Global Citizens in Action - a YLN event for Leadership Week

Asia New Zealand Foundation presents six Young Leaders (three in Auckland, three in Wellington), committed to developing Asia-New Zealand relations in business, education and the media.

The Young Leaders will speak about their journeys to become leaders, the skills they’ve developed, the work they’ve done and the impact they have had so far in their chosen fields.

Auckland

Date: Monday 28 July 2008
Venue: Council Chambers, Ground Floor, Auckland Town Hall, 301 Queen Street, Auckland Central
Time: 6.30pm-8.00pm

Light refreshments will be served.

RSVP to Melanie Crawford at mcrawford@asianz.org.nz.

Speakers:

Sarah Kim
Corporate lawyer (Auckland Office, Chapman Tripp) who has special interests in welfare and education for young people. She is also the President of Kowiana Association of New Zealand. She has worked closely with many young people as Auckland President and National Vice President of United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand, Vice Chairperson of the Auckland City Youth Council, Educational Vice President of Auckland University Law Students' Society and Faculty Tutor for the Economics and Law Faculties. As a 1.5 generation Korean New Zealander, Sarah hopes to help other young Korean New Zealanders celebrate their cultural identity as Korean Zealander and excel in their chosen fields.

Chris Payne
Chris has seen first-hand the results of international co-operation. He was head of development for a Tokyo-based film production company and was involved in projects that drew on the talents of film professionals from a wide range of countries, including New Zealand. In 2007 he co-wrote A Thousand Apologies, a groundbreaking comedy series he co-wrote for broadcast in late 2008 on TV3 will focus on breaking down “Asian” stereotypes to facilitate ethnic and cultural dialogue. In May 2008, Chris was selected as one of the two Asia:NZ Young Leaders Network members to attend the New Zealand Japan Partnership Forum in Tokyo as a member of the New Zealand delegation. Chris is also a council member of the New Zealand Japan Society and a member of the Japan New Zealand Business Council. He was recently part of the first contingent in the Future Business Counterparts from New Zealand (FBCNZ) programme, initiated by the Japanese government. He currently works for Bell Gully.

James To
James is a PhD candidate in the School of Political Science and Communications at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch. His research examines the relationship and policies between China, Taiwan and the overseas Chinese diaspora. James was a participant in the inaugural Asia:NZ Young Leaders Forum in 2006, and has since been involved with various leadership and youth development programs, both domestically and internationally. Most recently, he was one of two Young Leaders selected to attend the Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum in Tokyo in May 2008. Apart from his studies, James is involved in an executive capacity in various organisations, such as Zone Secretary for his local Lions Club, and National Secretary for the New Zealand Chinese Association, as well as other volunteer groups seeking to serve the community by bridging cultures.

Wellington

Date: Thursday 31 July 2008
Venue: Asia New Zealand Foundation, Level 7 ABN Amro House, 36 Customhouse Quay, CBD
Time: 6.30pm–8.00pm

Light refreshments will be served.

RSVP to Melanie Crawford at mcrawford@asianz.org.nz.

Speakers:

Wook Jin Lee
A Korean-New Zealander, Wook Jin is a member of the Young Leaders Network to which he was introduced after being awarded the Asia:NZ Foundation David Holborow Memorial Scholarship in 2006. He attended the Young Leaders Forum in 2007. Having attained a double degree in Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Political Science, he currently works for the Corporate Advisory and Finance groups of Russell McVeagh. He has a deep interest in international relations, and is particularly fascinated by the dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region. Despite his relatively young age, he has had extensive involvement with numerous related organisations such as the United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand and Sister Cities New Zealand. Wook Jin has recently returned from serving as the Young Leaders Network representative to the Vietnam-New Zealand Track II Dialogue held in Hanoi, Viet Nam. Wook Jin is very much looking forward to sharing his stories during the Leadership Week, and in particular engaging in the YLN panel discussions.

Chloe Dallaway
Whenever asked what she does for a job Chloe describes herself as the chief enthusiast behind new premixed cocktail brand Loud&Lola. At age 22 Chloe is the General Manager of Wellington beverage innovation company Oh! Group. Its first product Loud&Lola is currently sold in over 200 liquor stores and bars nationwide and the company is exploring export opportunities to Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom and China.

Chloe has a background in event and project management and holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and Development Studies, and a Bachelor of Commerce in International Business and Management from Victoria University. In her spare time Chloe is also completing her honours year in International Politics and is interning for the National party Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Select Committee members.

Chloe's interest in Asia:NZ relations stems from a number of experiences, including spending four months in Southeast Asia, working with Cambodian NGO Mith Samlanh, extensively studying New Zealand's trade relations with its Asian counterparts and now putting that study into practice working on exporting Loud&Lola to a number of Asian markets.

Tom Griffiths
A holiday in Malaysia as a child sparked a lifetime of interest in Asian culture, history and language for Tom. At just 14 he enrolled in a two-week exchange programme at a school in Japan, and has since undertaken study at the National University of Singapore. Tom has graduated from Victoria University with a degree in Political Science, Religious Studies and Mandarin after which he studied in Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China on a scholarship. Currently he is working towards an honours degree in International Relations. His honours topics include the 2004 North Korean nuclear weapons test viewed through a Chinese lens, the relationship of Buddhism and the state in Southeast Asia, and the representation of violence by intellectuals. Tom’s love for literature and books have led him to work part-time at a bookstore while studying.