Aspiring Leaders Forum :: University of Waikato

Waikato Management School is offering to sponsor a WMS student to take part in the Aspiring Leaders Forum in Wellington. Applications close Monday, 2 June 2025.

The Aspiring Leaders' Forum (ALF) on faith and values will be hosting its forum on 21 - 24 August 2025 in Wellington. The annual event brings together a diverse group of committed and courageous young leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Guided by facilitators and esteemed national leaders, young people discuss leadership from a narrative point of view, faith and values over four days.

While Members of Parliament host aspects of the Forum, the focus is not purely politics. Instead, it is about encouraging young people to become better leaders in their sphere of influence - be it community, arts, business, politics or sports.

The Aspiring Leaders' Forum hopes to build a bridge from one generation to the next, inspiring and elevating our young people's expectations of leadership.

Programme

Highlights include:

A day spent in Parliament House
Keynote addresses from senior politicians
Keynote addresses from inspiring leaders of varying societal spheres
Small group discussions
A community service project
A sports afternoon and an epic barn dance

To view the full programme please go to aspiringleaders.org.nz

Sponsorship up to the value of $3,000 will cover travel expenses and the forum registration fee (accommodation and meals for the duration of the Forum included).

What is the Aspiring Leaders Forum like?

2024

Georgia Bartlam
Bachelor of Business

At the New Zealand 18th Aspiring Leaders Forum in Wellington, I had the opportunity to listen, engage, and reflect on the words spoken by members of parliament, inspiring community leaders, and remarkable keynote speakers.

This forum is truly unique, bringing together emerging leaders from across New Zealand to explore character-based leadership. It was a grounding experience that challenged me to deeply reflect on my leadership journey, values, who I am as a leader, and what I aspire to be for myself and the world I live in.

The ALF experience reminded me that leadership is not just about skills, but about character, values, and vision. Meeting so many passionate individuals who are driven to make a positive impact has been a profound source of inspiration. This experience, and the people I've met, will stay with me for the rest of my life.

These key takeaways will stay with me, no matter where life takes me:

Find comfort in the uncomfortable – Embracing discomfort is where true growth begins.
Be authentic – Authenticity is at the heart of meaningful leadership.
Listen carefully and to all – Every voice matters, and hearing different perspectives is key to strong leadership.
It’s your vision – Only you can bring it to life, and doing things that foster this is crucial.

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for the Aspiring Leaders Forum sponsorship, you must:

Be aged between 18 and 26
Be able to demonstrate strong leadership potential in your sphere of influence
Be a full-time Waikato Management School student
Have already completed at least 120 points towards your degree
Have a grade-point average of at least B+ (75-79%)
Be a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident
Be willing to take photos/videos of your experience in Wellington, and write a short debrief for the Waikato Management School website once you return home.

We're looking for those individuals who demonstrate strong leadership potential, those who have genuine appreciation for different perspectives and for individuals with diverse interests, backgrounds and ambitions.