University of Otago students Amy Waqawai and Griffin
Leonard will head to Wellington this week as Dunedin's
nominees for the Aspiring Leaders Forum. Photo by Craig
Baxter.
Two young Dunedin people expect little spare time at the
Aspiring Leaders Forum in Wellington this week, with a full
schedule for the annual four-day event.
University of Otago students Amy Waqawai (22) and Griffin
Leonard (19) have been nominated for the forum, which begins
tomorrow.
They were chosen after 11 people were interviewed.
The forum, which was aimed at fostering the talents of young
leaders by providing mentoring by the country's leaders,
would this year discuss the significance of faith and values
within the context of leadership, Dunedin City Council
community adviser Michael Laufiso said.
Hosted by members of Parliament, the forum encouraged young
people to be better leaders in the areas of society in which
they were engaged.
The two were chosen by a judging panel comprising Dunedin
Mayor Peter Chin, Community Trust of Otago trustee Louise
Croot and 2007 Aspiring Leaders scholarship recipient Erin
Young.
Ms Waqawai is studying philosophy, politics and economics and
is a board member of the Pacific Trust Otago.
Mr Leonard, a first-year student studying politics and
philosophy, has played basketball for Otago.
He will receive a Duke of Edinburgh Award gold medal in
October.
Mr Leonard said it was a privilege to be nominated, and he
expected the forum would better equip him for leadership
roles in future.
Ms Waqawai expected the forum to be "cool".
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