US Embassy holds 2014 Connecting Young Leaders conference in Christchurch

30 May 2014

The United States Embassy is proud to once again host the Connecting Young Leaders conference, held this year in Christchurch.

The three day conference is part of the US Embassy’s youth and future leaders program and will take place at Canterbury University this weekend.

US Embassy Chargè d'Affaires Marie Damour will deliver the welcome address on Saturday morning.

Former US Ambassador David Huebner established the annual conference in 2010 to give students the chance to connect with other young leaders and gain important leadership skills.

This year’s theme is social entrepreneurship – what it looks like on the ground, and where it fits into society. The participants will have opportunities to identify their own social goals and practice entrepreneurship skills with professionals.

The program features panel discussions from specialists in the entrepreneurship sphere such as Guy Ryan from The Inspiring Stories Trust and Ryan Reynolds from Gap Filler, Members of Parliament Simon O’Conner, Paul Foster-Bell and Megan Woods, and in depth sessions with specialists from organisations such as Volunteering New Zealand, Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus (EPIC), and The Student Volunteer Army.

The participants are members of the US Embassy’s youth councils – groups of students from universities around New Zealand nominated to engage with and support the US Ambassador by providing fresh perspectives on current issues.

Connecting Young Leaders 2014 is the fourth annual conference in New Zealand. The conference was previously held in Wellington in 2010, Auckland in 2012, and Dunedin in 2013.

Further information:
Former Ambassador Huebner’s blog on Connecting Young Leaders 2013
Photos from Connecting Young Leaders 2013 on Flickr

ENDS

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