Business and industry events
Upcoming events | Recent events
Business and industry events contribute to the economic
vitality of the city. They are a key platform that position Auckland both
nationally and internationally as a desirable place to do business. They
encourage business opportunities and growth, develop industry sectors, share
innovation and showcase Auckland's industries.
We look to support business and industry events that:
- profile Auckland city's business and industry sectors
- align with our economic development goals
- support business growth and networking
- support and encourage innovation and creativity.
Upcoming events
Better By Design CEO Summit 2010
Better By Design CEO Summit 2010
Design is one of the hottest topics in business today. This year's CEO Summit on the on 3 and 4 November will present an impressive selection of speakers from New Zealand and overseas.
The Better by Design CEO Summit 2010 focuses on one of the most significant transformational tools in global business
- design integration.
Design integrated companies have evolved to be fundamentally different from other businesses. They create stronger and more appealing products and services, they inspire their people through fostering a dynamic organisational culture, they collaborate to turn their ideas into reality and they create loyal and passionate customers who are willing to pay a price premium. Companies that embed design create new opportunities, new markets and new value.
The 2010 CEO Summit will explore the theory and practice of design integration, learning from global exemplars. It will provide the inside story on how design integration is being used by successful companies worldwide and discuss how the principles of design integration can be applied to transform business.
For more information visit
http://www.betterbydesign.org.nz/ceosummit/.
Art and Design Festival 2010 - a celebration of emerging design
Art and Design Festival 2010 - a celebration of emerging design
This year, AUT University's School of Art + Design are launching the new AD10 (Art + Design) Festival.
This is a fantastic opportunity to see, feel, touch and watch an amazing and varied array of student work.
The Festival will be open to the public and run for five days from 11 to 14 November 2010 - with the
AUT Rookie Fashion Show taking place on
11 November (8pm - Shed 12, Rhubarb Lane, 90 Wellesley Street West).
AD10 will serve as a gathering place for artists, designers, current and prospective students, alumni, teaching staff, and of course, the general public.
The Festival will bring together student work from the seven disciplines that make up the School of Art + Design including, Digital, Fashion, Graphics, Product, Spatial, Textiles and Visual Arts.
A major feature of AD10 Festival will be its opening night, public talks, workshops, installations, performances and the infamous Rookie Fashion Show.
"The School has always held end of the year exhibitions in its own buildings and various other sites in Auckland - Aotea Centre, Galatos, ST PAUL St Galleries, and St Pauls Church. The idea of a Festival is to go beyond just a series of separate student exhibitions and create a Festival celebrating the culture of the School and to bring together artists and designers to contribute to the cultural landscape of Auckland City." says Head of School Ron Left.
Help yourself to Generator
Generator
An initiative of the Arts Regional Trust (ART) and The Big Idea, Generator is a self-guided learning resource that helps creative people and organisations take control and help themselves to develop their creative enterprise through a range of practical online tools, tips and problem-solving exercises. Launched on September 6, Generator's mix of case studies of other creative people and lessons they have learnt, articles, discussions and exercises is designed to get creatives moving in the right direction.
"We've deliberately taken a different approach in designing Generator," says Candy Elsmore from ART.
"We want to focus on the people leading their creative enterprises as well as the health and the development of their enterprise. It is as much about helping people to understand how they approach an issue as it is about the issue itself. So we try to combine some practical tools for understanding as well as tools for doing."
Each month for the next year, Generator will introduce a new focus topic and line of enquiry for people to explore and participate in, through the ‘lens' of their own creative development, and in their own time and pace. Each monthly focus topic will feature new case studies, success stories and
'discussion' with specialists that participants can ask questions of and get the answers that they need.
The September focus is I WANT to make MORE money and I know it starts with ME. HOW do I do that?
You are invited to help yourself to Generator at
www.thebigidea.co.nz/generator.
For more information contact
Margaret Lewis, The Big Idea Te Aria Nui,
Margaret.lewis@thebigidea.co.nz,
tel.835 2070
or Candy Elsmore, Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi,
info@artsregionaltrust.org.nz,
tel 027 279 0002.
Film world doyen Lorn Puttnam to address New Zealand industry at SPADA conference
Lord Puttnam, keynote speaker at the SPADA Conference 2010
Britain's foremost advocate for the film industry, Academy Award winner and producer of Chariots of Fire, The Mission and The Killing Fields, Lord Puttnam, will be the keynote speaker at the 2010 SPADA Conference in Auckland on 11 and 12 November.
SPADA CEO Penelope Borland says: "We are very excited to host the inspiring and influential David Puttnam at our SPADA conference at a time when our screen industry is at a cross roads. Lord Puttnam's presence and views could be just the catalyst we need to transform thinking here, as we debate the future of public broadcasting, commitment to and production of local content and in implementing change following the release of the Government's Review of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Lord Puttnam has made a huge contribution to the film and television industries and the breadth of his experience across other fields such as education, science, the environment and the wider arts mean that his views will be widely sought."
Lord Puttnam's body of work as a film producer includes Palme d'Or winner The Mission and the iconic Chariots of Fire, for which he received the best picture Oscar in 1981. He also produced the acclaimed The Killing Fields and Bugsy Malone, Local Hero, Midnight Express and The Memphis Belle. He was awarded a BAFTA Fellowship for Lifetime Achievement in 2006, is Deputy Chairman of Channel Four and the Chairman of Futurelab.
Since his appointment to the House of Lords in 1997, his focus has been on political and policy work in relation to education, the creative industries and climate change. In 2009 Lord Puttnam produced, We are the People We've Been Waiting For, a thought-provoking documentary about the contemporary education system.
He was founding chair of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts and in 2005 chaired the Hansard Society Commission on the Communication of Parliamentary Democracy, the final report of which urged all political parties to commit to renewal of parliamentary life in an attempt to reinvigorate representative democracy. Lord Puttnam chaired the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill and is a trustee of the Institute for Public Policy Research.
Formed in 1982, the Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) represents the collective interests of independent producers and production companies on all issues affecting the business and creative aspects of screen production in New Zealand.
For more information and register for the SPADA Conference 2010 - 11-12 November, The Langham Hotel, Auckland visit
www.spada.co.nz.
Auckland City Council is a partner of the SPADA Conference 2010.
Pixar Masterclass for 2010 Semi-Permanent New
Zealand
Thursday 19 August 2010
8.30am - 5.30pm
Media Design School, Level 10, 242 Queen Street, Auckland
$290 per person (inc lunch)
**Groups of 5 or more receive a 10 per cent discount on tickets
**Buy a general ticket to Semi-Permanent for $290 and get this masterclass for
$210
**Spaces are limited.
Semi-Permanent is excited to offer a unique professional development opportunity to the New Zealand animation industry
- a day-long masterclass with Pixar's Andrew Gordon.
Andrew Gordon has been animating characters professionally for over 15 years. He joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1997 where he has been an Animator on A Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles
and Ratatouille.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit
www.semipermanent.co.nz/#masterclasss
Pixar Masterclass is proudly brought to you by Auckland City Council, Media Design School, CDC Auckland and Semi Permanent.
Speakers unveiled for 2010 Semi-Permanent New Zealand
2010 Semi-Permanent New Zealand
Semi-Permanent New Zealand will spark up winter with a stunning line-up of fifteen international and local creative professionals headlining the two-day event on 20-21 August at the THE EDGE, Aotea Centre, Auckland.
Now in its seventh year, and once again sponsored by Auckland City Council, the annual design symposium brings together speakers from a broad range of disciplines including graphic design, fashion, animation, illustration, motion graphics, typography, sound design, interactive and experiential marketing, fine art, music, product design and more.
New Zealand creative duo Karen Walker and Mikhail Gherman feature while father and son team Dick and Otis Frizzell round out the New Zealand line-up.
With sister events held in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne, Semi-Permanent New Zealand is part of a unique series of events in Australasia. New Zealand organisers The Church describe it as
"a global gathering of pure talent, new ideas, conversation and visual splendour".
"This year's line up is the biggest yet. It is two ‘big days out' for the creative industry with powerful talent, inspiration, fresh ideas and fantastic industry networking opportunities," says event producer Anna Cameron of The Church.
The 2010 UK contingent features legendary graphic designer and film maker Storm Thorgerson, often referred to as the sixth member of Pink Floyd. Storm will be joined by his collaborator Peter Curzon; Christopher Thomas Allen, founder of multi-media company The Light Surgeons; creative interactive firm founder Nicolas Roope of Poke London; graphic designer and author Adrian Shaughnessy and sound designer Duncan Speakman of Subtlemob.
From the USA comes New York based illustrator and typographer Jessica Hische and motion graphics company Buck, featuring Kiwis Gareth O'Brien and Orion Tait. Pixar's Andrew Gordon who has just finished production on Toy Story 3 will talk about his animation experience and German product designer Katrin Sonnleitner completes the line-up.
Also launched this year is Semi-Opinionated, a social media site for the industry that invites participation from creative, media and design commentators. A virtual soapbox to address industry colleagues, Semi-Opinionated encourages on-line debate and discussion.
Tickets are $290, with a student rate of $150. A VIP ticket for $495 means you can also meet the speakers. Tickets are available through The Edge ticketing service, www.buytickets.co.nz, 09 357 3355 or 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842).
For more information, visit www.semipermanent.co.nz.
Get into www.semi-opinionated.co.nz.
The event in New Zealand is proudly sponsored by British Council, Spicers Paper, AUT University, Media Design School, Unitec and Auckland City Council.
The First Wednesday Programme
On the first Wednesday of every month THE ICEHOUSE opens up to ambitious entrepreneurs who are hungry to understand the steps to understand the steps to start up business success.
- 3 5pm - Attend a seminar to learn the Five Rules for Successful Start-Ups
- 5-6pm - Stay and network - get matched up with ICEHOUSE experts and angel investors. Talk with current and past ICEHOUSE incubator residents and other members of the ICEHOUSE network.
Free to attend but limited to 25 places.
Register today at www.theicehouse.co.nz/start-up
Recent events
New Zealand's best awarded at 2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards
2010 Qantas Film and Television Awards
It was a close call in the hotly contested News and Current Affairs
categories, with One News winning four awards, including Qantas Best News and
Journalist of the Year for Paul Hobbs, and Campbell Live winning three,
including Best News or Current Affairs Presenter for John Campbell.
Across the Film categories, Boy lived up to its box office success by winning
seven awards, including Qantas Best Film. Taika Waititi took home an
unprecedented trifecta, winning Best Director, Best Supporting Actor and Best
Screenplay for Boy, his second feature film.
The debut season of TV2's The Cult also made a strong impact in General
Television, picking up awards for acting, design, music, editing and
cinematography.
48 Hours winner Only Son led the Short Film pack, while Documentary titles This
Way of Life and Lost In Wonderland also won multiple accolades.
"While the New Zealand film and television industries, like many other sectors,
have faced some challenges over the past year, the standard of work produced has
not been compromised," said Anna Cahill, Awards committee co-chair and Executive
Director of the Screen Director's Guild of New Zealand. "There is no shortage of
talent in our industries and it is an honour to be able to bring together the
best of the best to recognise their great work at the 2010 Qantas Film and
Television Awards. Award winners now carry with them not only a trophy, but also
recognition from their peers that they are at the top of their game."
Rick Friesen, Awards committee co-chair and New Zealand Television Broadcasters'
Council chief executive, added that the Awards had become the calendar highlight
for the film and television industries. "The Qantas Film and Television Awards
provide the opportunity for our industries to step back, assess the year's work
and celebrate best practise. Every year, the bar gets set higher, but the work
being produced continues to exceed expectations."
Auckland City Council featured as a major awards partner of the 2010 Qantas Film
and Television Awards because of the positive impact the film and television
industry has on our city's economy and culture.
Young entrepreneurs shine at Auckland Central Regional Awards
Little Steps from St Mary's College show off their award winning book. Back row L to R: Holly Sutton-Edwards, Amy O'Brien, Losa Tuinukuafe, Kate Devoy, Phoebe Lowe Front Row L to R: Nicole O'Loughlin, Christina Nuval.
YES is a hands-on scheme requiring students to establish and run a business
within the school curriculum. It fosters tomorrow's entrepreneurs, giving them
the opportunity to form a company, create a business plan, and produce goods or
services to sell. Students learn all aspects of running a business including
budgeting, decision making, managing risk, market research, marketing, selling
and annual financial reporting.
Top honours for 2010 went to Little Steps from St Mary's College who took out
the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Top Company of the Year Award with their
illustrated children's book 'Bert's Big Day Out', targeting obesity by
encouraging healthy diets. Little Steps was also the recipient of the Auckland
City Council High Growth Potential Award and will represent the region at the
national awards to be held in Wellington next month.
The successful production of reusable laptop skins saw Zenzic from St
Cuthberts College win second place and also claim the Auckland City Council
Excellence in Sustainability Award.
Lisa Ford, YES regional coordinator has been overwhelmed with the high
calibre and entrepreneurial spirit of the 2010 Auckland Central YES companies.
"We are proud to run the Lion Foundation YES programme, growing the country's
future leaders and making a positive contribution to Auckland's future economy.
We are grateful to have Auckland City Council's ongoing support and commitment".
The evening's awards ceremony, held at the Auckland Town Hall, were presented
to the year 12 and 13 students in front of an audience of more than 120
dignitaries, sponsors, mentors, parents and fellow students.
Regional award winners
AMES Excellence in Personal Development Award
Lily Lunday - Diocesan School for Girls
Auckland City Council Excellence in Sustainability Award
Hydr8 Solutions - St Cuthberts College
Auckland City Council High Growth Potential Award
Little Steps - St Mary's College
Benefitz Excellence in Teamwork Award
Helping Hands Sports - Onehunga High School
Bartercard Young Male Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Rory McGann - Onehunga High School
AUT Teacher of the Year Award
Simon Murray - Diocesan School for Girls
The Edge Excellence in Communication Award
Sugar High - Kings College
LaVerta - Diocesan School for Girls
Hydr8 Solutions - St Cuthbert's College
Helping Hand Sports - Onehunga High School
Sole Productions - Diocesan School for Girls
Zenzic - St Cuthbert's College
Little Steps - St Mary's College
Choose Your Charity - Diocesan School for Girls
Deloitte Excellence in Financial Management Award
Zenzic - St Cuthbert's College
Cactus Photography Excellence in Presentation Award
Choose Your Charity - Diocesan School for Girls
Lochiel Printing Ltd. Best Annual Report Award
Zenzic - St Cuthberts College
ENS Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Rachel Abbott - Kings College
YES Company of the Year Runner Up
Zenzic - St Cuthbert's College
Auckland Chamber of Commerce Company of the Year Award
Little Steps - St Mary's College
Fashion feast for Brisbanites
New Zealand Fashion Week
The targeted group of media and buyers participated in the international
programme at New Zealand Fashion Week, which presented an opportunity to
leverage the economic potential of our sister city.
Elizabeth Clarke, key contributor to FashionFoodFatale.com and Q Weekend in
Brisbane, commented, "Auckland's fashion industry is alive with talent,
creativity and innovative fun. It's great to be part of such an iconic Kiwi
event, especially during the 10th anniversary celebrations".
Elizabeth was accompanied by buyers from Chasing Bow and The Tribune Brisbane
boutiques, who were particularly impressed with the variety of work on show at
New Zealand Fashion Week.
Highlights for the group included a tour of AUT's Fashion School, including a
backstage peek at students preparing for the AUT Rookie show as well as the
unique fabric printing/dyeing production/processes at the Textile Design Lab. As
AUT's head of fashion, Mandy Smith, said, "Our guests from the Brisbane fashion
industry were really engaged with the school's programmes and asked a lot of
questions. It was great to see them responding so well to the student's work and
we are hoping that we can continue discussions between the fashion industries in
both cities".
Auckland and Brisbane have had a sister city relationship since 1988. The
main focus of the relationship is on best practice exchange, business
facilitations and connecting key sectors such as bioscience and fashion.
This work on New Zealand Fashion Week was a cross council collaboration. The
project utilised key stakeholder networks from the International Relations,
Event Sponsorship and Economic Development teams.
Survive & Thrive | fuelling the business of creativity
Survive & Thrive
Thursday, 8 July 2010
10.30am - 7pm
The University of Auckland Business School
12 Grafton Road, Auckland
Fuel the business of creativity by connecting with creative producers and entrepreneurial people from across the region, learning from and being inspired by home-grown success stories and arming people with practical tips and tools to make their creative projects and businesses fly.
Held at The University of Auckland Business School, Survive & Thrive 2010 includes a programme of short workshops, networking and an ‘expo' of people and organisations working in support and as part of Auckland's creative sector as well as a presentation from Ray Avery, New Zealander of the Year.
Register online here
www.thebigidea.co.nz/survive-thrive-registration.
For more information visit
www.thebigidea.co.nz/survive-thrive.
Auckland ICT and the Product Development and Management Association
(PDMA NZ) Joint Networking Event
Date: Thursday 24 June 2010
Time: 5pm
Venue: Level 22, PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower, 188 Quay Street, Auckland
Keynote presentation: NextWindow's Journey - Al Monro, CEO, NextWindow
Cost: $15 PDMA-NZ and Auckland ICT paid-up members, $25 non-members
Registration: RSVP name, company, contact number to
events@pdma-nz.org by 21 June 2010 or go to
www.aucklandict.org.nz to register.
Keynote speaker Al Monro will discuss how NextWindow went from a typical ICT start-up trying to develop new innovative technology and raise capital, to now engaging in global markets with major brand customers and the lessons learned along the way.
Other topics include::
- World Computer Congress
- Learn more about the World Computer Congress which will be held in Brisbane from 20-23 September 2010.
- Trans-Tasman ICT Link-up
- Learn more about a virtual Trade Mission that will allow Auckland ICT companies to hear from Australian companies which are looking for NZ Technology partners.
- PDMA-NZ
- Find out more about the Product Development and Management Association and provide the Committee with ideas for future events and the newsletter.
Inaugural Family Business Forum set to stimulate growth and prosperity
Family Business Forum
The Family Business Forum: Sustaining and Growing New Zealand Family Business will bring together international and local speakers, presenting on topics confronting business owners planning the future of their family business, such as:
- maintaining entrepreneurial momentum and growth
- succeeding across generations
- getting the best from governance and advisory structures
- addressing the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Places at the event are limited to give those attending plenty of opportunity to discuss common issues with other business owners and the speakers.
For full details of the forum and how to register visit
www.fambiz.auckland.ac.nz or for further information please contact Darsel Keane on (09) 923 8725 or
d.keane@auckland.ac.nz.
Advancing a bio based economy
Auckland city Mayor John Banks is speaking at the conference opening
The conference attracted a talented line up of speakers, including the return of San Francisco based Dr Ben Chen, International Director, Burrill & Co. Dr Chen spoke about international developments and Dr Alan Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of Pharmaxis spoke of successful commercialisation paths for bioscience companies.
Numbers were up this year from 350 last year, with 500 attendees. This included a delegation from our partner city of 22 years, Brisbane. Auckland City Council organised a networking function on 23 March to connect industry representatives in Auckland with their peers in Brisbane.
"We were delighted to host a networking function during this year's NZBIO Conference to connect trans-Tasman industry representatives. The growth of such events and the conference itself reflects the importance of the bioscience sector to economic development in both Auckland and Brisbane", said Gareth Stiven, Economic development group manager Auckland City Council.
Wayne Mapp, the Minister for Research Science and Technology, attended the conference and announced the winner of the NZBIO Emerging Company of the year. The prize was awarded to Argenta, an Auckland research provider and manufacturer exporting to over 40 countries.
Bioscience, including food innovation, human health, biofuels and medical devices, is a key sector in the Auckland economy. Fifty-four per cent of New Zealand's bioscience employees work in Auckland (Statistics New Zealand 2009).
Anzac Tasker wins Best HP Future Designer at Urbis Designday 2010
Urbis Editor Nicole Stock, Anzac Tasker and Hewlett Packard's Jess Rangi
Seven stunning installations captured the attention and imaginations of attendees at the 2010 Urbis Designday held on 20 March. Attendees voted for their favourite HP Future Designer as they deliberated over the outstanding work of recent AUT design graduates.
Auckland based graphic designer Anzac Tasker walked away with the top prize and a unique HP touchscreen laptop
- one of only two in the country.
The award was announced at the Urbis Designday Wrap Party held at the Steel Works, Auckland on Wednesday 24 March. The votes were close but it was Anzac's unique and fun approach to typography that captivated the audience.
Bringing type 'away from the computer and back into the craft' was the concept behind Anzac's installation and this was demonstrated with white panels and 3D type; some rotating, some only making sense from certain angles, but all fresh, innovative and intriguing.
Urbis Designday Wrap Party guests were unanimous in agreeing that the new HP Future Designer competition was a great new addition to the event demonstrating fresh ideas across five design disciplines: fashion, graphic, product, spatial, and digital design. Other works set up at the Simon James showroom included life size fashion illustrations, composited digital video, suspended and rotating garments, animated and futuristic illustrations, architectural studies - even a lizard trap!
Editor of Urbis, Nicole Stock, helped choose the final seven students and is proud to have the HP Future Designers competition an integral part of the day. She says,
"Urbis is very supportive of young designers and we felt Designday was a great opportunity to showcase great young talent to a discerning and design loving audience. The standard of the seven installations was very high and congratulations to Anzac for winning this award."
Organisers and guests of the fifth Urbis Designday enjoyed the new and exciting changes to the format
- including young designers and creative practitioners from the worlds of architecture, fashion, graphic design, landscaping, and multimedia. Designday was held on Saturday 20 March and was the most successful in its five year history with a huge turnout on the day.
The bar has been set extremely high for 2011 Urbis Designday and no doubt will yet again include world class New Zealand designers and creative practitioners working with Auckland's finest showrooms - leaving every Designday guest feeling inspired and entertained.
For more information visit www.urbismagazine.com/designday.
Students receive head start with business of fashion
workshop
Students receive head start with business of fashion workshop
Auckland City Council hosted students from AUT University and Whitecliffe College of Art and Design at the third Business of Fashion workshop in October.
The intensive one-day workshop, focusing on the critical success factors of the fashion business world, assisted students with developing business acumen and commercial savvy. Topics included costing and pricing, marketing and selling, getting paid and funding, the importance of media and brand and exporting models.
Dianne Ludwig, an advisor and mentor in the fashion industry for over 15 years, facilitated the workshop. She shared her experience as a board member of FINZ (Fashion Industry New Zealand) and a mentor to many of New Zealand's young and existing designers.
Guest speakers included Murray Bevan, director of Showroom 22, and leading New Zealand designers Marc Moore and Luke Harwood from Stolen Girlfriends Club. Their real life experiences in the global market were extremely beneficial to the participants and a great opportunity to get up close and personal with some fresh New Zealand talent.
This year, the introduction of a special lunch format gave students an opportunity to meet and network with some key people from the Auckland fashion industry. Groups of students circulated amongst lunch tables seating an industry representative, including Chris Lorimar, Cybele Wirren, Juliette Hogan, Mapihi Opai and Zoe Walker.
Auckland City Council has been making an investment in young design talent as part of its contribution to the city's Economic Development Strategy under the action plan:
Blueprint: Growing Auckland's creative industries. The wider fashion industry is a key area of focus for council because of the significant contribution to the city's economy, with over a third of New Zealand's clothing stores found in the Auckland region.
Young entrepreneurs gather for Auckland Central Regional
Awards
Gareth Stiven (Economic Development group manager) with G.Y.O from St Cuthbert's College, winners of the Auckland City Council High Growth Potential Award
The Young Enterprise Scheme, with support from Auckland City Council gives young people the opportunity to learn the practical, hands-on experience of running their own businesses and creating real products or services, developing real budgets, implementing real marketing plans, earning real money and keeping the profits.
This year, over 30 companies from 12 Auckland city schools competed in the YES competition. Top performing schools for 2009 included Diocesan School for Girls (taking home 5 awards), St Mary's College (4), St Cuthberts's College (3), Onehunga High School (2) Waiheke High School (2) and Kings College (1).
The Auckland Chamber of Commerce 2009 Top Company of the Year Award went to Spick SCH
- Specialised Corporate Hygienists from Diocesan School for Girls (a fridge cleaning company) with the runner-up going to G.YO. from St Cuthbert's College for their sustainable gardening book promoting environmental awareness for young kiwis. G.Y.O was also the winner of Auckland City Council's High Growth Potential Award.
Young Enterprise Trust's Auckland Regional Manger, Ewan McLeod was impressed with the calibre of the young entrepreneurs in this year's competition.
"The Lion Foundation YES programme is all about developing skills in our young people that will allow them to contribute positively to our local Auckland economy in the future. We are really thrilled to have Auckland City Council's support in helping us to achieve this vision, and hope that this will continue in the future."
Ewan is interested in hearing from business people who have experience in leadership, marketing, sales, IT/design and production. If you would like to contribute your knowledge and expertise to the YES programme or sponsor the 2010 local awards, contact Ewan McLeod at
ewan.mcleod@yetrust.co.nz.
Digital careers off to a flying start
The expo, run by Accelerating Auckland, in partnership with the Department of Labour, Career Services and NZICT offered ICT graduates the opportunity to connect with industry representatives and career experts through seminars and face-to-face interaction.
It was a chance for international and domestic ICT students to make their study and career choices align with New Zealand's future skills needs and become
"work ready" for the New Zealand labour market.
ICT is a key sector for employment, with over 18,000 employees and 2500 companies in Auckland.
Skilled, trained ICT professionals are required for a digital economy and vital for New Zealand's future. In 2008, more than 5900 students completed a formal qualification in ICT from a tertiary education provider in Auckland.
NZICT is a new industry association with more than 60 of the country's leading ICT companies as members. The association aims to increase the number of internships available within its membership, develop a mentoring programme and increase awareness of the contribution of ICT to the productivity, competitiveness and ultimately economic growth of the country.
Updated October 2010
