Leading with Purpose: Civic Virtue in Action, a youth leadership conference funded by BBC Children in Need

On the 20th June 2025, over 220 students from Drayton Manor High School attended Leading with Purpose: Civic Virtue in Action, a youth leadership conference funded by BBC Children in Need. Designed to ignite purpose and ambition, the day featured more than 30 guest speakers, including over a dozen proud alumni, who shared personal stories and practical advice under four key themes:

● The Power of Education

● Pathways & Possibilities

● Relationships & Reputation

● The Whole Person

Keynote speaker Jeremy Cook OBE, COO of King’s College London, challenged students to lead with purpose and a strong sense of civic virtue. Other speakers included prominent alumni like Milo Whittaker (Creative Strategist at The New York Times), Nazgol Esnaashari (Associate at Goldman Sachs), and world-class athletes and creatives.

Among the notable guests was Waleed Maisery, Senior Legal Counsel at QatarEnergy LNG and executive producer on several UK and Canadian film projects, who attended Drayton Manor from 1997 to 2004 and travelled all the way from Qatar for the event.

Joining him was Leah Whittaker, a British swimming champion who set multiple national records and represented England internationally, who attended from 2016 to 2019, and Ismail Ansari, an event producer and DJ working with global brands like Nike and Corteiz, who attended from 2007 to 2014. This powerful mix of alumni spanning different graduating years underlined the enduring strength of the school’s community and the deep commitment former students feel to inspire the next generation.

Ismail reflected on his return to his former school, saying: “It was a blessing to be invited back to Drayton Manor. It’s quite surreal. I hope I educated and inspired students by sharing my journey, how I do what I love and why it’s so important to chase happiness and purpose. Life is too short to not love your work.”

Students left feeling inspired, connected, and ready to pursue their goals with new confidence. One student shared: “This conference really inspired me to do well in education and go on to do big things in life.” Another remarked: “It made me realise that  former pupils from Drayton Manor, who grew up just like me, have gone on to be very successful, and that I have the potential to do the same.”

The event was also attended by Councillors John Martin and Dr. Aysha Razar of Ealing Council, who were warmly welcomed as part of the day’s celebrations.