Media Release

Wednesday, 11 November 2009
More young leaders to help build NZ-Asia relations

The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Young Leaders Forum is again bringing together more outstanding young people from New Zealand and Asia for its annual week-long leadership programme in Wellington.

The Forum is in its fourth year and begins this Saturday, November 14.

The 30 participants, aged 20 to 35 years, are selected through a competitive application process and must have demonstrable leadership potential and a commitment to furthering New Zealand-Asia relations.

Participants are from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines – business, science, media, education and the arts. They include undergraduate and post-graduate students as well as recent graduates and young leaders already working.

While most of the candidates are from New Zealand, the Asian countries represented this year are China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

A key component to the forum programme is the leadership challenge. This year, young leaders will work in groups and race against time to produce a five minute short film about the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

These short films will be judged by industry professionals, screened at the forum dinner on 20 November and then made available on the Asia New Zealand Foundation website.

Other highlights of the leadership week include briefings about New Zealand-Asia relations, workshops on leadership development and learning, effective presentations and networking skills with visits to Asian embassies and high commissions in Wellington.

Asia New Zealand Foundation Executive Director Dr Richard Grant says he has been impressed with the calibre of the candidates.

“Those who have been chosen have shown to us the qualities that we identify in young leaders and the commitment to the message that Asia New Zealand Foundation is promoting.”

“We hope that by the end of the week, the participants will have added to their skills and knowledge and have established a new network of friends and partners that will help them in their future professional and personal lives”.

“We want them to be motivated by their participation, aware of the responsibilities which leadership carries with it and be ready to contribute to New Zealand’s engagement with Asia,” Dr Grant said.

In 2009, members of the Young Leaders Network have participated in a number of Asia New Zealand Foundation activities. These have included:

• participating in the ERIA-GRECI Programme in India
• speaking at Principals Forums in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin
• participating in the Future Business Counterparts Programme in Japan
• attending the 19th Asian Corporate Conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• meeting with the previous Japanese Foreign Minister Mr Hirofume Nakasone
• attending a roundtable meeting with Muslim Youth Leaders from Indonesia
• organising an outreach event “Asian Scarfie Experience” in Dunedin
• attending and presenting at international conferences and seminars in New Zealand and in Asian countries
• attending the 23rd Asia Pacific Roundtable in Kuala Lumpur
• presenting at Emerging Leaders Forums in Tauranga, Christchurch and New Plymouth
• organising Leadership Week World Cafe events held around New Zealand

ENDS

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