An event for students, recent graduates and alumni featuring our 40 Under 40 honourees past and present.

If you aspire to futureproof your skills, create meaningful change or you want to achieve success through creative thinking, this event is for you. Gain insights and inspiration from some of our 40 Under 40 alumni past and present, each of whom is disrupting their industries and excelling in both their professional and personal lives.

Following a vibrant panel discussion and a networking session, attend your choice of two thought-provoking breakout sessions, delivered by alumni who are challenging the status quo and want you to do the same.

5-6pm: Introduction and panel discussion with Q&A

Featuring:

• Nurain Janah | Business leader, activist and social entrepreneur. Senior Consultant at EY. Projects include Authenticity Aotearoa, which focuses on empowering female migrants at work and Gather4Change, which encourages more civic engagement.
• Sean Molloy | Environmental innovator and business leader. Founding Director of Avertana, which repurposes industrial waste
• Shruthi Vijayakumar | Humanitarian and environmental justice advocate. Coach, founder and strategist for a range of organisations looking to lead global social change and combat environmental challenges.

6-6.45pm: Networking and refreshments

6.55-8.20pm: Breakout sessions

Stream one breakout session (6.55-7.35pm):

Futureproofing yourself: what qualities do business leaders of tomorrow need?

How can you supercharge your leadership? Find out from our experts who have successfully juggled social responsibility and holistic leadership, while also advancing sustainable business or community practices.

Featuring:

• Alex Fala | Former CEO of Vend
• Bridget Snelling | Head of Business Marketing at ANZ; Co-founder of Peddle and Friends in Need NZ

What’s different about an entrepreneurial mindset?

How can you use entrepreneurial concepts to seize career opportunities and unleash your potential? Join Angela Lim and Mike Moka who will share their top tips on taking risks, the importance of values-based leadership and reimagining products and services.

Featuring:

• Mike Moka | Founding Director of Indigenous Growth

• Angela Lim | CEO & Co-Founder of Clearhead

Ending status quo thinking: what unconventional ways of thinking will be critical for the future?

How can you tap into ‘flow state’ for peak performance? And how do you reach highly ambitious goals? Learn what it takes to disrupt an industry from two alumni who are challenging the status quo through innovation and technology.

Featuring:

• Tan Copsey | Senior Director, Climate Nexus
• Arash Tayebi | CEO of Kara Tech

Stream two breakout session (7.40-8.20pm):

Taking a global view: How can we grapple with moral dilemmas of today’s highly volatile and politicised environments?

In a world where we are more connected than ever, how can you use this to your advantage while also helping vulnerable communities? Our alumni will provide tips on how to navigate the political environment while advocating for people who need it most.

Featuring:

• Claire Achmad | General Manager Advocacy, Communications and Fundraising, Barnardos and international children’s rights advocate
• Qiujing Easterbrook-Wong | Co-Founder & Director at Borderless, Strategist, Entrepreneur

Beyond Instagram and Tiktok: How can we push the boundaries and create meaningful change?

What does it take to inspire positive action from society? Our experts will delve into how they have affected change by influencing the public and addressing significant challenges.

Featuring:

• Melissa Ansell-Bridges | National Secretary at New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

• Isuru Fernando | Artificial intelligence, cloud platform and design professional and influencer

Expressing yourself: How can you use creative thinking to pursue your dreams and affect change?

How can you harness the power of creativity to inspire, educate, and influence others through your artistic expression? Find out in this session where Gavin Correia and Ruby Porter will share their creative journeys.

Featuring:

• Gavin Correia | Jupiter Project musician

• Ruby Porter |Writer and novelist