Looking back: How the Leadership Network revealed new pathways and possibilities

Ben and Mabel Ye taking in the sights on the 2018 Manila Hui

I joined the network in 2008, attending what was then the Young Leaders Network onshore forum in Wellington.

At the time, I was early in my career and broadly following a conventional path aligned with my education. The framing of the forum as a Young Leaders gathering was part of what attracted me. It suggested that the room would include peers as well as more established figures, and that the focus would be forward looking.

I did not attend with a specific plan. I was simply keen to broaden my perspective, learn more about how New Zealand and Asia connect, and meet people beyond my immediate professional environment.

What stood out was the quality and range of participants. There were emerging and established leaders from business, government, and other sectors, all engaging seriously with Asia and with New Zealand’s place in the region. It was the first time I had been exposed in such a concentrated wa, to cross sector conversations about Asia’s growing importance.

The effect was subtle but meaningful. The forum expanded my sense of what might be possible and made pursuing opportunities outside a conventional pathway feel realistic.

Ben: "The [2008 Young Leaders] forum expanded my sense of what might be possible and made pursuing opportunities outside a conventional pathway feel realistic."

Not long afterwards, I applied for a scholarship that I likely would not have pursued without that experience. That decision proved significant. It took me overseas for a period and set me on a professional trajectory that differed from what many people with my background might have expected.

Living and working in another country deepened my understanding of how culture, relationships, and commercial realities intersect. It also made me more comfortable operating in unfamiliar settings. Those lessons have stayed with me.

Ben (far right) at the 2008 Young Leaders Forum

The 2008 forum also influenced how I thought about leadership more broadly. The discussions were not limited to trade and economics. They touched on responsibility, social cohesion, and the role individuals can play in contributing to wellbeing beyond their immediate professional sphere.

In the years that followed, that perspective contributed to my decision to join the board of a non governmental organisation focused on social wellbeing. It was not something I had set out to do at the beginning of my career, but in hindsight it connects directly back to the exposure and thinking that began at that first Young Leaders Forum.

After returning to New Zealand, I re-engaged with the Foundation and have remained involved as the Young Leaders Network evolved into the Leadership Network. Over the years, I have attended further forums and offshore programmes, including the 2015 Sri Lanka Forum and the Manilla Hui in 2018.

The Sri Lanka Forum delegates

Those offshore experiences were particularly memorable. It was a privilege to experience different cultures alongside a group of like minded people who were genuinely interested in understanding more about the world and New Zealand’s place within it.

In Sri Lanka, visiting the elephant sanctuary and learning about the country’s history and post conflict journey left a lasting impression. In the Philippines, gaining a deeper appreciation of its history, complexity, and energy added further perspective.

Travelling with members of the network created a shared context for those experiences, and the conversations that flowed from them have stayed with me.

Ben: "In Sri Lanka, visiting the elephant sanctuary and learning about the country’s history and post conflict journey left a lasting impression."

In addition to the larger forums, I have valued the various hui and events held around the country, including at the Auckland and Wellington offices. These gatherings provide an opportunity to reconnect with longstanding members and meet those newly joining the network.

The calibre of talent entering the network in recent years has been exceptionally high. The depth of experience and international outlook of newer members gives me confidence that the future of the network is very strong.

A consistent highlight throughout my time with the network has been the people.

Many of the relationships formed through the network have developed into genuine and lasting friendships. Those relationships extend well beyond New Zealand. Connections made through the network have led to many memorable experiences with members based overseas, in locations I might not otherwise have found myself. They have opened doors, facilitated introductions, and provided local insight in ways that would have been difficult to replicate independently. It is a reminder that the network’s reach is truly global and not confined to New Zealand.

Today, I work for an international airline with a substantial focus on Asia. In my role, I am responsible, together with colleagues across the organisation, for the design of our airline network and schedule. This includes overseeing a network that facilitates over one-million passenger journeys between Asia and New Zealand each year. As part of this work, I regularly engage with stakeholders across the region.

The work is commercially grounded, but it is also relational and cross cultural in nature. In that context, I continue to draw on the foundational learnings from that first forum in 2008, and the experiences that followed. The importance of listening carefully. The value of cultural awareness. The need to build trust over time. Those principles remain central to how I approach my role.

Ben: "Travelling with members of the network created a shared context for those experiences, and the conversations that flowed from them have stayed with me."

Looking back, I genuinely believe the Asia New Zealand Foundation is a special and unique organisation within New Zealand. At a time when it is essential that New Zealand and New Zealanders remain outward looking and connected with the world, the Foundation's role is particularly important. The Leadership Network is a crucial part of that mission. It creates space for emerging and established leaders to engage seriously with Asia, to build relationships, and to think beyond domestic boundaries.

Nearly two decades on, it is clear that the Young Leaders Network, now the Leadership Network, influenced both the direction I took and the perspectives I developed. No single event determines a career, but being in that room in 2008 expanded my field of vision at an important stage.

For those considering getting involved, the value lies not only in the formal programme, but in the long-term relationships, international connections, and broader sense of responsibility that can develop over time.

Ben: "Connections made through the network have led to many memorable experiences with members based overseas, in locations I might not otherwise have found myself."

What began as a Young Leaders Forum in Wellington has become a sustained and meaningful association. I remain grateful for the role it has played in shaping my professional path, my engagement with Asia, and the community I continue to value.

The Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network equips the next generation of Kiwi leaders to excel in Asia. We provide members with the connections, knowledge and confidence to lead New Zealand’s future relationship with the region.