Wanted - a tertiary student to sit on the board of Upstart Business Incubator.
Upstart and the Institute of Directors are searching for a student from the University of Otago or Otago Polytechnic for a 12-month directorship with full trustee responsibilities and professional development support.
As students represented an important stakeholder group, Upstart wanted to add the voice of a student to its board-level discussions, Upstart chief executive Steve Silvey said.
"Really what we're looking for is a student with a voice. We want to bring a student's perspective and experience to the board," Mr Silvey said.
"It's a real opportunity for those with an interest in entrepreneurship and directorship to get some great experience in what are really exciting times for the governance profession."
The Institute of Directors (IoD) backed the drive towards greater diversity in the boardroom, whether it was of gender, ethnicity, age or background, Otago-Southland branch chairman Stuart McLauchlan said.
"In this case it not only makes business sense to hear the student viewpoint in board discussions, but finding and developing emerging talent represents an investment in the future," he said.
The initiative was a first for Upstart and is part of a series of changes at the incubator following the arrival of Mr Silvey last August.
Students can apply online through Upstart's website (www.upstart.org.nz) until June 8 and there will be an award presentation for the successful candidate on July 31.
The student will be mentored by an experienced director during their stint on the board.
They will also receive a 12-month IoD membership, attendance at four Otago-Southland branch IoD events and at the IoD governance essentials course in Dunedin this year.
