Dunedin Young Professionals is an incorporated society set up to create professional networks and a circle of friends for people who have chosen to start their careers in Dunedin.
Chairwoman Georgie Gane (24) came from Blenheim to study law and politics at the University of Otago.
She had not planned to stay until she was offered a solicitor's role at Anderson Lloyd, which was too good to refuse.
However, when her employer asked her to source more clients she found it difficult because her university friends had left and she did not have contacts in the city.
Ms Gane realised there would be dozens of people in Dunedin in the same situation.
"All of my university mates left to go to jobs in Wellington and Auckland and I felt like I was stuck. The only people I knew were the people I lived with and the people I worked with."
Ms Gane said there were many benefits to living in Dunedin, such as the opportunity to work at a higher level of responsibility, lower living costs and a good work-life balance.
The committee had planned social and business events.
The first was a launch party planned for July 31 and then a Christmas cocktail event.
Business events would include seminars on buying a first house, and breakfast functions with speakers.
A website was to be launched in the next couple of weeks.
Ms Gane said by creating a network of young professionals, the group hoped to entice people to the city and to keep them here.
The group also had some hefty backing with seven supporting sponsors: CPG, Anderson Lloyd, the Otago University Executives Department, Deloitte, Gallaway Cook Allan and the BNZ.
Ms Gane said, as a benchmark, membership was aimed at people in the first 15 years of their career.
"Dunedin has struggled to attract and maintain young business people. This is an issue which we hope to remedy," she said.
"Dunedin needs young professionals to grow as a city."
