Fulbright Forum: Embracing & Advancing Diversity

6.00pm – 8.00pm 16 March 2016, WG403 Sir Paul Reeves Building, AUT University, 3 Governor Fitzroy Place, Auckland 1011

Embracing & Advancing Diversity is the theme of the first Fulbright Forum for 2016, to be held in Auckland on 16 March.

The people of New Zealand encompass many ethnicities, cultures, sexualities and religions but is that vast diversity reflected at leadership levels? This Fulbright Forum explores the benefits to New Zealand of genuinely embracing and advancing diversity for all people to feel supported and celebrated in their chosen fields.

Hosted by AUT University, the Fulbright Forum will be chaired by New Zealand’s first Professor of Diversity, Dr Edwina Pio. A recognised minority educator and writer, her research interests encompass the intersections of work, ethnicity, religion and pedagogy.

The panellists are:

• Dr Edwina Pio, AUT University Professor of Diversity and 2013 Fulbright New Zealand Travel Award grantee (chairing the panel);

• Dr Michelle Dickinson MNZM, passionate scientist and engineer also known as Nanogirl;

• Ashiq Hamid, Meredith Connell lawyer, 2015 Cleary Memorial Prize winner and 2014 Fulbright Science & Innovation Graduate Award grantee;

• Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, co-founder of Waking Dream Collective dedicated to supporting more diversity on screen and 2011 Fulbright New Zealand General Graduate Award grantee;

• Lincoln Tan, NZ Herald Diversity, Ethnic Affairs & Immigration Senior Reporter; and

• Natalie Coates (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Hine, Tūhoe, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Kahui Legal solicitor and 2011 Fulbright-Ngā Pae o Te Māramatanga Graduate Award grantee.

Fulbright New Zealand Executive Director Penelope Borland says diversity is vital to Fulbright New Zealand because encouraging mutual cultural understanding is at the core of the Fulbright mission.

“Our alumni are part of the accomplished and engaged global Fulbright community who share a passion for cultural understanding, peace and diplomacy. We encourage diversity of applications and grantees, especially from under-represented ethnicities, fields of study and geographical locations,” Ms Borland says.

“When we grant exchange awards for people from New Zealand and the United States who are the best and brightest in their fields to study and research in each other’s countries, they form life-long connections abroad and learn firsthand about another culture. Enabling these future leaders to have broad exposure to international thinking and trends benefits New Zealand for years to come.”

The Fulbright New Zealand programme promotes mutual understanding between New Zealand and the United States through educational and cultural exchange. More than 8,000 people worldwide are participating in Fulbright exchanges this year, in more than 160 countries.

Register here for Fulbright Forum: Embracing & Advancing Diversity.

ENDS

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