Fifteen women Salvation Army officers gathered at Sunbury Court in the UK for the first international women leader development programme. The gathering came about as a result of General Shaw Clifton's recognition of the worldwide need for more women officers to be identified, developed and equipped for roles as senior leaders. Delegates were from Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, India, the USA, Canada, the UK, Norway, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Ghana and South Africa.

An intensive three-week programme focused on such subjects as Growing The Salvation Army, Salvation Army Distinctives, The Salvation Army as part of the Body of Christ, Social Justice, Leadership Styles, Working with a Team and Business Management. The cultural diversity of the participants led to lively discussion and greater insights into the internationalism of the Army. The General facilitated several sessions and the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Robin Dunster, opened and closed the programme.

Within the group were five officers already appointed as divisional commanders and two who will become DCs within the next few months. For all it was an experience that has increased their leadership capacity in many ways, and which they will continue to build on in the future.

Report by Commissioner Margaret Sutherland