20 January 2025
WorldSkills Champions Trust: A legacy of growth, connection, and advocacy
Outgoing representatives reflect on two years of empowering youth, inspiring change, and promoting skills excellence globally.
Left to right: João Teixeira, Melkon Hovhannisyan, Mihle Mvelakubi, and Justina Ashinaya from the WorldSkills Champions Trust in Lyon in 2024.
The new list of WorldSkills Champions Trust representatives for the term 2025–2026 is officially out. Seven new Champions join four returning representatives to promote the power of skills worldwide. Find out more about this outstanding group of young people.
As we welcome them and look forward to seeing them shine as new ambassadors of the WorldSkills movement, we also honour the contributions of our outgoing representatives. They dedicated the past two years to inspiring other young people to follow their passion. They spoke at events, networked with leaders, and advocated for the role of youth in decision-making.
Melkon Hovhannisyan, Cloé Lemarechal, Justina Ashinaya, and João Teixeira reflect on their journeys, the lessons they’ve learned, and their advice for the incoming representatives.
“Looking back, it’s been an incredible experience,” said Melkon, representative for Asia. “I’ve learned so much about teamwork, communication, and what it means to truly make a difference.” Melkon also emphasized the importance of effective communication and the unity that emerges from a shared goal, even among individuals from diverse backgrounds.
For Justina, the role deepened her leadership ability and expanded her global perspective. “It reinforced the importance of collaboration,” she said, adding, “Serving as a representative allowed me to connect with talented individuals and promote skills excellence on an international level.”
Each representative had unforgettable memories that defined their journey. Cloé highlighted the opportunity to experience WorldSkills from a new perspective, and recalled “the chills” she felt as she entered the arena for the Opening Ceremony of WorldSkills Lyon 2024. João also emphasised the privilege of enjoying WorldSkills and EuroSkills as a former Competitor, to be able to walk through the entire venue, and to see all skills in action. “That’s just not possible when you compete,” he said.
Cloé Lemarechal from the WorldSkills Champions Trust speaking at an event during WorldSkills Lyon 2024.
All of them recognised the crucial role of the WorldSkills Champions Trust in promoting the power of skills and ensuring the perspectives of youth are included in important conversations.
Speaking about the Champions Trust as a platform that empowers young professionals, Justina said, “It promotes collaboration, shares best practices, and demonstrates how skills transform lives and economies.” On the other hand, Cloé was also proud to contribute to the growth of the Abilympics movement, helping others “express themselves and thrive through their skills.”
Emphasising how the Champions Trust fosters connections between Competitors and the broader WorldSkills community, João states,“Having us at events with policymakers allows us to share ideas and advocate for change”. While Melkon also added that as former Competitors, representatives bring “authenticity” to the table.
The outgoing representatives had thoughtful advice for their successors, encouraging new representatives to cherish every moment, as they continue their WorldSkills journey in this exciting new role. Justina stressed the importance of building strong connections within the community and engaging actively in initiatives. And Melkon’s advice was to “Embrace the diversity of people you meet,” which he suggested, “will help you succeed.”
The outgoing Champions Trust representatives have left an indelible mark on the WorldSkills community through their work in various spaces such as the WorldSkills Conference, and on events hosted by WorldSkills Partners such as the OECD and United Nations. They were thought leaders on important topics such as education and skills access for young people.
As the new representatives step into their positions, they carry forward a legacy of collaboration, inspiration, and advocacy for vocational excellence. Together, they will continue to demonstrate that skills are a force for positive change worldwide.
We also spoke to Yousra Assali, Dan McCabe, and Shae White about their two terms as representatives.