Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) successfully inaugurated its Rector’s Dialogue Series for the Academic Year 2025/26, entitled "Practicing Leadership for a Sustainable World", on 27 August 2025. Convened by RVRC Rector Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, this series* was established to foster meaningful engagement between RVRC students and eminent national and international thought leaders on the critical role of leadership in advancing global sustainability.
The session featured distinguished guest Dr. Kanwaljit Soin, who shared her insights on ethical stewardship, artificial intelligence, and the cultivation of wellbeing in leadership. Dr. Heyzer commenced the event by encouraging students to draw wisdom from the 'Pioneer Generation,' emphasizing the importance of resilience, meaningful leadership, and the pursuit of opportunities that uplift humanity. She highlighted the need for youth to strive for purpose and actualise agency.
Dr. Soin underscored the significance of RVRC’s ethos of "learning by doing" as she engaged students on the ethical implications of AI, particularly within fields such as medicine and social support systems. She advocated for the pragmatic integration of stewardship values in both academic coursework and everyday practice. Using the recent global pandemic as a point of reference, Dr. Soin highlighted the necessity of prevention, trust, and equity in public health systems.
Importantly, Dr. Soin expanded the discussion on wellbeing to encompass joy, rest, and reflection, framing these not merely as individual survival strategies but as essential components of moral grounding and sustainable leadership. She urged participants to protect their personal wellbeing, and strive to balance professional and personal commitments rather than the pursuit of strictly linear, career pathways.
The session was hosted by Shuane, a Year 3 Economics student, who is also the Vice President of the Peer Student Supporters at RVRC, and leader of the newly established RV Sustainability Consulting Club. When asked why she chose to host the talk, she shared that "Dr Noeleen and Dr Soin are trailblazers, who very much shaped a Singapore where, as a woman, my right to pursue my passions exists. Beyond that, it is rare that you get to witness a bond between passionate minds that endures decades."
The questions from the audience addressed themes ranging from the pursuit of excellence to navigating global crises. Dr. Soin, Dr. Heyzer, and A/P Sim Tick Ngee (RVRC College Master) collectively addressed these inquiries, offering diverse perspectives that converged on shared values of ethical leadership and sustainability. This inaugural session set a strong precedent for future dialogues, inspiring the RVRC community to cultivate principled, adaptive leadership in pursuit of a more sustainable and inclusive world.
*About the RVRC Rector’s Series Dialogues
The RVRC Rector’s Dialogue Series, titled "Practicing Leadership for a Sustainable World" and convened by RVRC Rector Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, seeks to engage RVRC students with national and international thought leaders to explore the critical role of leadership in advancing global sustainability. The series delves into the multifaceted challenges confronting societies in the pursuit of sustainable development, and highlights the transformative potential of principled, adaptive leadership across diverse contexts. Through direct engagement with thought leaders, RVRC students learn about and examine effective strategies for fostering environmental stewardship, social equity, and ethical governance. The series also aims to inspire emerging leaders to integrate sustainability values into their personal and professional spheres, while encouraging collaborative problem-solving and community engagement. By drawing on real-world examples and interdisciplinary perspectives, the series underscores the urgency of cultivating a new generation of leaders equipped to address the complexities of a rapidly changing world and to forge resilient, inclusive pathways toward a more sustainable future.
