Recently Aurecon hosted the Instep Young Leaders’ Forum Business Breakfast. The session provided a unique platform for the young leaders to dig deep into the multifaceted area of design thinking and tackle real-life local challenges. The breakfast was opened with a Karakia led by prior Instep Young Leader, Eli Samuels who is now a Cadet Civil Modeller with Aurecon.

The activities that followed were designed to foster an environment where young leaders could engage directly with the professionals from Aurecon, a company known for its expertise in design, engineering, and advisory services. Students were encouraged to brainstorm and develop innovative solutions to pressing local issues.

They were asked to consider the following problem statements and prompts and had three minutes per group to present back their solutions:    

• How can we make living in TGA more affordable?
• How can we support people moving around the city in a safe & efficient way?
• If Tauranga was to experience an event similar to Cyclone Gabrielle, what actions could we take to prepare? Would our city’s infrastructure withstand any extreme weather event?
• How would you manage water usage in the community?
• What is the impact of occupying more of the harbour and surrounding land? How might we mitigate the cultural and environmental impacts of this activity?
• How can we achieve a goal of net-zero carbon emissions’ earlier that the 2050 goal? such as transport, housing, and energy?

This hands-on approach not only enhanced their problem-solving skills but also provided a practical understanding of how theoretical concepts are applied in real-world scenarios.

One of the primary objectives of these breakfasts is to bridge the gap between local businesses and our emerging generation of leaders. By facilitating direct interaction and networking opportunities, these events create invaluable connections that benefit both the students and the local business community. Young leaders gain firsthand insights into industry practices and career pathways, while businesses like Aurecon can identify and nurture potential future talent.

Aurecon’s participation with the forum highlights its commitment to community engagement and education. The company’s purpose is to bring ideas to life by imagining and co-creating a better future for people and the planet. This aligns well with the goals of the Instep Young Leaders’ Forum, as both aim to equip our young people to build a sustainable and innovative future here in Tauranga Moana.

We’d like to thank Aurecon for creating a dynamic exchange of knowledge, ideas, and inspiration that promises to have a lasting impact on our young leaders.

Thank you also to our sponsors TECT, BayTrust, The Lion Foundation, Bay of Plenty Education Trust And to our partners: Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, The University of Waikato, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

And to our secondary schools: ACG Tauranga, Aquinas College, Otumoetai College, Bethlehem College, Katikati College, Mount Maunganui College, Tauranga Boys’ College, Tauranga Girls’ College, Te Wharekura o Mauao, Papamoa College, and Te Puke High School.