Featured YLN members

We have a growing network of over 300 members. In this section you can learn more about them by reading fortnightly feature profiles.

	Michelle McCarthy: International Management and Japanese at the University of Waikato The Hamilton-based Young Leader discusses her long-held interest in Japanese language and culture
	Reuben Todd: Knowledge of China critical for our future Christchurch-based Reuben Todd’s interest in Chinese language and culture stems from when he was a teenager.
	Debra Atkin: An immersion in the Japanese language In June 2009 the intermediate teacher spent a month at the Ministry of Education Japanese language immersion programme in Fukuoka.
	Anita Perkins: Researching the cultural identity of migrants The Otago MA graduate also discusses her love of Japan
	Ziena Jalil: Promoting New Zealand Inc in North Asia The Hong Kong-based young leader is Regional Marketing and Communications Manager with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
	Harita Gandhi: Pursuing academic and community interests in Wellington She is currently in her fourth year at Victoria University doing a BCA Honours in Management.
	Graham Rhodes: Modern Chinese studies at Oxford Graham Rhodes left for Oxford University in September 2009 to study Masters of Philosophy in Modern Chinese Studies.  He intends to investigate New Zealand’s China strategy.
	Undertaking a Yale PhD in Vietnam Academic Haydon Cherry currently spends most of his days at Ho Chi Minh City’s National Archive Centre II reading documents on the lives of the urban poor.
	Joe Lawson: Uncovering history in remote China Joe Lawson's PhD research focuses on Chinese society in the mountainous regions of west and south of Sichuan, in the first half of the twentieth century.
	Working the Beijing Olympics: Jack Sheppard Upon graduation Tom was the recipient of an Asia:NZ China Scholarship which funded two years of Mandarin studies at Nanjing University.
	Oxford University scholar: Tom Griffiths Tom’s academic concentration has been mostly on China, but he maintains a keen awareness of the region at large.
	Public health in Vietnam : Sylvia Smyth Sylvia has gained a wealth of travel experience in Asia and academic and work experience in the area of Public Health.
	Environment management in Christchurch: Kongmeng Ly Kongmeng, originally from Laos, is currently in his second semester of a scholarship-funded Master’s degree at Lincoln University in Christchurch.
	Building a bridge between New Zealand and Asia: Alexandra Lee A self-described ‘Kowi’, (a Kiwi of Korean descent), Auckland-based Alexandra balances her professional time between a position at the University of Auckland, and working as an architect for Babbage Consultants
	Intercultural awareness: Maha Shaktiswara Kepakisan Since the age of eighteen, Maha has been living in New Zealand, and is now in his final year of a degree in Accounting and International Management at the University of Otago.
	A career in forestry research: Manoj Dubey Manoj was raised in a small town in rural India. Childhood exposure to surrounding forests and local saw mills inspired his current career path in forestry.
	Lost in translation: Lulu Wu Lulu writes about her life-changing experience while studying in Japan.
	Promoting Asian arts in Auckland: Bevan Chuan Bevan has been involved with Spotlight on Diversity Arts Ambassadors Programme since March 2008