WorldSkills Champions Trust representatives reflect on their journeys

Three WorldSkills Champions Trust representatives have served for two consecutive terms. As Yousra Assali, Dan McCabe, and Shae White prepare to hand over to a new cohort, they share what they will remember most about advocating for skills on a global stage.

As her second term as WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for the Americas comes to an end, Shae reflects, “Once you’re in the WorldSkills Champions Trust, you’re in for life.” For five years Shae, Dan, and Yousra have each helped shape the future of skills development on a global scale and their commitment to skills advocacy has left an indelible mark on themselves and on the WorldSkills movement.

As part of the WorldSkills Champions Trust, Shae, Dan, and Yousra contributed to WorldSkills initiatives, social media campaigns, and spoke at Conferences, adding the voice of youth to important conversations hosted by organizations including the OECD, UNESCO, and WorldSkills.

Shae was the first person from the Caribbean to serve on the WorldSkills Champions Trust. She recalls how WorldSkills has given her opportunities to meet and speak with people from all over the world.

Shae says she will never forget what she calls a “full circle moment”, when she presented the Best of Nation medal to the Barbadian Competitor in Cooking at WorldSkills Lyon 2024, remembering what it felt like when she herself won Best of Nation for Cooking at WorldSkills Kazan 2019. She recalls, “I never imagined that signing up for WorldSkills Competition on a whim when I was in college at 18 would have taken me on this incredible seven-year journey.”

Coming into her second term, Shae was keen to encourage more applicants from the Caribbean to join the WorldSkills Champions Trust. She succeeded when Sonya Hill, a WorldSkills Champion from Jamaica joined the Champions Trust in 2023. Shae says, "Seeing another Caribbean representative on board is definitely one of my proudest achievements.”

For Dan, his five years have given him incredible insight into the many layers of the WorldSkills community and the many roles needed to stage something the size and scale of a WorldSkills Competition. He likens it to a cruise ship, with the top deck representing the WorldSkills Competition itself. Dan says, “The Competition is full of excitement and vibrancy. It is an amazing spectacle and the pinnacle of what we do. But there are many decks beneath it, all working below the surface to drive the skills movement forward.”

Dan has deep admiration for his peers and the impact that WorldSkills has had on all their lives. Looking back, he says he is most proud of the growth he has seen among his fellow representatives. He says, “When I see Yousra at the closing of WorldSkills Conference 2024 giving her amazing speech, or when I remember how Leo (Fernandez) used to dream of flying an airplane from a favela in Brazil and is now flying around the world as a skills advocate, those are the things I will remember most.”

For Yousra, her time with WorldSkills has been transformative. She says, “Being part of the WorldSkills Champions Trust has not only transformed my personality and shaped my perspective, but it has also deepened my understanding of skills advocacy and its global impact.”

Yousra is most proud of being a voice for millions of young people, women, and future generations. As the first woman to represent Morocco at a WorldSkills Competition, Yousra has already broken-down stereotypes, emphasizing that skills have no gender. She reflects, “WorldSkills has shown me that skills truly have the power to change lives, drive innovation, and create the changemakers we need to build a better world.”

Her journey has inspired many more young people, and she plans to continue supporting youth and women’s empowerment even after her term ends. She says, “I believe that we all must take action and move forward to create change. Change is never easy, but it is essential for a better future.”

Shawna Bourke, Director of Marketing and Communications for WorldSkills International, oversees the WorldSkills Champions Trust programme. She is in awe of the impact of Dan, Shae, Yousra, and all the representatives on the WorldSkills Champions Trust and explains that, “Each of Champions who serve on the Champions Trust brings with them a perspective, a set of strengths, and a curiosity that shapes them as individuals as well as a collective group. Dan, Shae, and Yousra have become exemplary examples of how powerful and necessary the voice of youth is in the global conversation around skills.”

“It is impressive to see change makers that each of these Champions have become. I am excited to see where their ambitions will take them,” said Shawna.

Learn more about the WorldSkills Champions Trust. Stay tuned for further insights from the 2023 to 2024 representatives and for the official announcement of the 2025 to 2026 cohort in January.