Movers And Shakers: 40 Under 40 Graduates Changing The World

The University of Auckland’s 40 Under 40 list for 2025 features top pioneering young professionals and creative thinkers transforming society.

Graduates included on the influential list are recognised for achieving exceptional success within their profession and for making significant community contributions. They are named in one of six categories of impact: Business Leaders, Disruptors and Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Humanitarians, Influencers and Changemakers, and Performers.

The 2025 list includes:

Professional golfer Ryan Fox, who plays on the DP World Tour (European Tour) and PGA Tour. He came second overall in the DP World Golf Tour in 2023 and is also a three-time Olympian. This year he celebrated two breakthrough wins on the PGA Tour and sits comfortably in the world’s top 50 ranking.

Hui Wen Tan, partner and head of dispute resolution at Malaysian law firm Jeoff Leong, Poon & Wong. Recently elected to the committee of the Malaysia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, she is a steward of the $4 billion trade relationship between the two nations.

Start-up founders Ninna Granucci, Green Spot Technologies, and Olivia Ogilvie, Opo Bio, both leaders in sustainable food innovation working to ensure the future of food security.

Nathan Chong-Nee, chief executive of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers and advocate for social justice and equality. He is also an alumnus of the Obama Asia-Pacific Leaders and Young Pacific Leaders initiatives.

Soprano Madison Nonoa, a graduate of the prestigious opera course at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and winner of the Dame Malvina Major Award.

Tech entrepreneur Steven Shutong Jiang, founder and CEO of Soarability, a developer of drone and vehicle-based environmental sensing solutions revolutionising environmental monitoring.

Amelia Murray, songwriter, producer and musician behind the music project Fazerdaze. In 2025 she won Best Solo Artist and Album of the Year at the Aotearoa Music Awards.

Launched in 2017, the 40 Under 40 list celebrates high-achieving University of Auckland alumni from around the world making a meaningful difference in their field and community, with a clear vision for the future. Across sectors, these young professionals are engaged in current affairs and passionate about key global issues such as climate change and the environment. This year’s cohort joins 240 past recipients who reflect the talent and diversity of the University’s 240,000-strong international alumni community.

The impressive 2025 group is a reminder that with innovation, ambition and perseverance extraordinary accomplishments are possible – all before the age of 40 – says Director of Alumni Relations and Development, Mark Bentley.

“It’s incredibly inspiring to share the stories of these outstanding individuals and University of Auckland graduates, all of whom are shaping New Zealand’s future across areas including business, technology, sport and the arts,” he says.

Read the full list below.

PERFORMERS

Amelia Murray BMus
Artist, producer, songwriter, musician, Fazerdaze

Ayesha Green GradDipArts, MFA
Artist, Self-employed

Dylan Schmidt BCom
Athlete, Self-employed

Graci Kim BA (Hons)
Author, Self-employed

John-Paul Foliaki BA, LLB
Artist, Self-employed

Madison Nonoa BMus(Hons)
Soprano, Self-employed

Ryan Fox BA
Professional golfer, Self-employed

INFLUENCERS AND CHANGEMAKERS

Jen Jones BProp, MEngSt
Founder and director, Auckland Design Week

Jeremy Leatinu’u BVA, PGDipFinArts, GradDipTchg(Sec)
Kaiako, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana BA, LLB
Chief executive, Impress

Morgan McKeen BEd(Tchg)
Teacher, Milford School

Piyush Verma PhD Electrical and Electronic Eng
Senior fellow – energy and climate policy,
ORF America

Tim McCready BSc, MBioEnt
Strategist, business commentator and event MC

ENTREPRENEURS

Axton Pitt BSc
Co-founder and CEO, Litmaps

Bowen He BSc
Director, Webzilla Digital Marketing

Jordan Rondel BCom
Founder, Jordan Rondel

Kate Gatfield-Jeffries BCom, LLB
Co-founder, Moodi

Layla Kaisi BSc
Director and designer, Layla Kaisi Collection

Sam Blackman BA, LLB(Hons)
Co-founder, Nuvocargo

Steven Shutong Jiang ME
CEO and product lead, Soarability PT

HUMANITARIANS

Brittany Myburgh BA, BFA(Hons)
Assistant professor, Jackson State University

Dasha Elena Nelidova BHB(Hons), MBChB
Resident in neurology/ophthalmology, Rehab
Basel, University Hospital Basel

John Nuukai Ward MBChB
Specialist sport and exercise physician, SEQ
Sport and Exercise Medicine

Nathan Chong-Nee MSW(Prof)
Chief executive, Te Rōpū Tauwhiro i Aotearoa,
Aotearoa New Zealand Association of
Social Workers

Nina Hood GradDipTchg(Sec)
Academic director, The Teachers’ Institute

Rachel Yang Bcom, MLS
Founder and president, University of Auckland
Chinese Alumni Club

Richard Adams BA
Founder and national director, Taskforce Kiwi

DISRUPTERS AND INNOVATORS

Akbar Ashrafi BHB, MBChB
Consultant urologist and robotic surgeon,
SA Health and Adelaide Urology Care

James Palmer BA, LLB
Chief executive, CHFA and Community Finance

Kate Stevenson BPA, MA
Co-founder, DOTDOT

Min-Kyu Jung BA, LLB(Hons)
Co-founder and CEO, Ivo

Ninna Granucci PhD Biological Sciences
CEO, Green Spot Technologies

Olivia Ogilvie Biological Sciences
CEO, Opo Bio

Sam Clearwater BA, LLB(Hons)
Senior vice-president and counsel, The D. E.
Shaw Group

BUSINESS LEADERS

Dan Teo BE(Hons), MEMgt
CEO and managing partner, Radically
Consulting

Hui Wen Tan LLB
Partner and head of dispute resolution,
Jeff Leong, Poon and Wong

Joshua Cesan BDanceSt
Artistic director, Identity Dance Company

Ollie Farnsworth BCom(Hons)
Chief financial officer, Tourism Holdings

Oscar Lyons MBChB
Founder and director, Thrum Leadership

Tanné Snowden BA(Hons)
Founder and CEO, TRONQUE
 

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