Watch the LEADS Conference Recap here!
Written by Yaseen Khawaja
Year: Second
Conference Attended: Leadership in Engineering and Advocacy Development Summit (LEADS)
What conference did you attend?
WESST Leadership in Engineering & Advocacy Development Summit (LEADS), is a 3 to 4-day conference held in a camp setting, amongst the serenity of woods and water bodies.
Nearly 100 student leaders from the eleven engineering universities in Western Canada attended this event which encourages collaboration on topics such as student issues, leadership development, and future engineering student governance. Event activities include the WESST Annual General Meeting, leadership development sessions, and the WESST Olympics. This all fosters further inspiration to improve student governance, resulting in more competent and socially aware engineers. Furthermore, it provides an informal networking system that can develop bonds between schools, mentorship opportunities, and exposure to various companies.
What was your favourite session?
My favourite workshop at LEADS 2025 was titled “Opportunities and Involvement: What You Can Do.” It was presented by the WESST VP Advocacy and focused on the many ways engineering students can get involved, whether through WESST/CFES, their own schools, or student societies. The session encouraged students to plan events, join or start clubs, and collaborate with classmates to use their knowledge and skill sets to create a more supportive and engaged engineering community. The workshop also became an open discussion, where students from WESST-affiliated engineering schools shared how they stay involved and highlighted the clubs, initiatives, and events at their own institutions. Overall, the workshop was inspiring and emphasized the importance of taking these ideas back to our own schools to continue building meaningful involvement.
What were some big takeaways?
One of my biggest takeaways from the conference was gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to be a socially conscious and advocacy-driven engineering student leader. Through workshops and discussions, I learned how student leaders can use their positions to create more inclusive, supportive, and impactful communities within engineering. I also really valued the opportunity to connect with and build friendships with students from engineering schools across Western Canada. Hearing about how other student societies and institutions are structured and run gave me new perspectives and ideas, which I am excited to bring back and apply within SEESS to help strengthen our own initiatives.
What was the biggest lesson?
The biggest lesson I took away from the conference was the understanding that no two schools or student communities operate in exactly the same way. Many initiatives that work well at other institutions may not translate directly to SFU, just as strategies that succeed at SFU may not work elsewhere. However, hearing about the strong engagement and positive impact of events and initiatives at other schools reinforced the idea that new ideas are always worth trying. Being open to adapting successful concepts, while tailoring them to our own community, can help foster stronger engagement and create fun, inclusive, and meaningful experiences within SEESS.
What have you learnt?
I learned what it truly means to be an effective, socially conscious, and advocacy-driven engineering student leader, and why it is important to spread that at SFU and in the SEESS. The conference showed me that strong leadership is not about copying what works at other schools, but about understanding your own community and adapting ideas to fit it. I also learned the value of collaboration and knowledge-sharing between different Universities, and how learning from the successes and challenges of other student societies can help inform more thoughtful, engaging, and inclusive initiatives within SEESS.
What do you want future students to know?
I want future students to know that when attending a conference, it’s important to let loose and fully embrace the experience. Most of the people you meet won’t be from your own school, so there’s no need to be afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone. Immerse yourself in the sessions, conversations, and social events, have fun, and be open to new connections. The more you engage, the more you’ll take away, both personally and professionally, from the experience.