Golden Graduates Lunch 2025

Our Golden Graduates are those who graduated from the University 50 or more years ago, along with graduates aged 70 or over.

The programme

• 10.45am: Networking with light refreshments
• 11.15am: Doors to The Princes Ballroom open – guests to be seated| Welcome from MC | Nostalgia address from Distinguished 1966 alumna Professor Dame Anne Salmond ONZ, DBE | University update from Professor Frank Bloomfield, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
• 11.50am: Two-course lunch with wine served
• 12.50pm: Keynote speech from Professor Olaf Diegel | Musical performance by student ensemble | Dessert, tea and coffee served
• 2.00pm: Event finishes

Guest Speaker: Professor Olaf Diegel, 3D Printing the Future

Imagine enjoying a delectable dinner that your 3D printer has whipped up while you sit in the lounge of your 3D-printed home. Or, imagine customising your dream shoes online and having them manufactured by a 3D printer at a store near you, eliminating the need for international shipping.

Such convenience is just around the corner, but how will our lives change with these technologies? 3D printing expert Professor Olaf Diegel says New Zealand needs to adapt now to prepare for the technology of tomorrow. We must learn to lead the way in this industry, or risk losing a competitive advantage over the rest of the world.

This talk will delve into why 3D printing is a remarkable tool for innovators and explore its current and future applications in the fields of art, engineering, business and health. It will also feature some of Olaf’s own 3D creations printed at the University – if you haven’t seen a 3D-printed guitar before, you're in for a treat!