The Kupenga Project

We are pleased to announce that the Kupenga Project will kick-off on August 29, which coincides with The University of Auckland Open Day, and AUT University Open Day.

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The Kupenga Project is open to young men at all NCEA levels at High School, and university students.

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Applications are now open: Simply fill out the Google Form HERE.

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There will be SIX sessions in total: THREE workshops and THREE speaker events.

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Saturday August 29

Open Day at The University of Auckland (9am - 2pm) &
AUT University (7:30am - 3:30pm).

BBQ Lunch at Glenrowan Study Centre.

Workshop: Serious about Study - a practical and interactive session, based on Cal Newport's book Deep Work. How to concentrate on your studies, put online distractions at arms length (or even further away!) and gain an edge on your academic and professional counterparts. Workshop run by Alex Perrottet, RNZ journalist and Director of Glenrowan Study Centre.

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Saturday September 12

Speaker: James Bergin

5pm, Glenrowan Study Centre

James Bergin is the Executive General Manager - Engineering & Architecture at Xero. He was the 2016 Young Executive of the Year, while employed as Chief Architect at ASB. He will talk about the future of IT, where the industry is growing, and how people in IT can harness technology for positive impacts on society. Following the presentation, there will be time for questions, and a break-out session for participants to meet and network with professional mentors.

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Saturday October 3

BBQ Lunch at Glenrowan Study Centre, Hall of Residence

Workshop: Fending off Failure - learn about resilience, commitment and sticking to your goals. This interactive session will include aspects of fortitude, learning from mistakes - and not being afraid to make them - and how to embrace (and even enjoy!) the struggle. Workshop given by Ewen Macpherson, Senior Solicitor at McCaw Lewis, and youth coordinator at Greywood Study Centre.

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Saturday October 17

Speaker: Dean Couzins

5pm, Glenrowan Study Centre

Dean Couzins is the former Captain of the New Zealand Men's Hockey Team, known as the Black Sticks. He has played at THREE Olympic Games, TWO Commonwealth Games and TWO World Cups, earning himself many accolades including a Silver Medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. Dean is now the Senior Manager, Retail Customer Solutions at ANZ Bank. He will talk about employing a sporting spirit to your professional and academic pursuits, how to persevere when the going gets tough, and how to re-evaluate your goals & not be afraid of pivoting and changing the goalposts! Following the presentation, there will be time for questions, and a break-out session for participants to meet and network with professional mentors.

 

 

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Saturday November 7

BBQ Lunch at Glenrowan Study Centre, Hall of Residence

Workshop: Reading & Reasoning - the current intellectual and social atmosphere, particularly online, is rife with 'Fake News' and unreliable sources of information. Truth itself is in crisis. This Workshop will teach you to drive your own education, first through the healthy habit of reading - not for the sake of passing a test, but for personal enrichment and in the greater pursuit of Truth. There will be practical demonstrations of how to discern reliable fountains of wisdom online, and how to engage people in reasoned discussion & debate. The Workshop will be given by Dr Rowan Light, researcher in Education and History at Maxim Institute. 

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Saturday November 21

Speaker: Dr Christiano Marantes

5pm, Glenrowan Study Centre

Dr Cristiano Marantes is the Chief Executive of Ara Ake, the new organisation in charge of New Zealand's move to a low-emissions energy industry, through innovation and technology. He was previously the General Manager of Vector Limited. Cristiano is from Portugal and was educated there as well as in Manchester in the UK, where he later worked for energy companies. He completed a PhD and also the prestigious executive leadership programme at McKinsey & Company. He has lived in New Zealand since 2015 with his wife and two children.

 

He will talk about his academic and professional journey, as well as what we can learn from the big changes happening around the world with sustainable development and climate change. Cristiano will inform us about where future jobs and opportunities will arise in the energy sector and how to ensure that a job in the sciences and management can help you improve society and our world.