Asia-savvy young leaders gather in Tauranga to share success stories
Seventy outstanding young people from around New Zealand and Asia will gather in Tauranga this week to brainstorm ways to strengthen New Zealand-Asia relations.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Young Leaders Network Reunion – organised to mark five years since the network’s inception - starts in Tauranga on Thursday, February 23. The young leaders will reflect on what the network has achieved in the past five years, and discuss ways it can further contribute to the foundation’s mission of increasing New Zealanders’ understanding of Asia.
The young leaders work in a wide variety of professions, including business, science, medicine, the media, and aid organisations. Some are based in New Zealand; others in Asia. But in all cases, Asia has played an important role in their educational, professional or personal lives.
Asia New Zealand Foundation (Asia:NZ) Executive Director Richard Grant says the network brings together a group of talented and inspiring young people who will forge New Zealand’s future relationship with Asia.
“Their enthusiasm to give back to the foundation and to New Zealand more broadly is unparalleled,” Dr Grant says.
“When you look at the diversity of the group, one can only be encouraged that the future of New Zealand-Asia relations is in good hands.”
Fifteen of the young leaders will be sharing their own stories about forging Asia-New Zealand ties. They include Graham Rhodes, an Oxford University graduate who works as a research analyst with CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, Asia's leading independent brokerage and investment group; and Hai Sue Kang, a Christchurch medical student who is helping eradicate extreme poverty in the Asia-Pacific through her work as development programme manager of the P3 Foundation.
Over three days, the 70 young leaders will participate in leadership development activities; hear from inspiring Asia-based speakers; and share their own experiences and knowledge of Asia in community outreach activities.
In one activity, 30 young leaders will visit 10 secondary schools around the Bay of Plenty. Other young leaders will meet with local businesses trying to strengthen their operations in Asian markets.
Tauranga has been chosen as the location for the reunion because the Bay of Plenty is a focus region for the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Asia:NZ Director of Education Vanessa Lee says Bay of Plenty principals have been leading the way in developing Asia Aware schools in New Zealand. “Asia is a major market for key companies in the region, including ZESPRI and Comvita.”
She adds that Asia:NZ has a strong partnership with economic development agency Priority One, which is also a sponsor of the reunion. In fact, Priority One's strategic relations manager Greg Simmonds is a founding member of the Young Leaders Network, while his colleague Michelle McCarthy is also a member. “Both Greg and Michelle have played key roles in organising this week's reunion in Tauranga,” Vanessa says.
The Once Upon a Time in Asia exhibition – featuring photos taken by young leaders – is running alongside the reunion. The exhibition is showing at Creative Tauranga, 112 Willow St, Tauranga, till March 6.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation is a non-partisan and non-profit organisation dedicated to building New Zealanders’ knowledge and understanding of Asia.
For more information, contact:
Rebecca Palmer
Media Adviser
Telephone: 64 4 470 8701
Mobile: 027 226 8707
Email: rpalmer@asianz.org.nz