School captains tell just how big of an impact the role had on their future careers
When he was elected school captain, David Rohrsheim had to sign on for an extra year – a move that set up a Silicon Valley career. Six SA school leaders share their takes.
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From Olympians to titans of Australian media, SA high school captains have gone on to successful and influential careers after year 12 – but does being student leader set you up for life?
Past school captains of public and private schools across the state have shared their experiences, and how leading their peers shaped their careers.
Is it the skills learnt with school leadership that set students up for life, or is it that successful people take on the added responsibility in their teenage years?
Here’s what past school captains have to say about their time at the top of the school, and how it shaped their future.
David Rohrsheim
St Peter’s College
Elite private school St Peter’s College takes an unconventional approach to leadership, with students being able to spend more time than most on their duties as captain.
College leader in 1999, David Rohrsheim, returned for another year to take the role of school captain, as is tradition at St Peter’s.
After school, Mr Rohrsheim became a start-up investor and is the former general manager of Uber in Australia and New Zealand.
“I was still 16 during most of my year 12, so I was in no rush to arrive at uni before I turned 18,” Mr Rohrsheim said.
He recalled his extra year as more relaxed and helped to set him up for the future as he was able to study more specialist subjects.
“I had a great year – school can be a lot of fun when you take away the pressure to get a high ATAR.
“I used the opportunity to pursue a few new subjects that interested me, rather than just subjects where I could get good grades.”
His studies in the extra year directly aided his future career.
“I also had time to undertake a Microsoft IT qualification, which gave me a head start in my technology career in Silicon Valley.”
David Penberthy
Marion High School
Former editor of The Daily Telegraph in NSW, Advertiser columnist and now FIVEaa breakfast presenter, David Penberthy was captain of now-defunct Marion High School to cap off his secondary education in 1985.
Penberthy said his time as school captain was his first foray into politics, which became an integral part of his career in media.
“I think there were two things that I got out of it: being in that school environment, it really cemented my interest in politics and also certainly things like public speaking, attending meetings, standing up at school assemblies and talking to all the students,” Penberthy said.
As school captain he helped to organise events that addressed the big political events of the 1980s.
“We organised this rock concert that was a protest against the nuclear arms race.
“We gave a speech about the arms race between Reagan and Gorbachev and we read out all these fiery statements demanding everyone surrender their nuclear weapons.”
That experience was among many in his final year of secondary education that influenced his future career.
“That sort of stuff helps give you confidence and gives you a bit of a sense of how you can construct an argument and make a point.”
But he argued it could be the people who apply to be school captain already have a bright future, rather than the role forging a successful path.
“It probably does attract people that are already passionate about advocacy and public speaking and trying to get into leadership positions,” he said. “It probably is a chicken or egg thing.”
Jess Stenson
Annesley College
A leader in high school and in her athletic career, Olympian Jess Stenson was captain of Annesley College in 2005.
After secondary school, Stenson went on to win a gold medal in the marathon at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as well as representing Australia at the London and Rio Olympic Games.
“I had a really positive experience as a leader at Annesley College,” Stenson said.
Her time as school captain pushed her to develop public-speaking skills, which now forms a vital part of her career.
“I remember pretty nervous about it but also excited at the time because you just get thrown in the deep end,” Stenson said.
“There’s a lot of organisation required and getting up in front of your peers and speaking.”
Stenson now addresses high school students, like she did when she led Annesley, but this time, hoping to inspire them.
“Because my career ended up towards that sports space where there are some great opportunities to speak at schools and even in the corporate sector I think those skills I developed as school captain have really helped set me up.”
But she was not a natural public speaker and the captain’s role helped her get used to addressing large audiences.
“It’s incredibly nerve-racking getting up in front of crowds and speaking, particularly in those teenage years,” Stenson said.
“Over time I just became more confident and comfortable.”
Anjana Prabu
Seymour College
Medical student Anjana Prabu is a relatively recent secondary school graduate, leading Seymour College in 2018.
She is now in her fourth year of a medical degree at the University of Adelaide and is placed at the Queen Elizabeth and Royal Adelaide hospitals.
The medical student said in her leadership role at school she developed teamwork, leadership and public speaking skills.
“I can definitely recognise how the soft and technical skills that I’ve built up from head girl have definitely had flow-on effects on how I lead and manage my life today,” Ms Prabu said.
But being a leader is part of an attitude that sets you up throughout life, she said.
“I think I’ve always been inclined to maximise the opportunities I’ve been given.”
But she took time to settle into the role after coming out of her shell in high school.
“Coming into Seymour I was a very shy girl, very introverted, little to no public speaking experience and personally I thought my English was quite poor compared to my classmates.”
“I was not a typical candidate for leadership.”
Now, she looks back at her time in school as influential on her future career decisions.
“I’ve developed a keen interest in social justice from my years at Seymour,” Ms Prabu said.
“I’m interested in looking at non-conventional ways to apply my medical career, whether that’s politics or advocacy.”
Evan Lucas
Prince Alfred College
Author and head of strategy at financial advice site InvestSMART, Evan Lucas, was captain of Prince Alfred College in 2002.
Mr Lucas said he spoke at different schools as PAC captain, a skill he now uses in his work.
“What it gave me in terms of interacting with school policy … then also all the speaking gigs around the city.
“Speaking and presenting and doing motivational talks, that is what I now get paid to do.
“In 2002 I was doing a lot of them.”
But he said success is not guaranteed for school captains.
“It opens doors but it doesn’t mean you can walk through them and you’ve got to take it.”
Mr Lucas’ final year of school developed his ability to present to an audience and the difference from the start to the end was noticeable.
“I even know some of the teachers would say to me from when I started the year to the end of it, the quality and the polish that I had in my talking … it was a skill I developed.”
Helen McCabe
Loreto College Marryatville
Before she was editor of The Australian, among other media roles, Helen McCabe was captain of Loreto College Marryatville in 1985.
The founder of Future Women, said she developed her confidence when leading her school.
“I think it did contribute to establishing a sense of self-belief that many women struggle to find,” Ms McCabe said.
“I don’t think I could have founded a business without self-belief.”
She honed her ability to influence communities in high school.
“I remember leading the student council in a vote to reform the uniform.
“We wanted to introduce skirts alongside the traditional tunic.”
Ms McCabe said being part of the leadership team at school had a positive impact on her life and encouraging her to take opportunities.
“I have always credited Loreto and the nuns who looked after us in the boarding house with teaching young women the confidence to give anything a go.”
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