
Student-Selected Workshops
Small-group sessions with expert speakers. Explore topics
connected to your passions, develop ideas and discover new
ways to make an impact.
Expert speakers to be announced soon.
Day 1 Closing & Reflection
Gather key takeaways, reflect on the day's learning and prepare for Day 2.
Student Unconference & Networking
Student-led discussions, connections, sharing ideas and finding potential collaborators. Finish the day with informal networking and fun activities.
Day 2
ACT
Welcome Back, Inclusion & Connection
Community-building activities, reflections from Day 1, setting intentions and keynotes.
Leadership Skills & Project Planning
-
Backmapping & Project Planning
Work backwards from a desired outcome to identify milestones and next steps. -
Project Management Tools
Organise timelines, responsibilities, resources and deliverables. -
Collaboration & Delegation Protocols
Distribute responsibilities, build effective teams and navigate challenges.
Project Pitch Development
Develop an action plan and project pitch using investigation findings, success criteria and project-planning tools.
Lunch
Lunch is included.
Small-Group Project Sharing
Pitch projects in smaller groups, receive feedback and identify selected projects for the main showcase.
Student Leadership Project Showcase
Selected student groups share their ideas and proposed actions with the wider conference community.
Closing Recognition & Next Steps
Celebrate participation, recognise student leadership, identify commitments and prepare for the next steps as changemakers.
Conference ticket price
5-student package
A small team ready to connect, learn and take action.
10-student package
Bring a bigger team to share ideas and build connections.
20-student package
Bring a larger delegation to learn and create impact together.
Schools may add additional students to their selected package at the applicable per-student rate. For example, a school registering 13 students would purchase the 10-student package ($1,500) and add 3 students at $150 each, for a total of $1,950 USD.
Teachers and chaperones attend free of charge, with 1 complimentary teacher/chaperone for every 5–10 students registered. Additional teachers/chaperones beyond the number included will be charged at the applicable student rate.
About the host school
Welcome to American Community School Abu Dhabi
The American Community School of Abu Dhabi is a vibrant community with strong roots and bold, strategic plans for the future. Guided by our mission, vision and core values, we aim to cultivate the whole student at every grade level, fostering joy and excellence in academics, the arts, athletics and service learning. Established in 1972, ACS is a non-profit, U.S.-accredited college preparatory school serving a multi-national student body. Our American, standards-based curriculum provides excellence in academics, the arts, athletics and service.
Recommended hotel
MARRIOTT HOTEL DOWNTOWN, ABU DHABI
Stories From Previous Conferences
Take a look at what student leaders experienced, created and took away from other Student Leadership Conferences globally. Ready to get inspired?
Podcast · E92
Empathy to Impact
Bridge to Impact: Building Belonging & Designing Action for a Sustainable Future at the Düsseldorf Changemakers Conference
▶ Listen to episode
Podcast · E91
Empathy to Impact
Inspired Student Leadership: Morocco Edition
▶ Listen to episode
Podcast · E85
Empathy to Impact
Yeronga Celebrates: A Student-led Event Celebrating Cultural Diversity (Australia)
▶ Listen to episode
Podcast · E79
Empathy to Impact
How to Organize a Student-led Changemaker Conference (Budapest)
▶ Listen to episodeRegister your interested here.
Important note: The Expression of Interest form is for school staff to complete only. For safeguarding purposes, we do not accept direct applications from students. If you are a student interested in participating, please speak with your teacher or school leader and ask them to submit the Expression of Interest on your behalf.
For more details, contact: sophie@inspirecitizens.org
Thank You for Caring About Student Leadership
Student leadership starts when we stop asking young people to wait until they’re older to make a difference, and start giving them the tools, trust and opportunities to lead today.
When students are given the space to take initiative, collaborate with others and turn their ideas into action, learning becomes more meaningful. They begin to see themselves not just as learners, but as changemakers with a role to play in shaping a better world.
Thank you for creating these opportunities every day and for being part of a community of educators committed to helping young people lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact.