CEO Zena Couppey Becomes Patron of Jersey Youth Leadership Charity “Leadhers”

Jersey-based youth leadership NPO Leadhers is delighted to announce the appointment of Zena Couppey as its first Patron, marking a significant milestone as the organisation expands its ambition to make Jersey the first place in the world where every young person learns to lead.

Leadhers was founded to tackle one of the greatest gaps in education: while academic subjects are taught throughout school, leadership, confidence and the skills needed to thrive in modern life are not. Through its evidence-based programme, The Art of Leadhership, Leadhers is building a seven-year leadership journey for students aged 11–18, helping develop soft skills like confidence, resilience, communication, public speaking, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking. The programme aims to reach all nine secondary schools in Jersey.

Zena Couppey’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the NPO, as the pilot programme has been completed and it’s now entering expansion phase. Zena joins an list of impressive partners and sponsors such as UBS, KPMG, PWC and the University of Southampton.

A highly respected leader in Jersey’s financial services sector, Zena brings a wealth of experience in leadership, governance and community impact. Throughout her career she has championed inclusion, talent development and creating opportunities for others to succeed values that closely align with Leadhers’ mission. She is a great role model for teenage girls.

Leadhers Co-Founder and Programme Director Gaëlle Deschamps, recently named Institute of Directors Jersey Director of the Year 2026 for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, welcomed the appointment.

Leadhers has already reached more than 1,600 young people through its workshops, with independent impact data showing significant improvements in confidence and leadership aspirations among participants. Working alongside the University of Southampton, Gaëlle Deschamps has developed an innovative Unique Leadership ID®, enabling schools to measure and track the development of leadership skills over time.

The charity’s long-term vision is to create a globally scalable model of leadership education that begins in schools, ensuring every young person regardless of background or gender has the confidence and capability to lead.

As Patron, Zena Couppey will help champion the charity’s mission, raise awareness across Jersey, and support engagement with schools, businesses, funders and the wider community.