Air NZ & Karen Walker's Global Designer Search

Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship offers career launching opportunity for high-flying Kiwis

Air New Zealand has partnered with internationally renowned New Zealand fashion designer Karen Walker to launch a global search to fill a position as Design Assistant to Karen Walker International.

The full-time, salaried role as Karen Walker’s Design Assistant is part of the Air New Zealand Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship programme, which aims to foster the next generation of talented young New Zealanders. In addition to the career launching ‘Design Assistant’ role, the scholarship recipient will also receive invaluable experience, guidance, and support from Karen Walker to help further their career.

The scholarship includes a year-long structured mentoring programme and at least one international business trip (last year’s recipient accompanied Karen to New York Fashion Week), as well as a return ticket from any New Zealand airport served by Air New Zealand to anywhere on the Air New Zealand international network.

This year for the first time, the scholarship will be open to New Zealand residents and passport holders, based not only in New Zealand, but around the globe.

Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing Steve Bayliss says the airline is delighted to be able to offer a potentially career-launching opportunity to a talented young designer.

“Last year’s successful Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship in Fashion focussed on providing a wonderful opportunity for a New Zealand-based graduate. As we move into the second year of this scholarship, we decided to take the structured 12-week internship programme to the next level. With one of Karen’s Design Assistants vacating the role, we had a unique opportunity to take the scholarship to the next level and also provide the recipient with a dream job with an internationally recognised designer," says Mr Bayliss.

“We are also aware that there are a significant number of talented New Zealanders living and working in the fashion industry around the world. We wanted to provide a too-good-to-resist opportunity for them to return home – a reverse ‘brain drain’, if you like. However, we still haven’t ruled out the fact that the best candidate might still be New Zealand based.”

Designer and Inspiring New Zealanders mentor Karen Walker agrees, saying the timing worked out well with regard to the scholarship programme. "Although, I’m upset to lose one of my wonderful design assistants after seven years, I completely understand her desire to return home to the United Kingdom. And ironically, it was this understanding of the desire to return home that got us thinking about the opportunity to perhaps bring a homesick Kiwi home," says Karen Walker.

The Air New Zealand Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship in Fashion 2007 is open to New Zealand residents or passport holders. Three finalists will be selected by Karen Walker following an online application process and the submission of a CV and portfolio.

Aspiring applicants for the Air New Zealand Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship in Fashion can apply online at www.inspiringnewzealanders.com. Applications open 6th July 2007 and close 5pm on 17th August 2007. The successful scholarship recipient will be announced at the end of August 2007.

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About the Air New Zealand Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship programme

Inspiring New Zealanders is a scholarship programme that involves "inspiring" New Zealanders who have achieved the highest level of achievement in their field, providing inspiration and guidance to the next generation of talented New Zealanders.

The Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship programme was launched in September 2005 with the Olympic Sports category. Mentors included Hamish Carter, Bevan Docherty, Sarah Ulmer and Claudia Riegler. Today, the Inspiring New Zealanders programme includes scholarships in Olympic Sports, Wine and Fashion.

In 2006, the Inspiring New Zealanders scholarship in Fashion with Karen Walker was open to students in their final year of a New Zealand tertiary fashion design qualification. Bachelor of Design at Massey University graduate, twenty-two-year-old Sara Smeath, from the Bay of Islands, was chosen by Ms Walker and Air New Zealand to receive the scholarship. As the recipient, Sara received a structured 12-week internship programme at Karen Walker Ltd and accompanied Karen Walker to her New York fashion week show in February 2007.

For more information, please visit www.inspiringnewzealanders.com

Prepared on behalf of Air New Zealand Inspiring New Zealanders by Cathy Campbell Communications

ENDS

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