Pathways to leadership for every boy

Brisbane Boys’ College has unveiled its 2026 senior student leadership team, with House and College Prefects stepping up to guide the school community. The rigorous selection process showcased the exceptional leadership skills the College nurtures from an early age.

Heading the team is College Captain Joshua Ward, supported by Vice-Captains Angelus An and Oliver Marschke. They will be joined by the wider group of House and College Prefects, working together to model leadership, integrity, and service.

Around 80 boys nominated themselves this year, all already showing leadership in sports, academics, the arts, or community activities.

Head of Secondary School, Ms Amelia Apogremiotis, said BBC’s 2026 senior leadership team reflects a group of students who are not only talented but also deeply connected to the College
community.

“Interestingly, the Captains all started in our Junior School, so they’ve grown up with that deep sense of connection to the College and spoke a lot about pride in wearing the uniform and the honour of representing the College,” she says. 2026 College Captain, Josh Ward, says his journey through BBC’s Junior School gave him a strong foundation for leadership and a deep connection to the College.

“Starting in the Junior School really helped me build a connection – not only with the boys, but with the culture and values of the College,” Josh said. “By the time I reached Year 7, I already had an understanding of how things worked and felt a real sense of belonging.” He believes that early connection plays a big role in shaping how he and his fellow student leaders approach their new responsibilities. “Since we know what it’s like to be in the younger boys’ shoes, we can reach out and connect with them – from Prep all the way to Year 12,” he said.

Opportunities for leadership at every level

Leadership at BBC starts early, with Year 6 students stepping into mentoring and House Captain roles. By Year 9, boys can take on middle leadership positions, running initiatives like Containers for Change, boater hat repairs, or Friday social sports with the Junior School. They discover that leadership is all about service, teamwork, and resilience.

Nathan Maina, who joined BBC in Year 7 in 2023, is this semester’s Knox House Middle Leader. He embraced the school’s culture of service, taking on roles in Amnesty International and Inter-School Christian Fellowship, and becoming the first Middle School Captain of Amnesty International. “This role continues to offer many exciting ways to make a real impact on our wider BBC community,” Nathan says. “This is incredibly important because it is all good to talk about an issue, but if no action is taken, there is no benefit.”

Nathan has already started collaborating with other student leaders to solve issues in the BBC community and create innovative solutions. So far, this has included initiatives like organising Friday Social Sport, the Badminton initiative, Leaders’ Lessons, and a Foodbank drive, which recently raised over $600 in one week to feed the less privileged.

At every year level, boys are given opportunities to step up, through middle leadership in Year 9, fundraising projects, or community initiatives, Ms Lindsey Herse, Assistant Head of Secondary School – Wellbeing, says. “They take ownership, write proposals, and bring their ideas to life. Leadership isn’t just about the title of prefect; there are countless ways to lead, drive initiatives, and leave the College better than they found it,” Ms Herse says.

Beyond formal titles, boys can lead in sports, music, clubs, and tutoring, whether as a team captain, first violinist, drum major, or peer mentor. These experiences
offer countless opportunities to embrace leadership, build confidence, and contribute to College life.

Nurturing leaders beyond Brisbane Boys’ College

At BBC, leadership opportunities are designed to shape character and inspire a lifelong commitment to service. Head of Year 12, Ms Feraniki Karydis, has seen students grow and flourish in these roles throughout their senior year. “You absolutely notice a change in confidence as they move through Year 12,” she says.

“Those skills, public speaking, collaboration and critical thinking – carry on well beyond BBC. We’ve had College Captains who’ve left with such a strong skillset and then gone on to leadership roles at university and in their careers. It becomes a part of who they are. “Leadership isn’t just about the College either. Some boys are incredible at balancing their roles here with commitments in the wider community.

They want to be active citizens, giving back beyond the gates of BBC, which is wonderful to see.”

Year 12 Vice-Captain and Valedictorian, Fred Bromell plans to study a Bachelor of Law and Arts at the University of Queensland in 2026 and credits his current leadership role with his future goals. “Without a doubt my leadership position has been a catalyst in my university preferences,” Fred says.

“Like at BBC, law is an industry where I can have a seat at the table and get involved in making a difference in the world whether that be through policy reforms, diplomacy, or serving the justice system.” While these leadership roles play out within the school, the skills students gain set them up for life.

As Ms Herse observes, “There’s plenty of evidence that doing things for others boosts wellbeing. The boys feel good about making a difference, and they also grow personally, building confidence, a sense of belonging, and stronger connections across the school community.”