Connecting Young Professionals To New Opportunities
Join us on the 27th July from 5:30pm onwards for our next event East Meets West: Young Professionals’ Experiences and Insights with an incredible lineup of panelists for this event from MFAT, NZTE, LILO Desserts, and the New Zealand China Council! You’ll hear from three incredibly talented young professionals that have been in our shoes before will share their career story so far. Throughout the conversation we will expand on their early university journey, where they will share their learning that have prepared them for early stage careers. Register and get your ticket now in the link here!
We’ve collaborated with the NZCTA NZ and brought back our Round Table event, where members of each association share experiences, knowledge and discussion on topics top of mind for young professionals and businesses. This is a perfect event for our valued Pateron members that have recently graduated or are on the cusp of settling into their careers. Network with executives, managers and representatives from Buddle Findlay, NZTE, Kiwi Bank, DLA Piper, Alibaba, Air New Zealand and much much more!
We’ve partnered with the UoA Han Cultural Club to deliver an exclusive and limited tea-tasting experience! This tea ceremony offers an extensive tasting of six different Chinese teas provided by Tingcha Studio and a free Hanfu costume experience on behalf of the University of Auckland’s Han Culture Club.
This is our 3rd YA Zoom into China series for the year! Be sure to join the YA as a member to attend these ongoing series throughout the year for FREE. Kickstarting Spring and following from the previous work of Jerry Clode in understanding the intergenerational changes in China – hear now on the practical strategies to make the most of it with the Intergenerational Chances in China.
Everyday we’re faced with the perils of Covid; whether it’s getting sick ourselves, people we know getting sick, queues at the supermarket or online supply chain delays affecting when goods arrive. Have you ever wondered how businesses are managing? Through the lockdowns, the limitations on visitors, lack of tourists in the country and what they’re doing to manage? Hear from Olivia Shen, Founder and Lead consultant at OS Consulting and Pier Smulders, Country Manager for Alibaba. Read more about the event here
With the rise of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles with the inclusion of super foods in our diets, New Zealand nootropic company Ārepa is making its name in the industry. Just last year they were awarded as the winner of the start-up category in the NutraIngredients-Asia awards and have the All Blacks among their customers base. Want to find out more about New Zealand’s new ‘brain drink’?
The third workshop on the list is “Score The Job: Advice to Get Hired” run by Poncho Rivera-Pavon, the Graduate Professional and General Manager at NxtStep. This workshop is targeted towards showing what you can do to give yourself an edge and improve your chances of scoring a job! Sign up via Patreon to access this exclusive workshop!
Introducing our second workshop in our three part series of YA Workshops to get work-ready! The second workshop on the list is “Networking Skills: Learn to network like a pro” run by David Nottage 1996 World Champion of Public Speaking. This workshop is targeted towards ensuring you know the basics of communication and business relations and helping you feel more at ease in networking sessions. Sign up via Patreon to access this exclusive workshop!
In August we hosted a three part professional development series aimed at those new into the working world or are looking to further develop their skills in business financials, networking and getting a job. Hosted online via Zoom, our first series was run by two experts Helen He and Martin Ma from PwC. This workshop is targeted towards teaching the basics of knowing the numbers. You can view the recording by being a member via Patreon
For the second in-person event in 2021, we heard from Dr Mahmood Hikmet, Head of R&D at Ohmio and Karen Hou who is CEO at ICBC New Zealand. The event covered the importance of innovative green technologies with the example of autonomous vehicles and the financing of green assets, both concerned with targeting the lowering of emissions. Read with our event review here
We continued our live Zoom into China series in 2021, starting with the fundamentals of NZ-China Trade with two experts in the space: John Cochrane and Professor Siah Hwee Ang. Together they complimented a range of perspectives from understanding and localising brands to the importance of spreading the risk with NZ international trade. Read more here
For the first event in 2021, we heard from Antje Fiedler, senior lecturer at the University of Auckland Business School and Barney Riley who is a Lead Negotiator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Both guest speakers shared the importance of trade, what the Free Trade agreement means for NZ businesses and how to be set for success in the industry. You can read more here with out event review
A member exclusive! Hear our first Q&A and forum discussion between Leonard Hong, Allan Chan and Edward Smith. We talk about policy, international trade and the problems New Zealander faces to develop their skills and awareness to understanding policy. In addition to this, Leonard passes his advice for other young professionals interested in policy. Sign up via Patreon to access this exclusive interview!
That’s a wrap for us for 2020! It’s been an eventful year not just for the world, but for the YA too. We revamped our membership to ensure our members get the most value for their involvement with us, held a speaker series where we Zoom into China: YA Virtual Series and made amazing connections with our members and other professionals in the NZ-China space through our NZCTA YA Member’s Lounge and YA Connect. You can read more about it here in our 2020 Christmas Newsletter edition.
Rachel Maidment: NZCC Updates & Advice for Budding NZ-China Young Professionals In mid-November 2020, YA’s lasts session of Zoom into China: YA Virtual Series heard from Rachel Maidment: Executive Director at the New Zealand China Council who shared updates in the NZ-China space from an NZCC perspective and her experiences, insights and time as Guangzhou Consul-General.
Food and Beverage Sector: Updates and the Lewis Road Creamery Story In early November 2020, YA had a special edition to the Zoom into China: YA Virtual Series where we uncovered the journey of Lewis Road Creamery and how the company successfully managed to reach its current brand status in the Chinese market. Our speakers was Nicola O’Rourke, general manger of Lewis Road Creamery and Andrew Watene KPMG’s Associate Director of Food, Agribusiness, and Export Lead. Read more about the event here!
Standing Between the Giants In mid-July 2020, YA’s sixth session of Zoom into China: YA Virtual Series took a closer look US-China tension and New Zealand’s role in navigating between these two megapowers. A lot of insightful discourse was shared by our speaker, David Mahon, Founder and executive chairman of Mahon China. Read all about the session here!
EASTERN CHINA: WHERE NZ BUSINESSES ARE WINNING, AND WHERE THEY’RE NOT At the start of July 2020, YA’s fifth session of Zoom into China: YA Virtual Series took a closer look at where NZ businesses and innovation is winning and where they’re not in the Chinesemarket! Our speaker, Jane Jiang, CEO of Les Mills China shared the story of Les Mill’s 21 year history in China and the impact of Chinese leadership for a kiwi business. Read all about the session here!
Failing Forward: Hutong Business Insights on New Zealand Food Startups, SMEs and Corporates In mid-May 2020, YA’s third session of Zoom into China: YA Virtual Series took a glimpse into the important development of the future sustainability of the FMCG industry. A lot of insightful information was shared by our speaker, Alex Worker who was a consultant with Impossible Foods and managing director of Highground Brands.