Amarind Hun Eng
New Zealand's Youngest Diplomat
Amarind is a Victoria University Student studying Law and Arts who spent 2015 on a scholarship to Japan, where he also served as an Intern for Education NZ at the Tokyo Embassy. He has experienced some incredible things, such as representing NZ at international conferences and overseas, simply not expected for someone his age. This is a reflection of having been inspired to achieve beyond expectations by his High School mentor Lou Gardiner. Appropriately then he will be 'Redefining what it means to be Youth' in today's talk.
Cathi Napp
Dog Trainer
Cathi Napp is passionate about dogs, people, and how the two interact. She's recently followed her own advice, and left a five year banking career to follow her dream. She's a full time dog trainer and university student.
Madeleine Bell
Youth Mental Health
Maddie Bell is 19 and in her second year at Victoria University. In her year 13 she and her friends created their own initiative, SupSis, to help support their school peers and to address youth mental health issues.
Maisy Bentley
Creative Movement Builder
Having significant achievements under her belt as a 17 year old and first hand experience of overcoming some of the momentous challenges faced by many young people today, Maisy believes everyone, particularly young people, can flourish and create a better world by being challengers and doers when we don't wait for permission.
Noa Woolloff
Social Entrepreneur
18 year old Noa Woolloff is Head Boy of Aotea College, a father to his 16 month old daughter Kyla, and an aspiring social entrepreneur.
Noa is passionate about inspiring young people to chase their dreams and become the best they can be no matter what their backgrounds are.
Young parents need to break out of the social stigma that can follow becoming a young parent in New Zealand. Facing the judgment first hand, Noa believes that stereotypes may hold you back, but they can also push you forward in a positive way.
He believes that age doesn’t define if you’re going to a good parent, being a good parent defines if you’re going to be a good parent!
Ruby Hooper
Spoken Word Artist
16-year-old Ruby Hooper is an experienced actress and slam poet, having performed in the Chaz Harris-directed miniseries End Of Term (now available on TVNZ Ondemand), and with Wellington-based poetry group Poetry in Motion. She will be performing an original piece.
Sarah Gulley
Girl Up Teen Advisor
Sarah is currently in her last year of high school. She first got involved in Girl Up two years ago when she started the first Girl Up club in New Zealand. In 2015 she was selected as the only international Girl Up Teen Advisor in her 2015-16 class. Since then Girl Up has grown throughout the country and she’s been able to organise two regional Girl Up Leadership Summits. She is also Head Girl of her school, and involved in other organisations including UN Youth NZ as a high school ambassador.