Young Leaders Forum to inspire Asia connections

Young Leaders Forum to inspire Asia connectionsHamishMiller speaks Mandarin Rosetta Stone fluently and works as key accountmanager for a New Zealand company that imports almost $200million of products from Asia a year, mostly fromChina.The former Asia:NZ China Scholar and graduate ofVictoria and Nanjing universities says his employer, MacvadLtd, is New Zealands largest importer, for which hemanages accounts that include the Warehouse Group. MrMiller says Chinese language and experience has enabled himto progress through the company more quickly than he everexpected, and to become well known within the industry. One reason for this is because there are no othernon-Asian New Zealand-born account managers or buyers thatspeak Asian languages in the retailindustry. Everyone says to me,that was smart,learning Chinese but still there are so few people doingthe same, he said. Hamish Miller is one of the 38young people taking part in the inaugural Asia:NZ YoungLeaders Forum. Apart Rosetta Stone Hindi V3 from New Zealanders, participants alsocome from South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China, Bangladesh,India, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. Asia:NZseducation director Pamela Barton says these talented,Asia-literate young people were chosen because of theirleadership potential and she hopes the enduring networkswill benefit not only young leaders but also the widerinterests of New Zealand and the countries of Asia.To beeligible, the participants had to be young New Zealanderswho are former or current Asia:NZ scholarship holders orinternational students from Asia on New Zealand governmentscholarships.The programme, which begins in Wellington onNovember 19 and concludes in Auckland on November 25, willinclude workshops on leadership, cross-culturalcommunication and public speaking. There will also besite visits in Rotorua and Hamilton as well as briefings bygovernment and business leaders. Included in the programmeare team building activities and panel discussions.Formore information, visit www.youngleaders.org.nz. The YoungLeaders Forum programme is Rosetta Stone Portuguese attached.