BEST Leadership Academy celebrates 1st Anniversary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 December 2011

BEST Leadership Academy celebrates 1st Anniversary

The BEST Leadership Academy has made great strides in nurturing Pacific Leaders since it was launched a year ago.

CEO, Beatrice Faumuinā says the journey over the past 12 months has been a hub of non-stop activity, development, and great achievement.

“A year ago, we started with just a vision and now we have launched a leadership programme and are working with 12 amazing Pacific leaders who come from different areas of the private and public sectors. We are also working with some exceptional lecturers who challenge our leaders to think outside the square in their leadership journeys.”

Ms Faumuinā says 2012 looks just as exciting and is looking forward to the introduction of the ‘Distinguished Speakers’ series.

“This is another phase of the BEST Leadership programme where our students and members of the public will have the opportunity to hear some of this country’s most experienced and respected leaders share their wisdom and insights. Some of these people have transformed New Zealand’s landscape in diverse ways and continue to influence our thinking.”

The BEST Leadership Academy is proud to announce the first guest speaker in the ‘Distinguished Speakers’ series, which will take place in March, is Entrepreneur, Tony Falkenstein, the man behind ‘Just Water.”
“It is difficult for me to capture in words, a man who has been instrumental in the gift of hope for so many people From establishing New Zealand’s first business high school to his famous quote “Never hire a person who walks slowly” his business philosophy says it all “If you’re not in business for fun and profit, what the hell are you doing there” says Faumuinā.
The former World Champion and Four Time Olympian says the introduction of a Pacific-focused leadership strand through the Pasifika Mat workshops has also been a wonderful aspect of the BEST Leadership Programme which officially began in September with Roseann Gedye, a sought after consultant in Communication Advisory services in Aotearoa.

We are pleased to have Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh, the first person of Pacific descent to graduate with a PhD in English from the University of Auckland and now lecturer in Maori and Pacific Literature Studies to facilitate Pasifika Mat which is part of the Leadership Programme.

“Pasifika Mat is an exciting aspect of the BEST Leadership Programme and sets us apart from other programmes as it contexts leadership for Pacific business leaders in a New Zealand setting and incorporates Pacific views woven into the Pasifika leadership journey” says Faumuinā.

The BEST Leadership Academy will celebrate its one year anniversary on Saturday, 10th December at the Villa Maria Estate in Mangere, South Auckland.

ENDS

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