Northside Magazine 2015 - 2016

MAGAZINE

CARL HUME AIMES Supreme Award Winner 2015

TWELFTH ANNUAL ISSUE 2015/2016 The annual magazine of the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust, celebrating the achievements of the exceptional young people of our region and the support they receive from the Club – Members, Sponsors and Supporters.

AWARDS

The North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust acknowledges the ongoing support of our fantastic sponsors…

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES AWARDS SPONSORS

WE’RE BUILDING NORTH HARBOUR SPONSORS

DAVENPORTS H A R B O U R

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE AIMES WINNERS NETWORK

L A W Y E R S

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB MEMBERSHIP SPONSOR

EXCLUSIVE TRAVEL PARTNER

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENT & SUPPORT SPONSORS

www.northharbourclub.co.nz

WELCOME

The five 2015 AIMES Award Winners who attended the gala dinner to accept their awards.

Courtney Jackson

CELEBRATING SUCCESS Twenty years of rewarding excellence.

What an incredible achievement for the North Harbour community – the dedication of so many individuals to ensure we are able to continue to reward such exceptionally talented youth is a testament to this community and we are so proud to be able to capture it annually in the Northside magazine.

The AIMES Awards continue to expand every year with new sections added and the total funds awarded continually growing as the Club does.

Whether you are a current or past member, sponsor, alumni or a community supporter; thank you for your ongoing support of our mission to reward excellence. It simply wouldn’t be possible without you.

Enjoy reading this edition of Northside – here’s to the next twenty.

CONTENTS

President’s Message................................................................................................3 Trustees 2015/2016................................................................................................5 Members 2015/2016, About the North Harbour Club .............................................6 Our Fantastic Sponsors ..........................................................................................9 AIMES SUPREME AWARD & EDUCATION AWARD WINNER 2015: Carl Hume.............................................................................................................10 AIMES ARTS AWARD WINNER 2015: Emily Scott............................................................................................................12 AIMES IT, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE AWARD WINNER 2015: Sian Simpson........................................................................................................14 AIMES MUSIC AWARD WINNER 2015: Alexander Verster..................................................................................................18 AIMES SPORT AWARD WINNERS 2015: Michael Brake........................................................................................................20 Gemma Jones.......................................................................................................22 AIMES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER 2015: Mattea Mrkusic......................................................................................................24 AIMES Awards Judges Report...............................................................................26 BELLINGHAM WALLACE EMERGING TALENT AWARD WINNERS 2015 .............29

Courtney Jackson General Manager, North Harbour Club.

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD WINNERS 2015 .............................................................34

North Harbour Club Management: Courtney Jackson – General Manager (manager@northharbourclub.co.nz) Telephone 021 277 0699 PO Box 31-599, Milford, North Shore.

MEMBER PROFILE: David Stedman......................................................................46

VISIT ONLINE: www.northharbourclub.co.nz

AIMES Winners Network.......................................................................................52

AIMES AWARDS GALA DINNER 2015..................................................................38 EMERGING TALENT AND JUNIOR AIMES AWARDS PRESENTATION 2015.........43 FEATURE INTERVIEW: Simon Lamb......................................................................48 NORTH HARBOUR BUSINESS HALL OF FAME....................................................50 5 BIG QUESTIONS: Lynda Mann...........................................................................51 5 BIG QUESTIONS: Lloyd Kirby.............................................................................54

Northside is published annually for the club by Benefitz DMA Limited.

VISIT ONLINE: www.benefitz.co.nz PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Aidan Bennett (aidan@benefitz.co.nz) Telephone 09-477-4701 or 021-500-997 CONTENT: Aidan Bennett; Courtney Jackson; Heather Vermeer.

ADVERTISING: Aidan Bennett.

DESIGN: Crystal Sharp (crystal@benefitz.co.nz).

PRINTING: Benefitz.

The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of the North Harbour Club or the publishers.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS AWARDED......................54 CATCHING UP WITH THE WINNERS: Matthew Flinn............................................56 AIMES AWARD WINNER UPDATES......................................................................58 5 BIG QUESTIONS: Tammy McLeod.....................................................................76 After 5's 2015........................................................................................................77 North Harbour Club Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunches...................................80 CELEBRATING 20 YEARS: Book Launched..........................................................83 THE LAST WORD: Matthew Bellingham................................................................84 Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

www.facebook.com/TheNorthHarbourClub @NthHarbourClub

Proud to produce Northside and to support the North Harbour Club. www.benefitz.co.nz NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 1

Takapuna Grammar School International Baccalaureate World School

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

A crowd of over 600 attended our 20th Anniversary AIMES Awards Gala Dinner in November 2015.

WOW

Aidan Bennett.

WHAT A YEAR! What a fantastic year 2015 was for the North Harbour Club.

We certainly celebrated our first 20 years in style.

Firstly I want to highlight the great all round efforts of my fellow trustees in 2015. We have a great team of trustees who are all prepared to debate vigorously at our regular meetings to come up with the right decisions and solutions for the club.

These efforts have been enhanced greatly with the management and organisational ability of GM Courtney Jackson in 2014 and 2015. She is a real asset for the club.

Changes were made to the constitution of the club during the year, which will result in greater rotation of trustees which we believe will be healthy for the club. As a result, the first of these changes took place at the mid-year AGM with Matthew Bellingham’s three year presidency term coming to an end. He has stayed on the board as the Immediate Past President. After some 12 years as a trustee, Gary Monk also stood down from the board and was replaced by Tammy McLeod. I was elected President and Phil Brosnan Vice President.

I need to acknowledge the efforts of both Gary and Matt.

Most will know the huge contribution that Gary has made to the club for a large slice of the past two decades. This has been appropriately recognised with a life membership. Matt was just the third president of the club and had big shoes to fill.

He has presided over a period of strong growth for the club and continues to make a huge contribution as a trustee, supporter and sponsor. Matt will continue his strong involvement with the club as the Judging Chair of the new Business Hall of Fame initiative. Fittingly, Gary will also serve as a judge for the Business Hall of Fame.

There have been many other highlights in 2015 and we have covered most of them in this issue of Northside. These include… a great lunch programme; strong support of the ‘After-5’ functions; a record 186 applications for the AIMES Awards; the introduction of the Junior AIMES Awards; the club’s move to administer the regions Business Hall of Fame; and a crowd of over 600 at our 20th Anniversary AIMES Awards Gala Dinner.

Certainly a year we can all be very proud of as members, partners, sponsors and trustees.

Aidan Bennett President North Harbour Club & Charitable Trust PS: Make sure you order your copy of our North Harbour Club book! It is a great read and record of the club's achievements since 1995. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 3

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I AM STUDYING AT MASSEY AUCKLAND I AM A CHALLENGER PAGE 4 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

TRUSTEES

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB & CHARITABLE TRUST

TRUSTEES 2015 2016

President: Aidan Bennett Managing Director, Benefitz.

Email: aidan@benefitz.co.nz

Vice President: Phil Brosnan Managing Director, Brosnan Construction.

Email: phil@brosnanconstruction.co.nz

Immediate Past President: Matthew Bellingham Director, Bellingham Wallace Email: mattb@bellinghamwallace.co.nz

Trustee: Andrea Davies Campus Registrar, Massey University Auckland.

Email: a.l.davies@massey.ac.nz

Trustee: Mark Jago CEO, Lexus of North Shore and North Shore Toyota.

Email: markjago@nst.co.nz

Trustee: Ngaio Merrick Business Manager, Lewis Holdings Limited.

Email: ngaio@quadrant.co.nz

Trustee: Gary Simpson Partner, Simpson Western Lawyers.

Email: garys@simpsonwestern.co.nz

Trustee: Sue Stanaway General Manager, Bayleys Foundation..

Email: sue.stanaway@bayleys.co.nz

Trustee: Hugh Stedman Managing Director, 300 Richmond Limited.

Email: stedmans@xtra.co.nz

Trustee: Tammy McLeod Director, Davenports Harbour Lawyers.

Email: tammy.mcleod@davenportsharbour.co.nz

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 5

NHC MEMBERS 2015/2016 PATRON Peter Menzies LIFE MEMBERS Joan Finlayson Peter & Michelle Wall Gary Monk HONORARY MEMBERS Bob Jago Professor Ian Watson BOARD OF TRUSTEES Aidan Bennett (President) Phil Brosnan (Vice-President) Matt Bellingham (Immediate Past President) Andrea Davies Mark Jago Tammy McLeod Ngaio Merrick Gary Simpson Sue Stanaway Hugh Stedman SECRETARY/TREASURER Kevin Clifford AMBASSADORS Cameron Calkoen Shane Cortese Ian Jones Peter Montgomery MEMBERS Max Abbott Colin Abercrombie Philip Adamson Paul Alexander John Algie Mike Atkinson Henry Barfoot Raymond Barnes Vickie Barrie Paul Bayer Walid Bayouk Francine Bennett Ted Benton John Berry John Bishop Trish Blackmore Paul Blackwell Nicolette Bodewes Janine Brinsdon John Broderick David Brook Russell Brooke Julian Brown Scott Browne Paul Brownsey Jonno Buckley Ian Calderwood Angela Cameron Graham Catley Barbara Cavanagh David Charlesworth Fleur Clough John Cobb Graham Collie Nixon Cooper Steve Corbett David Delamare Edward Delamare Nick Delamare Jan Dawson Tristan Dean Bert Denee Daryl Devereux Stephen Dil Dave Donaldson Wade Downey Terry Dunleavy Eric Faesen Kloet Simon Farland David Ferguson Dean Flyger Bruce Fowler Don Galbraith Colin Gibbons Zane Gifford Bruno Goedeke John Gold John Grant

Kirk Hardy Mike Hare Tanya Hart Colin Harvey Daniel Henderson Michelle Henderson Nick Hern Brian Hight Lisa Hill Steve Hilson Andrew Hiskens David Hodge Terry Holt Gary Howarth Nick Howe-Smith Lyle Irwin Dima Ivanov Craig Jenkins Steve Jurkovich Annette Kann Nick Kearney Chris Kennings Lloyd Kirby Dave Knowles Simon Lamb Dave Lane Steven Langerak Alan Le Noel Bob Leveloff Sir David Levene Murray Lockwood Kate Luxton Liam Lyons David Macleod Andrew MacKenzie Chris Maclean Steve Maharey Lynda Mann Janet Marshall John Matthews Bob McGuigan Kevin McLean Tammy McLeod Forres McPheat Bob McRae Jim Matthewson Roz Mexted Judge Barry Morris Karen Murrell Murray Nancekivell Richard Neale Ken Noble Dave Ormandy Brett O’Riley Jugdis Parbhu Sean Parsons Sherida Penman-Walters Nicki Pettigrew Bob Quaid Greg Remmington Ralph Roberts Colin Saltmarsh John Sandford Andrew Schnauer Kate Shevland Mike Single Rod Slater Bill Smale Greg Smale Nicola Smee Bruce Spooner John Spooner Mike Stanley David Stedman Mark Talbot Ian Taylor Peter Taylor James Thomas Andrew Thomson Ann Tod Bruce Tong Paul Tooley Scott Travis Jamie Wansey Greg Ward Peter White Alan Wiltshire Ted Zorn

PAGE 6 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

ABOUT THE NORTH HARBOUR CLUB BACKGROUND The North Harbour Club (and Charitable Trust) was established on 18 May, 1995.

A group of North Shore business people met and established a constitution with the following objectives: 1. To promote the North Harbour region.

2. For business establishments of the region to meet and network for the good of the region.

3. To form a Charitable Trust to raise funds and present scholarships to the youth of the North Harbour region through the trusts annual AIMES Awards. To qualify for the AIMES Awards, recipients must have shown outstanding ability or potential in the areas of the Arts, IT, Innovation & Science, Music, Education, Sport and Service to the Community.

The North Harbour Club is an association of Auckland’s North Shore and North Harbour leaders in local affairs, business, education, sport and social development.

Members of the North Harbour Club, who are all residents or have their businesses in the North Harbour area, have, among other stated aims, the desire to promote excellence by encouraging and providing financial assistance to the young people of the North Harbour region who have significant ability in their chosen field and display personal characteristics which make them worthy of our support.

OBJECTIVES The annual AIMES Awards are the highest-profile face of the North Harbour Club, but the objectives of the club are five-fold: 1. To establish and maintain a club of non-political character for Members to meet through regular lunches and social activities.

2. To establish a charitable trust, known as The North Harbour Club Charitable Trust, to promote and develop local talent in the fields covered by the AIMES Awards.

3. To support cultural, sporting and recreational activities in the North Harbour Region.

4. To foster a spirit of pride in the North Harbour Region.

5. To foster a ‘good neighbour’ and ‘good citizen’ ethos in the North Harbour Region.

Membership of the North Harbour Club returns benefits to Members as well as the young people the Club chooses to reward.

FUNDRAISING EVENTS A series of events throughout the year, including dinners, charity lunches and other functions/events, allow members to mix and mingle while enjoying good food and fine wine. In this way Members receive an opportunity to meet each other, entertain clients and help our outstanding young achievers advance their careers at the same time.

The aim of these events is also to raise funds to enable the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust to continue to make grants to the young people who receive the annual AIMES Awards.

Financial contributions from members, through being involved in these events, are essential for ongoing funding of club.

SPONSORSHIP Funding is also gained by the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust through sponsorships. These include sponsorship of the AIMES Awards categories (called letter sponsors), and also through a group of sponsors called ‘We’re Building North Harbour’. There are also support sponsors who provide products and services to the club.

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB? You can find our criteria for application and download an application pack from www.northharbourclub.co.nz/membership or contact Courtney Jackson – manager@northharbourclub.co.nz.

HOW TO APPLY:

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP:

> You must be nominated by a current member of the North Harbour Club

Membership of the North Harbour Club returns benefits to Members as well as the young people the Club chooses to reward. These include:

> Submit your CV and Application Form > Applications are submitted at each Trustee meeting for approval > Successful applications will be notified within 5 working days of each Trustee meeting.

CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP: To be a Member of the North Harbour Club you need to:• Be a North Harbour Resident, or have your primary Business located in the North Harbour area; and • Be a leader in local affairs, business, education, sport and/or social development; and • Be of good character with values and goals that align with those of the North Harbour Club; and • Contribute to the Club to support its goals, by way of regular attendance at Club fundraising events and/or sponsorship of the North Harbour Club • Understand that application for membership is at the discretion of the Trustees of the North Harbour Club Charitable Trust

• Make a difference to youth striving for excellence • Fabulous speakers • High energy, engaging lunches • Introductions and connections to other North Harbour Club Members • Option to host or speak at an After 5 • Member profile in the newsletter • Priority ticket purchasing for lunches and AIMES Awards

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS: Corporate Membership - $2,000 plus GST Two individual members from the same organisation as recognised members of the club.

Includes three tickets to each Luncheon event.

OR Standard Membership - $500 plus GST One individual member joined.

Tickets for each event purchased additionally.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 7

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HIGHLIGHTING OUR SPONSORS

OUR FANTASTIC SPONSORS Since it’s inception in 1995, the North Harbour Club has relied on donations from generous sponsors to ensure the continued success of the Club and Charitable Trust. These sponsors, many whose logos have been there since the very early days have been instrumental in contributing to the incredible sum of $1.65M that has been awarded to talented youth of the North Harbour region.

You will find these sponsors outlined throughout this magazine (logos are on the facing page) and we urge you to consider using them whenever possible in your own business.

AIMES AWARDS 'LETTER' SPONSORS Each ‘Letter’ Sponsor provides money that is awarded directly to their category winner who then goes on to use this to continue achieving excellence in their field.

Our current AIMES Awards Letter Sponsors are:

ARTS

AUCKLAND LIVE/BRUCE MASON CENTRE

IT, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE MASSEY UNIVERSITY

MUSIC

AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS BELLINGHAM WALLACE Recognising those 'emerging' in each AIMES category.

BUILDING NORTH HARBOUR SPONSORS A concept created in 2006, our Building North Harbour sponsors are just that – local businesses committed to building and developing our region.

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENT AND SUPPORT SPONSORS

ALBANY TOYOTA

Our support sponsors provide the club with various support around events, marketing and even gym memberships for our AIMES Winners.

EDUCATION

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB SPECIALIST SPONSORS

KRISTIN SCHOOL

SPORT

AUT MILLENNIUM

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ASB BANK

We also have four sponsorships around specific events the club is involved in or supports:-

North Harbour Club Charity lunches LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE Lexus of North Shore have been long time sponsors of the four Charity Lunches we host every year.

North Harbour Club Members Network RSM PRINCE Our members network fosters membership of the club. This is sponsored by local accountancy firm RSM Prince.

North Harbour Club AIMES Winners Network SIMPSON WESTERN LAWYERS This is our 'alumni' of AIMES Award recipients over 20 years. It is generously supported by law firm Simpson Western.

Business Excellence Network (BEN Breakfasts) This popular business breakfast programme is organised

by BEN with support from sponsors Schnauer & Co, BDO, Westpac and ATEED. For many years funds raised as a result of this breakfast programme have been generously gifted to the club to support the AIMES Awards.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 9

WINNERS 2015

AIMES SUPREME AWARD WINNER

& AIMES EDUCATION AWARD 2015 Sponsored by KRISTIN SCHOOL

Carl Hume.

SUPREME AWARD GOES TO...

DR CARL HUME

AIMES SUPREME AWARD & EDUCATION AWARD 2015 Humble and humorous, Carl Hume read about the AIMES Awards in Channel Magazine last year and thought his efforts in education may just be worth applying for…Heather Vermeer explains how right this newly-qualified doctor was.

He was born at North Shore Hospital, and now the 2015 Supreme AIMES Award recipient works as a promising young doctor. He’s come full circle he says, joking that all he needs to do now, eventually, is to die there to actually complete the circle.

Carl was the very grateful winner of the 2015 AIMES Education Award, and was aghast to be named overall Supreme Award winner at the Awards’ 20th anniversary gala dinner at The Langham.

“It was a very flashy night, which I’m totally not used to,” he admits. “I was honestly a bit disbelieving when my name was called out. It’s kind of humbling really, especially considering the names of the winners who’ve gone before me. I’m just glad I wasn’t competing in any of the recent years gone by, as I’d have stood no chance against the likes of Lydia Ko or Lorde! It really was a nice surprise to win.”

PAGE 10 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

The medical student will officially graduate from The University of Auckland in May this year, with an exemplary university record and a multitude of research papers already produced. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious Deans Prize as the medical student to have achieved the highest overall grade in his year, and the Alice Bush Memorial Prize for being the paediatrics department’s top performing student. The year before, he was given the Department of Anaesthesiology Prize for achieving the highest grades in the anaesthetics component of the degree in 2013. He maintained a grade average between A and A+ throughout his university studies and he received distinctions for performance in every one of his clinical years.

Carl is already working at North Shore Hospital as a junior doctor, having been an intern there during his studies. Work is near to his Forrest Hill home and, at 24, he is living his dreams. But has plenty more. “It’s an interesting time of my life. I have to do two years as a junior doctor - one where I’m currently based, at North Shore Hospital, and one will be elsewhere in Auckland. And then I will have to decide what I really want to pursue.”

Carl Hume speaking at the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner in November 2015.

His medical interests lay, primarily, in academic neurosurgery. In late 2015 he presented some of his research at the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia’s Annual Conference, being invited by a specialist neurosurgeon to present alongside him. He has engaged in much research throughout his six year medicine degree, choosing to delve into such areas as reproductive technology, ethics concerning end of life care and non-speaking patients, and infection control. “I am still aware that I don’t want to pigeonhole myself at this stage,” he says. “It’s a matter of keeping up with the research, keeping your mind open and seeing what it is you most like. At present, I’m very much a newbie - a bit like Bambi, trying to find his feet!”

The spark that would ignite Carl’s medical career was lit back in the sixth form at Orewa College. Growing up with his mother Jenny, a nurse, and his father Bruce, a physics teacher (he taught Carl at Orewa College), medical and science influences have always been strong in his life. He always enjoyed science, particularly biology, and was driven by a desire to help people. “It may sound a little cheesy here, but the reason I got into medicine primarily was because I wanted to do something that’s helpful. And something that involved interacting with people, that’s intellectually stimulating and involved science - medicine was the clear choice. I set out to do what I can to make other people’s lives more bearable, because I know life can be really hard - harder than I know.”

Family life is big for Carl; he is close to his parents who live where the family grew up, in Red Beach, and he has two older brothers and a twin sister. All the Hume children are involved in very different study and career paths; his eldest brother is working on his Masters in English Literature, the next is engaged in postgraduate research in chemistry and his twin sister has completed a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology. Carl married his ‘high school sweetheart from a different school’, Fleur, four years ago, when he was just aged 20.

“I’m kind of lucky to find Fleur,” he says with a shy smile. Fleur grew up in Manly, studied a masters of psychology at Massey University and the pair now live together in Forrest Hill.

After six years of degree study, there’s little rest for Carl as he digs the foundations of his career. In some of the spare time he has, he is choosing to learn more - this time how to play the piano.

Carl Hume.

“I plan to get better at that,” he says, adding: “I’ve been teaching myself up until now, but I think maybe it’s time to consult an expert and get some lessons!”

This summer he’ll be letting loose, as many North Shore 20-somethings will, by enjoying the local beaches - Takapuna, Milford being among his favourites. He also loves jumping off the pontoon at Stanmore Bay, and taking a walk at Kennedy Park.

On the horizon, there are some mind-blowing developments in science that Carl is excited about witnessing, or potentially being a part of. “Brain tissue is very delicate and not very good at repairing itself, so I’m excited about possible developments there. Areas such as stem cell research would be very exciting to be a part of.

Remote surgery is also a hugely exciting concept, which has huge potential for reducing the risk of infection rates in operative patients.

It may not be too far from becoming a reality, and is something I expect to see in my lifetime.”

And if he could travel beyond his lifetime, and pick the brains of any figure from history about science, who would that be? “I would probably feel like I wouldn’t have much worth saying, but if there was someone I’d like to meet it would be Hippocrates - the father of medicine. It would be interesting to talk to him and tell him where we are at with medicine and get his thoughts on things. And it may seem a bit crazy, but another person I’d love to meet would be Salvador Dali - someone my brother has given me an interest in. I certainly think he would be a great conversationalist!”

The $30,000 in prize money Carl won from the AIMES Awards - $15,000 for the Kristin School-sponsored Education Award and a further $15,000 for the Supreme Award - has been gratefully received and will enable him to fund courses and conferences he wishes to attend. It will also assist him in managing the hefty debt that comes with lengthy medical degree studies. “It’s incredibly well received! The money I have been given as a result of the AIMES Awards, with both my wife and I having both been students, is just ridiculous! It’s so handy, that’s for sure!”

It’s heartening to know that this supreme AIMES talent is now choosing to practice his profession right here on the Shore, though, as he candidly said in his award acceptance speech, he hopes he won’t be seeing any of us anytime soon! n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 11

WINNERS 2015

PAGE 12 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

AIMES ARTS AWARD 2015 Sponsored by BRUCE MASON CENTRE & AUCKLAND LIVE

Emily performing for the audience after her award.

ARTS AWARD MAKES TWO EMILY SCOTT AIMES ARTS AWARD 2015

Emily receiving her award from Chris Brooks of Regional Facilities Auckland and Aidan Bennett.

It’s such a privilege to be part of something that does such amazing work for us young people on the North Shore.

Emily Scott was first known to the North Harbour Club when her sensational voice and achievements saw her receive a Bellingham Wallace North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award in 2014 and $5000. Following the award, in 2014 Emily used the funds to relocate to the United States where she was accepted into the University of California.

Again in 2015 Emily applied for an AIMES Award and was successful in receiving the top AIMES Arts Award along with $15,000, an award sponsored by the Bruce Mason Centre and Auckland Live.

Emily is an Australian born New Zealand resident who proudly grew up in Devonport and attended Kristin School. At Kristin she developed a versatile background in musical performance including jazz, musical theatre, classical and ensemble work. More recently she has focused her passion for music and performing exclusively to the classical and operatic genres with the hope of one day establishing herself as a professional singer and performer.

A recent graduate of the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance (Voice), Emily was offered a scholarship to the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) where she is working towards a two year Masters in Music Performance. The Masters degree will focus on enhancing Emily’s linguistic knowledge, overall vocal technique and musicianship.

She has a stellar academic record to date with a number of top distinctions from Kristin School and First in Class Awards during her time at Auckland University.

Emily recently completed an internship with the New Zealand

Opera Company as one of their Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist’s which provided first-hand experience working with a National Opera Company and tutelage by their Patron (Dame Malvina), Resident Artists and visiting international professionals.

Additionally, Emily was allocated comprimario and understudy roles to travel with the principle cast and perform in their three annual productions across New Zealand.

Generously flown home from California to attend the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner by Air New Zealand, Emily addressed guests saying “It’s such a privilege to be part of something that does such amazing work for us young people on the North Shore.”

Now part way through her first year of her Masters in Music Performance, the AIMES Award grant secures Emily’s place for the second year as the finance support up until November was uncertain.

“The AIMES Award was an absolute surprise and honour, just as my Emerging Talent Award was last year. To be chosen from so many and stand next to the talented recipients of the other categories will never be less than astounding to me.

"This award will enable me to continue my studies at UCLA and enrol in the second and final year of my Masters Degree. This will afford more time to perfect my technique and to have all of the appropriate tools in order to make my way in the professional world of opera."

Following the AIMES Awards Emily was also cast as Fiordiligi in an upcoming production of Cosi Fan Tutte which is being performed by her university in February. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 13

WINNERS 2015

AIMES IT, INNOVATION & SCIENCE AWARD 2015 Sponsored by MASSEY UNIVERSITY

Sian receiving her AIMES Award from Steve Maharey of Massey University.

GROWING NZ’S TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM SIAN SIMPSON AIMES IT, INNOVATION & SCIENCE AWARD WINNER 2015 The AIMES Service to the Community Award recipient for 2015 was Sian Simpson. Sian grew up on the North Shore attending Pinehurst School, describing herself as a ‘doer’ as long as she can remember. Originally planning a career in Latin and Ballroom dancing, she became a national champion before dislocating both knees at age 16, forcing her to relinquish dancing altogether.

Not one to settle, by age 22 Sian had worked in almost every industry imaginable from hair and beauty, telecommunications, construction, roading, infrastructure and hospitality through to marketing and video promotion.

Following this, Sian was a digital marketing intern for two New Zealand technology companies and learnt a great deal about digital marketing, online web video, search engine optimisation and social media. In 2012 she started a Bachelor of Business at Massey University majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and is currently completing the degree via distance learning.

Sian set out in 2014 travelling the world, spending time in various continents before the United States captured her heart. Offered a role at the Kiwi Landing Pad in San Francisco, Sian relocated to the area and now spends her time between San Francisco and New Zealand, building technology

PAGE 14 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

communities in both locations.

She is the sole employee of the Kiwi Landing Pad, an organisation which is half funded by the New Zealand Government and half funded by high-profile New Zealand technology investors and entrepreneurs (Sam Morgan, Stephen Tindall, Craig Elliot, Peter Thiel, Movac). They provide a soft landing point for New Zealand technology companies coming to land and expand into the US market.

Sian manages all aspects of the business and it’s major growth and success over the past 12 months can be attributed to her drive and passion for building communities – Sian has rapidly become the bridge between New Zealand and San Francisco and as the spearheard of the entrepreneurial community meets 100+ people per week that are fed back into the ecosystem.

In addition to her role with the Kiwi Landing Pad Sian works with various other startup businesses advising on their digital, branding and community strategies including filming for 90 Seconds, working with Lett Technologies, ProtoHack and the Seoul Global Hackathon.

Back in New Zealand she is also working with Massey University to launch their Entrepreneurship Club and has a long term vision for technology to be New Zealand’s biggest

export and believes that through her time spent working in San Francisco, the biggest technology mecca in the world, she will be able to have an impact.

Sian returned to New Zealand in November 2015 to pick up her award at the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner held at The Langham. Aidan Bennett caught up with her for a chat during that trip home and also tracked her down during her travels via modern technology in early 2016 to put these questions to her.

AIDAN BENNETT: What is 2016 looking like for Sian Simpson?

What will you be doing and where do you intend to travel to?

SIAN SIMPSON: 2016 is going to be a big year and a continuation of 2015. Building on top of everything that I did last year, but bigger, more structured and more holistic in all areas.

2016 will see the Kiwi Landing Pad continue to grow and help kiwi businesses and NZ entrepreneurs expand offshore. We are specifically focusing on accelerating growth and success in many ways which will be done by focusing on these three main objectives: 1) growing the community; 2) providing a hub and a home; 3) knowledge sharing and capital.

We will be continuing our event series which will have me back in New Zealand in April and October and potentially one other time.

My work with 90 Seconds and my regular base of clients will continue, but be much bigger and more focused on content creation and strategy. Kicking off with running video for the SaaStr Annual Conference 2016 (in February for four days with 5,000 people) which is the most core concentrated group of SAAS (software and a service) founders in one place.

We’ll be producing a minimum of 140 pieces of video content with just my team alone. Then continuing on with SalesStack in June which is a leading conference for sales professionals globally.

I’ve also been working on the book launch of 'Impossible To Inevitable' which is the sequel to Aaron Ross’ best selling 'Predictable Revenue'. The new book co-authored by Jason Lemkin will launch at SaaStr Annual 2016, so I am preparing for that.

Other than that I am working towards finishing my bachelors degree, I have four papers left which I am ticking off in my spare time.

I have been focusing on health and nutrition as well as having a little more fun, being more productive and efficient so that I can continue to raise the bar but in a less stressed and much more mindful way than last year.

2016 travel has also kicked off. I am currently in Argentina, I have just been to Iguazu Falls after spending six days in Buenos Aires and am on-route to Uruguay. December/ January is the only time I can really more of less take a break when New Zealand and Australia shut down for summer.

I’m heading to Mendoza for wine tasting, then to Salta, then stargazing in the Atacama desert followed by ending my journey in Santiago, Chile. I’ll then head to San Francisco to kick off the year for Kiwi Landing Pad and 90 Seconds.

I love traveling during these times. I’ve been using my time in January to catch up on writing and planning that I didn’t have time for last year. It keeps my mind active while exploring new places.

I'll be in Austin in March for SXSW. Hong Kong for a

weekend of March to take a look at the local startup scene and ecosystem there and meet with local community influencers. New Zealand for the first two weeks of April followed by in June. I am planning a trip to Zambia to participate in a 400mile bike ride over seven days to raise awareness for HIV & Aids. We'll ride across the country on mountain bikes from the capital down to Livingstone Falls, visiting the local grass roots aid not for profits along the way.

(If anyone is interested in donating to the cause, contact me for more information, I'm aiming to raise $6,000 US). It will be a physically demanding challenge that I'll start training for soon. In October and going to Summit At Sea in Miami in November. I'm hoping to visit Atlanta and Denver/Boulder sometime during the year to check out the local tech scenes there as well.

AB: What did it meant to win the AIMES Award and what do you intend to do with the $15,000 grant?

SS: Winning the AIMES Award was one of the highlights of my year in 2015. It certainly put things in perspective for me – that I am making a difference and having an impact.

I spend so much time running and doing that I don’t often see that impact that I am having. This was a great milestone, it gave me some inkling that I am doing well and that others think so too. The nature of what I do feels quite new and didn’t exist 5-10 years ago so it feels good to have a marker or benchmark. The money is currently sitting in my investment fund allocated to personal growth/development. I have a lot of bank accounts for different things – emergency, travel, tax, 10% savings, retirement funds etc. I’ve spent some on two conferences, public speaking coaching and a gym membership. I still have $11,000 left which I intend to spend wisely to forward my career.

AB: What do you love about working at the Kiwi Landing Pad?

SS: I love being at the forefront of technology, innovation and change. I get to meet amazing and talented people and help take New Zealand technology to the world and connect Kiwis with people or resources that they need to be more successful. I love to help people and I get to do that every day. I also get to help the New Zealand startup/ tech ecosystem which is great for the future of New Zealand if we want tech to be the number one export. I could go on forever. I love what I do.

Sian Simpson addressing the large crowd at the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 15

WINNERS 2015

AB: What is the big tech buzz in 2016?

SS: Based on what I have seen coming out of Consumer Technology Association Conference in 2016 the following areas of technology are going to be massive this year: Selfdriving/ vehicles of the future are here; Virtual and Augmented Reality; Further mobile integration; Machine learning; Health, education and energy technology; Cognitive computing/Robots with feelings/super empathy.

AB: Who are you inspired by?

SS: First three that came to mind are my three of my best friends. Savannah Peterson and Chelsea Rustrum are two fearless, bold and beautiful women who are leaders in their chosen fields. I hope I can get to their level one day.

The third is Jake Millar, the 20 year old entrepreneur, who unashamedly just gets things done. Another that inspires me at the moment is Tim Ferris. I think conquering the mind and experimenting with yourself is something we all can and should do more of. We are our own and only barrier. I would also go so far as to say its not only who, but what. San Francisco inspires me every single day, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in the world and in the technology/ innovation mecca of the world. You learn something new every day and anything is possible. The conversations I have are never boring and my mind is constantly stimulated if not over stimulated.

AB: Tell us about the Massey University Entrepreneurship Club you are involved with and your role?

SS: The Massey entrepreneurship club has been more of a business group for the last few years with about 10 regular students. I decided I wanted to turn it into something more after studying community and highly productive/efficient community models for the last 18 months. I wanted to solve the pipeline problem that we have faced at the Kiwi Landing Pad; how do we get more entrepreneurs or businesses starting up in New Zealand and then expanding offshore per capita. I realised that this problem is not endemic to us but a global issue for many reasons. i.e: women in technology. It's a small country/economy problem.

I looked at Silicon Valley and other places with functioning ecosystems and studied all the parts that go into making an ecosystem work then I mixed this knowledge with my community experience and research. What I came up with was that if we want technology to be the number one export for New Zealand we need to increase the pipeline of entrepreneurs in the country. I established that these could either be intrapreneurs or entrepreneurs. I then figured out at what stage and age is the right time to start the conversation. My hypothesis is that having entrepreneurship clubs in every university in New Zealand would be a good start. University teaches you the 'what'. The club would teach you the 'why' and the 'how' and also soft skills like public speaking and networking. The idea would be to get the local community involved so that each club has a functioning ecosystem. What this does regarding community connectedness and also business growth and success I believe would move the needle for New Zealand. The other important piece of the puzzle that I'm working on and many universities and schools in New Zealand need to address is creating and using great alumni

PAGE 16 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Sian Simpson and Aidan Bennett.

networks. Ours, from what I have seen are very weak/immature. We have a lot of smart and brilliant Kiwis (and international students) who have been through our universities. Lets get them back involved and helping the future generations of NZ. I don't specifically want to run the clubs; I just have a vision that I want to execute as I believe it will be successful. From what I have seen we need to be having better conversations with our high school leavers so that they know what is out there. The world has changed a lot and will continue to do so. Jobs won't exist in the future, and future jobs don't exist now.

We need to be more prepared for this. I think because we are so far away from away and can be very isolated, this shelters us from what’s going on in the world sometimes. My role is about sharing the learnings, giving the strategy and letting people put their colour and character on it. I also love ideas and ways of thinking and helping people be the best people that they can be.

Imagine if every high school in New Zealand had 25 businesses popping out of it by the end of 2020 and every university had an entrepreneurship club that was pushing out 2nd, 3rd, and 4thtime entrepreneurs at the age of 22 or 23. That's a future that I want to be a part of, and it's entirely doable. It's not even necessarily about people becoming entrepreneurs, it's about the skills that you learn and the connections that you make. Soft skills, resourcefulness and interconnectedness are everything.

AB: You are a prolific blogger, how can people engage?

SS: I love to write. The past few years I have written a lot less but more recently have been getting into it again. I feel like I have a lot to say (as most of us millennials do) and what I share people seem to enjoy. I write for both of us. I enjoy writing about community, technology, startups, travel, travel hacking, lifestyle design, location independence, the mobility movement, food, recipes and things I wish I'd known as a teenager that might be highly relevant to the Mums and Dads reading this with young millennials and GENZ’s that they don't know quite what to do with.

I'm a selfproclaimed lifelong learner. I learn a lot through osmosis and then also observe a lot from the things I'm involved with and my experiences. I make inferences based on this and then like sharing information. Money isn't the only currency in the world. We also have time. Social and knowledge capital.

Follow Sian Simpson on Twitter @SianSimpson or contact her via email at the Kiwi Landing Pad: sian@klp.org.nz for travel visit: thefreerangewanderingchicken.wordpress.com n

If you want this for your child, call our admissions team on 09 415 9566 or email us on admissions@kristin.school.nz or browse kristin.school.nz

We know that to help great kids become great people, they need more than a high grade point average.

Yes, the traditional subjects are covered here, but there’s so much more to Kristin. This school is unique. Here, our students learn to become resilient, confident achievers – well prepared for the modern world.

Kristin may appear like any other school, but we dare to look at education from different angles.

NEVER BE AFRAID TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. WE AREN’T!

WINNERS 2015

PAGE 18 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

AIMES MUSIC AWARD 2015 Sponsored by ALBANY TOYOTA

Alexander Verster.

LONDON'S CALLING ALEXANDER VERSTER AIMES MUSIC AWARD 2015

The Albany Toyota sponsored Music Award for 2015 was received

by Alexander Verster, a past pupil of Kristin School whose stellar musical accomplishments have taken him to a top Conservatoire in London, England.

Whilst unable to attend the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner due to study commitments, his parents Jeanette and Ryno attended and received the award on his behalf. Alex’s journey to the Conservatoire he is currently at was typical for a musician.

In November 2013 he first picked up the double bass and by December 2014, Alexander was offered post-graduate places at four of the world’s best conservatories.

Unlike many, it was a long and indirect journey that resulted in Alexander becoming a classical musician. There was the usual childhood start on recorder, an attempt at the acoustic guitar and then saxophone throughout his time at Kristin School. It took another two years to find the drums and bass guitar.

Having acquired the necessary motivation and discipline for professional tuition, he became heavily involved in jazz music and achieved a very high level of technical proficiency in both instruments. This led to a number of high school competition successes and an arts scholarship during his Bachelor’s degree.

Following his degree, Alexander pursued an interest in audio engineering which allowed him to record and produce a commercial solo album of original compositions arranged for jazz quartet and orchestra.

He planned to pursue this into a long term career with international musicals, gigs and cruise ships before coming to the realisation that classical music was the only thing he wanted to do. After attending several LSO concerts in London, Alexander cemented a plan for himself to switch instruments.

Upon returning to New Zealand he rented a double bass, found a tutor and within six months was accepted into the Auckland Youth Orchestra. Two months later he earned a Distinction in Grade 8 and started performing frequently with other local orchestras and won the Gem Section of the AYO Soloist Competition before heading back to London for post-graduate auditions.

He received places in four top Conservatories and has accepted a full fees entrance scholarship to Trinity Laban Conservatoire where he has just started a Master of Fine Arts in a two year performancebased degree and has already been selected as principal bass for all the orchestral projects he is involved in.

As Alexander wasn’t able to attend the AIMES Awards, Courtney Jackson put some questions to him about how things have progressed in London.

Q. What is involved in your two year Master of Fine Arts degree?

A. A lot of playing and practising! One-on-one tuition, ensemble tuition, masterclasses, solo performance, and plenty of diverse orchestral projects take up most of the time, but the second year will mainly be an extended personal project. For that I intend to

Alexander (left) at the AIMES Winners Network event in London in October.

Alexander's Mother Jeanette receiving his award along with Haydn MacKenzie of Albany Toyota and Aidan Bennett

record several original compositions, as well as a number of other pieces which will be presented in recital and on CD. Q. How have you settled into the Conservatoire? Is it a big change from home for you?

A. It is a big change indeed, but is certainly living up to expectation.

I spend more time at the conservatoire than anywhere else so I am very much at home there. In fact, it's starting to feel like two years might not be enough!

Q. What did it mean to you to win an AIMES Award in 2015 and how do you intend to spend the $15,000?

A. To get a job in a serious orchestra, one needs a serious instrument. Unfortunately, fine string instruments are unbelievably expensive and well out of proportion to what most musicians earn.

Before leaving the conservatoire, I will have to find the means to purchase my own instrument if I am to make any kind of musical living at all! The AIMES Award represents a significant fraction of my instrument fund. Once I have invested the award into a fine old double bass it will be enabling my career indefinitely. Fine instruments maintain their value like nothing else, so it really is an excellent investment!

Q. Tell us about your future plans with the double bass. What does life as a musician look like for you?

A. London presents many, many performance opportunities; I can't imagine a better city in which to be a classical musician. Even beyond being a student there are always opportunities to learn from the international masters who either live here or frequently visit. It is amazing how busy the local double bass players are and I am very fortunate to count myself among them! n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 19

WINNERS 2015

AIMES SPORT AWARD 2015 Sponsored by AUT MILLENNIUM

Michael receiving his award from Mike Stanley of AUT Millennium.

FOCUSED ON RIO MICHAEL BRAKE

AIMES SPORT AWARD 2015 In 2015, the AIMES AUT Millennium Sport Award was presented to two individuals, both vying for Olympic qualification to Rio. Michael Brake, a former Westlake Boys High School pupil was one of the two recipients.

First getting in a row boat in 2008 while at Westlake Boys, Michael quickly developed a passion for the sport and his talents were quickly noticed. In his final year at school, in 2012, Michael was selected to compete for New Zealand in the junior men’s coxed four, where they won gold.

His successes continued with top placings in the Under 20, Under 22 and Premier Men’s teams with gold and silver medals at nearly every event. In 2014, Michael was named Auckland Junior Male Rower of the Year and shortly after was selected for the New Zealand summer squad at Elite level.

After further competition achievements, Michael was chosen as a member of the New Zealand Men’s Elite Eight in 2015, the only new crew member and also one of the youngest.

In September, Michael and the Elite Eight team secured

PAGE 20 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

New Zealand’s place in the 2016 Rio Olympics at the World Championships.

Michael’s top rowing performances are also balanced with a Bachelor of Engineering degree through Auckland University where he works hard to maintain an A- average.

His gruelling training regime has recently required a relocation to Cambridge where he trains with the other Olympic qualifying teams working to retain his spot in the squad heading into the Olympics next year.

At the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner in November 2015 Michael addressed the audience with some insights into how much work goes into the Olympic campaign. Courtney Jackson spoke to him in early 2016 to hear more…

Q. You’ve relocated to Cambridge – what’s that like?

Prior to my move to Cambridge I always considered myself a 'city' type of guy. I enjoyed the feeling of being part of something big.

Relocating to Cambridge was a big difference in that sense, but I've grown quite fond of the quiet life!

Q. Your team (Elite Eight) have secured New Zealand’s place at the Rio Olympics – how does it feel to be training for the Olympic games?

Well I would love to say that I was training solely with the Olympic Games in sight! However qualifying the boat at World Champs means that none of our positions in the eight are secure. Rowing New Zealand could send an eight with completely different people if none of us are up to scratch! Still, with Rio in the not too distant future, the atmosphere at training is definitely one of determination.

Q. What does a typical training day look like for you?

6.00am: Wake up 6:45am: Ride my bike to training 7:30am: Get on the water in the eight 9:30am: Get off the water and ride home 12:30pm: Ride back down to the lake 1.00pm: Gym 2:30pm Straight onto the rowing machine 4.00pm: Ride home Q. What did you/will you spend the $15,000 grant money on?

I'm currently in the process of piecing together a perfect road bike for myself. I have the frame and some of the running gear but lack wheels and a few other essentials. Once the Olympic Games are over we will be back on the bikes to make up a large volume of our training and I'm looking forward to having a speedy new carbon horse!

Q. Who do you look up to in the world of sport?

I don't have one particular idol in sport. There are so many sports people and sports teams that have achieved amazing things. I

idolise those who challenged what people said was not possible and as a result achieved something never done before.

Q. If you weren’t rowing, what would you be doing?

I would likely be heading into my last year at University and searching for jobs along the Civil Engineering pathway. I will likely head that direction later in life but for now I am loving what I do and will continue to further my career in rowing! n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 21

AIMES SPORT AWARD 2015

WINNERS 2015

Sponsored by AUT MILLENNIUM

Gemma Jones received her AIMES Sport Award from Mike Stanley of sponsor AUT Millennium.

GOING FOR GOLD IN RIO GEMMA JONES AIMES SPORT AWARD WINNER 2015 Sailor Gemma Jones was one of two AIMES Sports Award winners in 2015. She was also an AIMES Emerging Talent recipient in 2014.

Gemma, who attended Rangitoto College and is a member of the Murrays Bay Sailing Club, campaigns in the new Olympic class mixed gender Catamaran, the Nacra 17, sailing against some of the world’s best sailors including Olympic medallists and America’s Cup sailors.

After winning her AIMES Emerging Talent Award, Gemma (with team mate Jason Saunders) qualified New Zealand for a place at the 2016 Rio Olympics through a top five placing finish (from a fleet of 80) at the 2014 World Championships. They also finished in fourth place at the 2015 World Championships in Denmark, an impressive finish considering Gemma sustained an ankle injury four weeks before

PAGE 22 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

competing and only commenced sailing again one week before the first race. Their consistently strong competition placings ranks them as one of the fastest teams in the world across all conditions and in strong winds they have a particularly impressive edge on competitors.

Academically, Gemma is working towards a Bachelor of Commerce through Auckland University.

Other awards to date for Gemma include Auckland University Sports Woman of the Year and the Yachting New Zealand 2015 Murrays Bay Sailing Club Achievement Award.

Aidan Bennett caught up with Gemma in early 2016 to discover her plans for the year, after picking up the AIMES Sports Award and the accompanying $15,000 grant in late 2015.

AIDAN BENNETT: What is 2016 looking like for Gemma Jones?

GEMMA JONES: 2016 is shaping as the best year of my sailing career.

I will be sailing full time until the Olympic Games which are in August. I start the year with training at home to build up for the world champs in Clearwater, USA in February. After a break at home I am off overseas again for four months to do three World Cup competitions in Europe and a training block in the Olympic venue at Rio. Then it will be home for a short break and by July I will be into the final build up for the games.

AB: What are your short, medium and long term goals?

GJ: My short term goal is to win a medal at the upcoming 2016 World Championship in February. My medium goal is to win a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and my long term goal is to make a career out of sailing.

AB: Complete the following: In 10 years time I want to be…

GJ: … Earning some money from competing in sailing. n

AB: What has it meant to win the AIMES Award and what you are doing with the funds?

GJ: Winning the AIMES awards feels great to be recognised for my achievements in 2015 and to be nominated alongside the other successful nominees was inspirational. I am putting the funds towards my sailing equipment for this year.

AB: Who are you inspired by?

GJ: I am inspired by the other members in the New Zealand Sailing team. We have such a great young team with lots of talent in almost all classes. Each person is so different and it’s really interesting to see how such different approaches can succeed.

AB: What have you been doing over the Christmas and New Year break?

GJ: I spent Christmas with my family in Wanaka, one of my favourite places in the world, and then went cruising on my boyfriend’s yacht in the Marlborough Sounds for five days. It was a very relaxing well deserved break for me.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 23

WINNERS 2015

AIMES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD 2015 Sponsored by ASB

DEDICATING HER CAREER TO HUMAN RIGHTS MATTEA MRKUSIC

AIMES SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD WINNER 2015 A drive to defend the places, people and ideas she loves powers a young Shore force forward towards affecting positive change in the world. Former Head Girl of Takapuna Grammar School Mattea Mrkusic won this year’s AIMES Service to the Community Award.

Currently studying at Harvard University, Mattea was awarded the Bellingham Wallace Emerging Talent Award in 2012, going on to represent New Zealand as the Head Delegate at The Hague International United Nations conference that year. She won a transfer placement to Harvard after achieving First Class Honours each semester in her year and a half at Melbourne University majoring in Political Science.

Mattea is passionate about climate change and consequent population displacement issues. Last year she completed an internship in Washington D.C. at Refugees International and attended the United Nations High Commission for Refugees NGO consultations in Geneva.

This year, following her involvement in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris alongside world leaders in late 2015, she took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions for Northside, put to her by Heather Vermeer.

What was the first ‘cause’ that you ever supported?

It’s hard to pinpoint one—but one of the first causes I supported was a campaign my mother was, and still is, running. It’s called “Wage Peace NZ,” and it calls for New Zealand to double our refugee quota.

Where does your drive to affect change come from?

My drive stems from defending the places, people, and ideas I love, or standing in solidarity with other communities defending what they

PAGE 24 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

deeply care about. American philosopher and racial justice activist Cornell West, who I had the pleasure of listening to during a Divest Harvard week-long sit-in last spring, sums it up beautifully: “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.”

What are you most enjoying about Harvard?

My professors, who go above and beyond their call of duty to support students; the passion of my peers; and the small things, like the first snow fight of the season in Harvard Yard, or how New England trees turn fiery red in autumn. …and finding most difficult there?

There are two key challenges that face every Harvard student: first, scarcity of time and second, trying to decide how you want to spend that time, with all of the incredible opportunities on offer.

Tell us a little about the 2015 Climate Change Conference that you attended in Paris…what was your role there?

I attended the COP21 Paris Climate Talks as part of the Aotearoa Youth Leadership Institute (AYLI) youth delegation, which is a fantastic organisation that aims to develop youth leadership in international affairs.

While at COP21, I helped organise a youth-led demonstration to encourage world leaders to keep a robust ‘loss and damage’ section within the final agreement, I wrote blogs about climate displacement, and I interviewed climate change frontline activists, including Rae Bainteiti, from the Kiribati Climate Action Network, and Christopher Carter, from the Youth Arctic Coalition.

What are you most looking forward to in 2016?

Later this year, I'll be traveling to the island nation of Kiribati to

Mattea and Colin Rees signify the 'safe' 1.5 degree celsius global temperature increase limit

undertake senior thesis research on how I-Kiribati communities are being affected by climate change. As climate change intensifies, salt-water intrusion, and sea level rise will compromise the physical, food, and economic security of I-Kiribati communities.

If you consider our current emissions trajectory, Kiribati is likely to be rendered uninhabitable by mid-century. This isn’t just a climate issue, it’s a human rights issue. It’s a transnational justice issue. And high-emitting industrialised countries are responsible.

What could New Zealand do better in regards climate change and human rights?

Our Prime Minister recently remarked that New Zealand “doesn’t need to be, and shouldn’t be, a leader in climate change.” I don’t think he could be more wrong—New Zealand can, and needs to be, a regional leader in climate change. The emissions targets that the government put forward for COP21 were inadequate, and ethically indefensible, given our comparative privilege in the world. It’s time we realise that the era of fossil fuels are over, and that renewables are our future.

Regarding the issue of climate displacement, we need to listen to the perspectives of those living in climate change frontline communities. Merely giving development aid is no longer enough. We need to start thinking about creating humanitarian access category visas for those severely affected by the climate change in low-lying Pacific Islands.

Mattea in Paris during the COP21 Conference.

What are your favourite spots on the North Shore?

I’m a huge fan of a family picnic atop North Head.

If you could quiz anyone - living or deceased - on human rights or climate change who would it be?

A three-way tie: I’d choose Kiribati President Anote Tong, who has been an outstanding leader in the Pacific Island climate change movement; Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the Chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Commission; and Fridtjof Nansen, an early North Pole explorer, scientist and Norwegian diplomat, who introduced the ‘Nansen Passport’ for stateless persons in the aftermath of World War I. How did you feel to win your AIMES Award? What will / has the funding gone on?

I felt immensely grateful for the support of the North Harbour Club.

Receiving an AIMES award is a welcomed vote of confidence for the issues of climate change and human rights abuses. For me, the award makes two opportunities financially possible: my trip to the COP21 Paris climate negotiations, and my next climate change project, researching the issue of climate displacement in the Pacific Islands.

In ten years I’d like to be…

Working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, continuing my work on climate change activism, and perhaps, if I have time, squeezing in a hike or two! n

Mattea Mrkusic with the Aotearoa Youth Leadership delegation in Paris.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 25

AIMES AWARDS JUDGES REPORT 2015

Andrea Davies presenting the AIMES Awards at the 2015 AIMES Awards Gala Dinner.

RECORD APPLICATIONS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR JUDGING PANEL Early in 2015 I received a call from Matthew Bellingham (North Harbour Club President until July 2015), inviting me to take on the role of Chair of the AIMES Awards judging panel. My first reaction was one of hesitation given that Simon Lamb had chaired the panel for several years doing an outstanding job; I knew I had big shoes to fill. However, I accepted the challenge and in hindsight I am so pleased I said yes!

Being the Club’s 20th jubilee year, we received the largest number of AIMES applications totaling 186. Of these 33 were received from youngsters aged between 10 and 13 who were applying for an inaugural Junior AIMES Award.

We established two judging panels in 2015, one for the AIMES and Emerging Talent Awards, the other for the Junior AIMES. I had the opportunity to chair both panels.

The process is pretty slick. The judges spend a significant amount of time reading through each application and its associated documentation. After this, the judging panel comes together to establish a short list, from which we interview each candidate who has made it this far. The standard of applicant is extremely high so to make the shortlist is an incredible feat in itself.

The judges enjoy meeting each applicant. It’s a time for the applicant to share “face to face” with the judges why they think they are deserving of an AIMES Award. This is an extremely humbling experience for the judges as there are just so many amazing young people who qualify for an AIMES Award. Indeed, it can make one feel so inadequate given what these young adults are achieving, and many of them still have so much more to achieve. The hardest task for the judges is to agree who will win each category, which can take a lot of discussion!

From a judge’s perspective, a significant commitment is required over a one month period, however we all feel extremely honoured to be able to meet and encourage such incredibly talented young people, and to share in their excitement regarding their achievements and goals.

To my fellow judges and our wonderful club manager Courtney Jackson, thank you so much for being so fantastic. You were all a pleasure to work with which made my job so much easier.

PAGE 26 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

AIMES AWARDS LAUNCH FUNCTION The 2015 AIMES Awards applications were opened with a launch function held at Takapuna Boating Club in late June.

Over 70 School Principals, Head Prefects, Tertiary providers and past recipients gathered to celebrate the 20th year’s awards programme opening. President Matthew Bellingham welcomed everyone and was followed by new AIMES Award Judging Chair and Trustee Andrea Davies providing detailed information about the awards programme for 2015. This included a new Junior AIMES Awards section being added for youngsters aged 10 to 13 years. 2010 AIMES Music Award Winner Will Martin (pictured with Andrea Davies) was on hand to provide prospective applicants with advice around his own experiences with the awards and the North Harbour Club. n

The 2015 AIMES Awards Judging Panels included: AIMES Awards: Andrea Davies (Chair) – Campus Registrar, Massey University; Mike Stanley – CEO, AUT Millennium; Sherida Penman Walters – Principal, Pinehurst School; Maree Laurent – Cultural Partnerships Director, Regional Facilities Auckland; Jan Dawson – Independent Director (Air NZ, Westpac) Junior AIMES Awards: Andrea Davies (Chair) – Campus Registrar, Massey University; Sherida Penman Walters – Principal, Pinehurst School; Fay Mason – past Principal of Murrays Bay Intermediate; Catherine Lamb – past General Manager, North Harbour Club and Executive Officer, Milford School. n

ANZ IS PROUD TO SUPPORT

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB We’re committed to playing a part in our local communities by supporting things that are important to New Zealanders. To find out how ANZ can help you achieve your commercial business goals, contact Lynda Mann (Regional Manager) on 09 252 5006.

anz.co.nz ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited

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7 RULES TO EFFECTIVE BUSINESS STRATEGIC PLANNING EXECUTION

BY MIKE ATKINSON

DEVELOPING AND FINALISING YOUR BUSINESS STRATEGY IS NOT THE COMPLETE PICTURE. FOR ANY STRATEGY TO BE EFFECTIVE IT MUST BE IMPLEMENTED WELL. SO HERE ARE OUR TOP SEVEN RULES FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING EXECUTION. Rule 1: Simple beats complex Anytime you introduce a degree of complexity to your strategy you instantly add a degree of difficulty. Successful execution requires simple straightforward direction.

Rule 2: Black and white – no grey To execute effectively you need to be clear about three things: 1. What are our measures of success?

2. What do we need to focus on to achieve that success?

3. What are the roles and responsibilities of each person involved?

Rule 3: Measurement drives behaviour Measurement correctly used has the ability to focus activity and behaviour. Too many measures will dilute the effort and will diminish your ability to execute effectively. Select just a few measures of success (3 to 5 in total) and gather all your efforts and resources around driving those measures.

Common measurements like KPIs are excellent tools for analysing performance but when it comes to executing strategy they can become a distraction.

Rule 4: Hit the high return targets Selecting high return targets is perhaps the most critical decision a manager or team can make and requires robust discussion. Ensure whatever resources you have at your disposal are applied against these targets, because they will give you a high return for the investment of your time, effort and resources. Focus on 3 to 5 high return targets. To ensure consistency, ask the frontline staff for their top 3 priorities.

and will find ways to improve performance more often. The three fundamentals that need to be present in any discussion on results: 1. You need to be absolutely clear (black and white) on the result 2. You have to find the underlying reason(s) for the result (good or bad) 3. You have to be very clear and specific on how you will respond (what action will you take next) Rule 7: Tap Intelligence Opening up the channels of communication and getting people comfortable with sharing ideas builds confidence, improves morale and drives strategic planning execution.

Rule 5: Transparency drives accountability Transparency is the single most effective tool to bring accountability to your enterprise. Holding people accountable for their part in the execution strategy is pivotal to success. Knowing what each person in an organisation is trying to accomplish, seeing clearly how they are progressing and understanding their successes, their challenges and their ideas provide an ideal open and supportive environment for effective execution.

A strong governance framework is extremely helpful when it comes to ensuring that the vision and mission is constantly referred to in determining strategies of an organisation. Having an advisory board that is able to offer external support, guidance and advice, while holding you and your business accountable for taking action, is invaluable for today’s growing SMEs.

Rule 6: Face the moment of truth The moment of truth for any team is the discussion of results.

Those that handle this discussion well will execute more effectively

For more information, visit www.bellinghamwallace.co.nz/gov-guide to download A Guide to Business Governance for New Zealand SMEs. n

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2015

EMERGING TALENT AWARD RECIPIENTS 2015

BRITT KINDRED (17) SURFING

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2015 17 year old Britt completed 2015 in 1st place in the NZ U17 girls surf series and 2nd in the NZ Open Woman’s series. An incredible achievement for the young surfer from Kristin School.

Having just returned to Auckland after a period in Raglan attending the Raglan Surf Academy training under New Zealand surf coach Matt Scorringe, she is working hard to prepare for the World Championships. Britt has her sights set on competing on the international stage and is well on her way.

Britt’s surfing successes started at age 15 when she was competing in the U18 competition and continues to achieve in the category. In January 2015, she placed 2nd in the New Zealand Surfing Nationals, in the open women’s category, at just 16! Britt is also currently the sole Auckland representative in the team of 12 in the New Zealand Junior Surf Team.

Britt’s long term goal is to qualify on the World Qualifying Series to compete in the World Surf League and says that the assistance of the AIMES Award grant allows her to attend High Performance training camps and gain international competitive experience in surfing.

After being awarded a Bellingham Wallace Emerging Talent Award and $5000 in 2015, Britt said “Thank you for the most amazing and inspiring night. I do feel so privileged to have been selected for the Emerging Talent Award. It was such an honour and will be an incredible help in my campaign.”

Very popular within the surfing community Britt is set for big things but says she still plans to complete her university studies.

In May, Britt won a National U20 competition and was the standout performer with a perfect 10 out of 10 in the quarterfinals, a score that hasn’t been given to any female in a New Zealand competition this year. Britt also won the Adam Clegg Memorial Trophy for Breakthrough Surfer at the 2014 Scholastics.

Ahead of her 2016 competitions, Courtney Jackson put the following questions to Britt…

Q: How is 2016 looking for you? What big competitions have you got coming up?

I have a busy year ahead of me filled with lots of important comps throughout the year to work towards my selection of the NZ Junior team. The NZ series kicks off with a Billabong Tri series with the first one on the 30th of January in Mt Maunganui. I am then heading over to Australia to compete in four World Surfing League comps to gain international experience which would not have been possible without the amazing help of the AIMES Award. After Australia I will return and continue to compete on the New Zealand circuit with the goal to head away in September to the ISA World Juniors once again.

Q: You’re a very high achiever in the surfing world – what motivated you at such a young age to take up the sport?

Surfing was in my blood. For as long as I can remember I would

spend 12 hour days sitting on the beach watching my dad, brother and his friends out the back surfing. I got sick of sitting watching them all day with mum so I decided I better do something about it and learn to surf. Being the youngest but wanting to hang with my older brother Britt receiving her award from Matt Bellingham of Bellingham Wallace and his friends. I have always had a competitive personality which continued to motivate me to keep progressing with the sport of surfing and has me at the level I am now.

Q: What is the surfing culture like in New Zealand compared to the rest of the world?

The culture of surfing in New Zealand has grown a lot over the years with changing from just a hobby to a strong competitive sport. The sport of surfing in New Zealand may not be as recognised highly compared to countries such as Australia or Hawaii but once you’re in it competitively you see how intense the competitive scene is here.

We have a top group of New Zealand surfers who are all great friends and I feel as though we have one of the top supportive cultures in our sport national and internationally.

Q: You spend some time down in Raglan last this year – how was that?

Moving to Raglan was a challenge and was a huge change for me which has helped me grow as a person. It was a great opportunity that I'm glad I didn't turn down for my surfing. Being able to surf the world class waves everyday under the eyes of New Zealand coach Matt Scorringe was amazing for my surfing and being with fellow competitive New Zealand surfers although was a challenge at times, kept me on my toes and kept me striving to surf the best that I could.

Q: What are you going to utilise your $5000 grant for?

The $5000 grant is truly an amazing help for the progress of my surfing. I am heading away to Australia on the 11th of February till the 28th of February which would not have been possible without the help of AIMES. I will be heading over and competing against international ranked surfers which will create a huge push in my surfing and I am really looking forward to competing in the competitions over in Australia. The left over money I have from this trip I will use to train and take my surfing to the next level training in both New Zealand and back over in Australia to help me achieve my goal of a podium finish at World Juniors. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 29

Congratulations to all the AIMES rising young stars Bellingham Wallace are proud sponsors of the AIMES Emerging Talent Awards

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PAGE 30 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2015

LINA KIM (18) POLITICS

AIMES Emerging Talent Award Winner 2015 A 2015 graduate of Westlake Girls High School, Lina departed with high accolades in all subjects including Proxime Accessit to the Dux in addition to the sought after Russel McVeagh School Leavers Law Scholarship.

Lina is determined to be a change-making future politician of our community and New Zealand and in recognition for her determination and successes to date was awarded a Bellingham Wallace Emerging Talent Award (including a $5000 grant) in 2015.

After being notified of her award in October 2015 Lina commented; “It means a lot to have received such a prestigious award and to meet talented young people through the AIMES Network.”

“Receiving an AIMES Award for me means celebrating young people's achievements and experiences and I am grateful to share and be part of their journey. Receiving the award gave me motivation to reach for even bigger goals in life. It inspired me to strive even more towards my goal of becoming a leader for our community.”

Lina commences a conjoint law and politics degree in 2016 with a plan to enter local politics in her mid 20’s. She hopes to begin working for the government after experience as an ambassador for NZ in foreign affairs. Her drive and passion for politics has seen her set some lofty goals. Lina says; “By the time I started at Westlake Girls in 2011 I had decided I wanted to be the Prime Minister of New Zealand”. Her study choices at Auckland University are a reflection of her strong belief that it is vital to gain a deeper understanding of the legal system in NZ and the history of national and international politics to be a successful politician.

Lina is a member of the Takapuna-Devonport local youth board where she facilitates workshops and also helped to gather youth opinions on the Unitary Plan. She was selected as a member of the Ministry of Youth Development’s National Youth Panel for 2015 and was nominated for the Ministers of Youth Development’s Leadership Award or her efforts in the community.

In addition to her community service work, Lina has a passion for the arts and last year travelled to Vienna to compete in the Summa Cum Laude Festival, with Westlake’s Premier Choir, Choralation, who eventually won the Mixed-Choir category. Lina also won this year’s "Westlake's Got Talent", an inter school talent show between Westlake Boys and Girls High School, through voice.

Q: How is 2016 looking for you? Do you have a big year planned after finishing at Westlake Girls?

2016 is looking great. Challenging, exciting, but definitely a year of great learning and growing. As it will be my first year of Law, Politics and International Relations, my primary focus will be on my degree and making the most of learning about the law and politics that surround us today. I’m excited because it’s something I have been wanting to pursue for a long time. Alongside my degree, my personal goal for this year is to grow by “working for others” and hence I am planning to create a community project aimed at providing service for the older generation in our community. Also, I plan to get involved in volunteering services to help children living in poverty in New Zealand, an issue that is very close to my heart. Alongside that I plan to continue my involvement in community and local board such as facilitating the Intergenerational Forum, and working with the Ministry of Youth Development Youth Advisory Panel.

Q: What motivated you to become so involved in community projects and development?

I’ve always had a passion to be someone who brought change to our community. Possibly, it could have been the upbringing of my parents who would always tell me that I should “be the change I would like to see”, or perhaps my involvement as the High School Ambassador for United Nations Youth and my passion for human rights. Whatever the case, I still continue to have a drive to be someone in the global society in the future who stands for the rights of the vulnerable, whether it is for refugees, ethnic minorities or children. Possibly that is why I became so involved in the community because I believe involvement in the community is the first step towards reaching that goal.

Q: You received a Bellingham Wallace AIMES Emerging Talent Award with $5000. What are you planning of using the funds for?

I’m planning to allocate some of the funding for a community project called “For You” that I am currently working on, aimed at bringing the older and younger generation in the community together. Through running the Intergenerational Forum last year with support from the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, I realised the need of greater service towards the older generation, who are often marginalised in society. Hence, the aim of the project is to bring passionate and talented youth together to run forums, share skills and performances for the older generation. I’m also planning to use some of the funding to, if the opportunity arises, travel to a third world country later this year to volunteer and learn about their culture.

Q: What do you love about the North Harbour region?

What I really love about our region is that it is diverse, in so many different ways. Whether it’s at school, the streets, the beach, practically every place we go, there is so much diversity in culture, race, people, which is absolutely amazing.

Q: What do you think the North Harbour region needs to be doing better?

I think the North Harbour region, in my opinion, could focus more on issues such as New Zealand child poverty. Whilst it is an issue that doesn’t necessarily affect the region as much, I think we could possibly do more as a community to raise awareness and create physical action for young vulnerable Kiwis. Also, with increasing diversity as mentioned above, whilst this is already taking place, it would be even better for us as a region to continue being open to ‘change.’

Q: As well as your school achievements and community work you are also a singer? Will you be continuing that in 2016?

Singing and performing was a special part of my high school life. At conferences or forums sometimes I would often end the ceremony with a Maori waiata or Samoan song, and what was most special about that was the idea that culture and music brings everyone from which ever background together. I’m not too certain yet if I’d join a choir or production this year, but I am definitely sure that I will continue to share my passion and love for culture and music at various conferences and events I attend. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 31

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2015

ELIZABETH MANDENO (25) SOPRANO

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 Elizabeth grew up in a musical family surrounded by opera and theatre and attended Long Bay College. She has always had a passion for singing and performing but it wasn’t until reaching university that she realised she had the potential to do it professionally.

Elizabeth now has an impressive record, proving her singing abilities at both a regional and national level in New Zealand; she was one of three singers chosen as a 2013/14 Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist for New Zealand Opera and has also worked as a soloist with the countries two most prestigious orchestra’s.

In 2014, she was a principal artist for Opera Otago in the world premiere of New Zealand composer Anthony Ritchie’s latest opera and sung lead roles with Opera Factory and other companies.

Elizabeth has a First Class Honours degree in Classical Performance (Voice) along with a Bachelor of Arts in Italian language and received a First in Course accolade for her Honours year performance.

Outside of the opera world, Elizabeth sung national anthems for the Rugby World Cup matches in 2011 (including the final).

In her biggest step towards a professional singing career, Elizabeth applied and was accepted with an unconditional offer to study at the Wales International Academy of Voice. The school has a strong history of producing some of New Zealand’s best singers with world-class teachers and is her first move towards her aspirations to become well-respected in the opera world, not just as a great singer but as an accomplished, adventurous musician.

ELIZABETH LUNN (19) MEDICINE

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 Elizabeth completed her schooling at Kristin School with a top score of 45 in the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the achievement placing her in the top 1% of more than one million IB students worldwide.

Now commencing tertiary studies, Elizabeth has been accepted into Gonville and Caius College University of Cambridge, into the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MB, BChir) programme and will graduate in 2021.

This university was specifically selected due to it’s unique medical degree structure which encourages a research-orientated study for third year students.

Having watched her Grandfather suffer from and succumb to Alzheimer’s disease, she plans to focus on Alzheimer’s research as a significant part of her career. Since completing a week at the MacDiarmid Institute for

Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Elizabeth is particularly interested in the new frontier of Nanomedicine as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool and how Nanomedicine might be utilised in targeting Alzheimer’s.

In addition to her academic studies, Elizabeth continues to engage with the community and until her recent relocation to the UK, was a member of Raise Up (YMCA) and also Chair of the Raise Up International Committee which involved managing a group of leaders and organising events that positively impacted the international student community.

Elizabeth has a Gold Duke of Edinburgh award and was awarded academic excellence scholarships to three universities which she turned down in favour of Cambridge University.

BRENDON THOMAS (20) SINGER

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 Brendon moved to the North Harbour region in 2008 where he started at Albany Junior High School and first picked up the guitar.

After Year 9, he moved to Westlake Boys High School focussing on his academic standards as well as reaching a professional level in sport (tennis and soccer). As time progressed, he became more attached to the guitar and wouldn’t leave home without it.

He describes a sort of addiction to the feeling the instrument gave him and the emotions induced as he progressed on a creative journey.

Brendon joined his first band in Year 9 playing hard rock/metal in a group called ‘22nd Prospect’.

While playing in local talent shows and gigs he fell in love with being on stage and then joined a reggae band ‘Tropical Grooves’ and entered a recording studio for the first time and recorded ‘Only Number One Girl’ which quickly became popular within the local schools. Brendon entered

PAGE 32 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

a number of talent shows as a solo artist with one resulting in recording time with the Devonport Sound recording studio.

Following this Brendon joined a Rock n Roll band called ‘The Rubics’ which honed his skills with older musicians and gave him a pathway to work on his songwriting. After receiving a grant from the ‘Play it Strange’ Songwriting Competition’; Brendon went back to Devonport Sound with two music friends where they recorded their first 6 track EP called ‘Brendon Thomas and the Vibes – The Eclect’.

After a suggestion to enter New Zealand X Factor, they quickly became TV favourites, making it through to the live shows before prevailing as the first band in the world to make an X Factor final and placed third in the competition. ‘The Eclect’ went to No.1 on the NZ Music Charts and they received both a song record deal as well as a nationwide tour with ‘I Am Giant’.

BELLINGHAM WALLACE AIMES EMERGING TALENT AWARDS 2015

SHAUNO ISOMURA (22) VIOLIN

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 Since picking up a violin at the age of seven, Shauno has had music at the centre of his life. From his time at Long Bay College and then through studies at university, Shauno has received a number of accolades and scholarships recognising his outstanding dedication to the instrument.

Currently finishing his Post Graduate Degree at the University of Auckland, Shauno is planning to audition for Conservatories of Music in both Germany and America where he can work on his dream to become an all-round professional violinist and train further in chamber music, teaching, solo work and as a recording musician.

He was the youngest ever musician to be the Auckland Youth

Orchestra Soloist of the year, winner of the University of Auckland Graduation Gala Concerto Competition, and was an Official Trio-inResidence for the 2015 Akaroa International Music Festival. Shauno was also recently appointed as Concert Master of the University of Auckland Symphony Orchestra. In 2015 Shauno has been accepted to the prestigious International Mendelssohn Festival Akademie in Hamburg, Germany.

Additionally, Shauno has been given the privilege of using the Giovanni Francesco Pressenda (1845) Violin in honour of violinist Stephen Managh.

The violin is known as one of the best violins in the country and was given to be played by New Zealand’s most promising young violinists.

LOUISA WANG (19) ACADEMIC

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 Louisa and her family moved to New Zealand from China when she was six years old and has since made the region home and is a proud North Shore resident.

Her stellar academic record at Rangitoto College included NCEA Level 1 & 2 Top Scholar, Dux of the School and an Excellence Endorsement for NCEA Level 3 by the end of Year 12. Outside of her school curriculum, Louisa was also awarded High Distinctions (top 1% nationally) for Australasian Mathematics and Chemistry competitions, a Top 16 placing at the New Zealand Brain Bee competition and was selected to represent Massey University in the inaugural NZ Tertiary Japanese Speech Competition and the Tertiary Japanese Language Festival.

Always striving for excellence, Louisa took three University papers across both Auckland and Massey University while still at school, receiving top marks in all three. Her enrolment in university allowed her to enter its student competitions. Along with friends, Louisa entered the

Social Innovation Challenge, winning first prize for their environmental social enterprise ‘Gyropad’ (competing against university students). The enterprise aims to promote environmental sustainability by conducting educational recycling workshops at primary schools. This has now grown and been passed on to a new group of high school students whom are trained and will conduct workshops with 75 primary school students later this year.

Following the success of ‘Gyropro’ Louisa founded the New Zealand Environmental Entrepreneurship Competition which in it’s inaugural year had over 150 participants from across Auckland. The event is now international with teams flying in from China and the USA. Following her outstanding schooling and extracurricular activities, Louisa was offered scholarships to four universities, settling on Harvard University where she has just commenced undergraduate studies. She is taking an array of papers before having to settle on a major for year two.

DANIELLE MCKENZIE (21) SURF LIFESAVING

AIMES Emerging Talent Award 2015 Danielle was born and raised on the North Shore attending Murrays Bay Intermediate followed by Rangitoto College where she first started Surf Life Saving. She has worked on the North Shore both as a volunteer life guard for seven years and as a paid lifeguard for Northern Region Surf Lifesaving.

From 14 years old, Danielle has been the national board champion in every age group from the U14 to open and national ski champion in the U16 and U19 age groups.

In 2015, she impressively won three Gold medals at the Australian National’s and 10 medals at the New Zealand Nationals. She is featured prominently in the Australian Summer of Surf Series, placing in 13 events.

On a provisional level she won 15 medals at the Northern Regional Surf Life Saving Championships and was a member of the Northern regional

Trans-tasman team and was named ‘female athlete of the series’.

Internationally, Danielle is a member of the Black Fins NZ Surf Lifesaving team (current world champions), the world champion in the board and line throw, placed 2nd in the ski and Oceanwomen race and was 3rd in the Oceanwomen relay. Among other competition goals, Danielle is currently aiming for a podium finish in the World Champs Sprint Relay in 2016 and to retain her impressive world titles.

Danielle is also a professional Ironwoman, competing in the Kellog’s Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series in Australia. She placed 13th in 2014-15 and has again qualified for the 2015-16 series.

In addition to her international competing, she is a full time student at AUT studying a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation with a double major in sports science and management.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 33

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD WINNERS

Junior AIMES Awards recipients with Judging Chair Andrea Davies (left), Ambassador Cam Calkoen (fourth from left) and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett (right). From left: Quillan Denton; Blake Tolmie; Iain Lam; Cameron Brownsey; Catherine Oh; Matthew O’Connor. In front: Jaden Movold.

2015 JUNIOR AIMES AWARDS In 2015, as part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations, the North Harbour Club created the Junior AIMES Awards. The new judging section is exclusively for high achievers in the North Harbour region aged between 10 and 13 years old with categories matching the current AIMES Awards (Arts; IT, Innovation & Science; Music; Education; Sport and Service to the Community).

The awards are a move for the Club to further support local stars, acknowledging that achieving top success starts from a very young age. AIMES Awards grants now support youth excellence from age 10 to 25 years.

33 applications were received in the inaugural year with the judging panel blown away but the incredible talents of our regions youngsters and tough decisions to determine an interview shortlist followed by winners for each category.

The first recipients were announced in early November 2015 to the below group with each receiving $3000 along with one $2000 Judges Special Award presented. n

PAGE 34 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD WINNERS 2015

MATTHEW O’CONNOR (13) KARATE

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD 2015 Matthew is a Pinehurst School student and currently a member of the New Zealand Squad for American 5.0 Kenpo, Martial Arts and a current Junior World Champion for 2015, having recently competed in the 20th Anniversary 5.0 Fighter World Cup in Las Vegas. Matthew competed as one of a 20 strong NZ squad and this is his 2nd World Junior Grand Champion title, the other having been gained in 2013.

A highly focussed and dedicated athletic and competitor from the age of 4, Matthew has nearly 10 years training under his belt at age 13. Matthew is a 2nd degree black belt in Shaolin Kenpo, (having earned his 1st Belt Black at age 8, and 2nd degree at age 11) has his Junior Advanced Black Belt in American 5.0 Kenpo and is half way towards his full adult black belt in American 5.0 Kenpo. Matthew

IAIN LAM ACADEMIC

has been a role model and instructor, inspiring others young and old to join the sport and train hard for their goals for years.

Also competing Internationally, Matthew has three Oceania titles along with numerous National and Regional Titles. Matthew has also been recognised for his achievements on Seven Sharp and was a recipient of an AMP “Do Your Thing’ Award (2011), just before he competed and won his third Oceania title in Australia.

For his own personal development, Matthew would like to spend some time training at the World Training Centre in Las Vegas, in order to take his training to the next level, training with the top instructors worldwide.

Matthew is well known in local North Harbour publications as ‘Karate Kid’.

(11)

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD 2015 At the age of nine, Iain achieved his first success in NCEA Level 1 Science. Currently a year 7 student studying at Kristin School, he is continuing his advancement on Maths and Science.

Iain had a first taste of a NCEA Level 1 Science class for a term at the age of eight when he was in Year 4. He formerly joined the Senior Science class when he was in Year 5 and this year he joins the Senior Maths class. Since 2013, he has achieved a total of 47 credits.

Being interested in Science from a very young age, Iain’s future aspiration is to study Particle Physics, to explore ways to solve the world’s energy problem. His dreams are one day to work at the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) and discover new elements.

This year, he continues to advance in his maths and science with an aim to broaden his area of study to include topics in Biology as well as Earth Science. The exams he is taking at the end of the year will be a continuity of his Science and Maths development which include 3 NCEA Level Two science papers, one NCEA Level One

Science paper and five NCEA Level One Maths papers.

Apart from taking the Science and Maths, Iain also managed to achieve a Distinction on the ICAS year 9 Digital Technologies exam recently without attending any IT lesson or training in his life.

Iain’s passion in learning does not stop at Science. He is a committed member of the School Robotic Team and has been involved in the Forensic Camp since Year 4 which runs for a week every winter break for gifted children throughout New Zealand. He was selected as Controller this year and was responsible for create and run scenarios for a group of detectors, typically Year 7 – 10 students. This required many weeks of preparation work which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Iain’s plan is to set up a Science Social Club within school in 2016 with the help of his mentor Ms Rebecca Simpson for the Junior School students in order to bring out their interest and potential in Science.

Iain plans to enrol in the online courses offered by Cambridge University, and dreams of attending as a student as his idol Stephen Hawking works there.

Being interested in Science from a very young age, Iain’s future aspiration is to study Particle Physics, to explore ways to solve the world’s energy problem. His dreams are one day to work at the European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN) and discover new elements.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 35

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD WINNERS 2015

QUILLAN DENTON (13) CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE JUDGES SPECIAL JUNIOR AIMES AWARD Quillan has shown a keen interest in music, particularly singing, from a very young age and has been involved in a number of productions and choirs, His love of music and singing was greatly fostered throughout his time at Browns Bay Primary where he was involved in a number of choir performances at the school and also the Bruce Mason Centre and the Auckland Town Hall.

At Murrays Bay Intermediate he auditioned and was accepted for ‘The Notables’ Choir and in 2014 took up the saxophone and has just obtained a major role in the school production.

In early 2015, Quillan auditioned and was accepted for a role in the children’s choir for ‘Turandot’ being performed by the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally to this, the New Zealand Opera offered him a role in the 10 piece boys choir for their upcoming Opera ‘Tosca’. Most impressively, both of these roles where achieved by Quillan without any formal singing lessons, an incredible display of his gifted voice and independent dedication.

Quillan plans to take part in the choir at Rangitoto College in 2016 and aspires to be part of the choir group to travel overseas.

CATHERINE OH (13) MUSIC

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD 2015 A pupil at Murrays Bay Intermediate School, Catherine is a talented musician with outstanding skills across a number of instruments and vocal performances.

Whilst she has only done a handful of formal performances, Catherine has completed two piano grading exams receiving distinction in both and will be sitting her grade 8 piano exam in late November.

In addition to her excelling piano abilities, Catherine is also an accomplished oboist and has been playing for four years and was selected for a group of 10 advanced musicians to play for the school production. At just 13 she has also been selected to join the Rangitoto

College senior wind band for 2016.

Earlier in 2015, Catherine auditioned for the ‘Little Rainbow’ soloist role with the Philharmonic Orchestra of New Zealand and made the top 10 in Auckland, receiving a one hour workshop with the Opera’s Head of Education. Catherine also auditioned and was placed for another New Zealand Opera however due to her commitments to a number of performances with her school was unable to commit further time.

In the future Catherine wants to create her own musical scores for both vocal and instrumentalists and entertain people with the joy of music all around the world.

CAMERON BROWNSEY (13) CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE JUNIOR AIMES AWARD 2015

Cameron, a student at Murrays Bay Intermediate, is an accomplished singer and performer, winning a number of school and regional competitions.

Cameron passed ABFRSM Grade 3 Singing with High Distinction (142/150), was named the Under 14 Overall Champion at the North Shore Music Competition, took 2nd place in the Under 16 Musical Theatre Performance and was the winner of the Unbroken Voices North Shore Music Competition.

At Murrays Bay Intermediate School he is a member of the ‘Notables’ auditioned choir, the orchestra and concert band, and has also been the lead in the Murrays Bay Intermediate musical for

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the past two years.

Impressively, Cameron was also selected as soloist for ‘Shepherd Boy’s Song’ in the New Zealand Opera performance of Tosca and is also a member of the NZ Opera Boys Chorus.

Additionally to his vocal abilities, Cameron has also passed Grade 3 Piano and Grade 3 Saxophone and passed the Trinity Grade 5 Speech and Drama with Distinction.

Cameron plans to continue his classical singing training, progressing by one grade per year, along with continuing formal speech and drama training, his piano and saxophone classes, and will be sitting Grade 4 Jazz Ballet in 2016.

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD WINNERS 2015

BLAKE TOLMIE (13)

INVENTOR

JUNIOR AIMES AWARD 2015

Blake’s love of science and inventing started from a very young age when he won the National Championship for the Project Award at the Lego FLL NXT at just six years of age. At 10, Blake again competed and won the Rising Star Award.

A high academic achiever, Blake excels in Mathematics and problem solving and is in the extension robotics programme at Murrays Bay Intermediate. He attended the VEX conference at Waikato University in 2014 and was one of the youngest attendees.

Incredibly, at 12 years of age, Blake has invented a charger for bikes that will charge a cellphone while pedalling which he plans to duplicate and sell into the market. Blake has also made a robot

that can solve Rubik’s cubes and one that can draw and write.

In addition to his inventing, Blake is also a talented musician and learnt the clarinet within a short period of time, entering the extension group at school. Blake also plays both Baritone and Soprano Saxophone in school bands.

Blake was also fortunate to receive, through a generous donation from Fuji Xerox, a 3D printer valued at $3000 in addition to his grant money. This printer enables him to practise at home as well as working towards printing parts for his inventions. Blake has also received ongoing mentoring and guidance from Johan Potgieter, as Associate Professor at Massey University.

JADEN MOVOLD (11)

CHANGING ATTITUDES - COMMUNITY SERVICE JUNIOR AIMES AWARD 2015

At 11 years of age Jaden is an accomplished ambassador, advocate and para-athlete. A student at Murrays Bay Intermediate, Jaden holds formal ambassador roles with Yes Disability Resource Centre and Achilles International New Zealand and is also a fundraiser for a number for national charities.

Through these roles, Jaden has become a recognised role model for children both with and without disabilities, touching the lives of many through his various public engagements and inspirational talks. He has developed speeches on accessibility, anti-bullying and mobility parking and in the lead up to the 2014 election, Jaden addressed major political parties at a disability forum with questions about the inequality of healthcare for ACC and the Ministry of Health.

Additionally to his ambassador and advocacy roles, Jaden is a para-athlete and has completed 13 triathlons since 2012, often as the only participant in a wheelchair. In 2014 Jaden became the first child with a disability, in the events 22 year

history, to participate in five triathlons in one season. In April 2015, he represented Murrays Bay Intermediate School at the NZ Secondary Schools Triathlon Championships held in Taupo as their very first Para-triathlete, paving the way for other Para-triathletes around the country to compete. Jaden is also the youngest member of the Auckland Junior WheelStarz team.

Jaden has been in the media from a very young age with interviews featured on TV3 News TV One News, Campbell Live, Sky Sports, TVNZ Breakfast Show, Radio Live, More FM and in the NZ Herald and New Idea Magazine promoting a change in attitudes towards those with disabilities.

His incredibly positive attitude towards life and his determination to promote change in society has also provided him with roles as the Poster Kid for CCS Disability Action, Starship, StarJam, Halberg, Paralympics NZ, Triathlon NZ, Melrose Wheelchairs, Parafed Auckland, Achilles International NZ and TASC.

Jaden has become a recognised role model for children both with and without disabilities, touching the lives of many through his various public engagements and inspirational talks. He has developed speeches on accessibility, anti-bullying and mobility parking and in the lead up to the 2014 election, Jaden addressed major political parties at a disability forum…

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 37

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2015

2015 NORTH HARBOUR CLUB

AIMES AWARDS

GALA DINNER

Since the club’s inception the flagship event of the year has been the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner. In 2015, this event took even greater significance as the 20th annual gala dinner celebrated two decades of the club.

A crowd of over 600 attended the event held at The Langham Hotel in Auckland on Friday November 13th. The venue (formerly The Sheraton), was where the original club gala dinner was held during the first year of the club in 1995.

The large crowd were treated to a superb evening of entertainment that included performances from past AIMES Awards recipients, many who had been flown back from around the world for the event due to the club’s new sponsorship arrangement with Air New Zealand.

The MC for the evening was Tina Cross, assisted by previous AIMES Music Award winner Will Martin.

What also made the AIMES Awards particularly special in 2015 was the fact that a record 186 youngsters applied for AIMES Awards.

The previous highest level of applications was 93. In 2015, 22 young people received AIMES Awards and grants to the value of $180,000.

This brought the total level of grants the club has made to $1.65 million.

Seven AIMES Awards were presented at the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner at The Langham on Friday November 13th. A further eight AIMES Emerging Talent Awards were awarded at a cocktail function held on Wednesday November 11th at the Spencer on Byron Hotel. At that same function the inaugural Junior AIMES Awards were presented to seven recipients. n

The five 2015 AIMES Award Winners who attended the gala dinner to accept their awards, from left; Emily Scott (arts), Carl Hume (education), Sian Simpson (IT, innovation and science), Michael Brake and Gemma Jones (both sport). Alex Verster (music) and Mattea Mrkusic (service to the community) were both overseas.

AIMES Supreme Award Winner Carl Hume addresses the crowd while accepting his award.

MC Tina Cross in action

PAGE 38 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

AIMES Judging Chair Andrea Davies announcing the award recipients. (

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2015

Emily Scott receives her 2015 AIMES Arts Award from Chris Brooks of sponsor Auckland Live/Bruce Mason Centre and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

Alex Verster's mother Jeanette was on hand to receive his AIMES Music Award from Haydn Mackenzie of sponsor Albany Toyota and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

AIMES Supreme Award Winner Carl Hume received his award from North Harbour Club founding trustee and honorary member Bob Jago (right) and president Aidan Bennett (left).

AIMES IT, Innovation and Science Award recipient Sian Simpson received her award from Steve Maharey of sponsor Massey University and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

Michael Brake was one of two AIMES Sports Award recipients in 2015. He received his award from Mike Stanley of sponsor AUT Millennium and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

Bob and Pauline Jago, Dave Chambers.

Joe Bergin, Ben Sanders.

Olympic Sailor Gemma Jones received her AIMES Sports Award from Mike Stanley of sponsor AUT Millennium and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

Carl Hume was the recipient of the AIMES Education Award in 2015. Tim Oughton, Executive Principal of award sponsor Kristin School made the presentation with North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

Barrie Mason, Shona Corban, Gillian Houser.

Gemma Jones was a natural talking to the 600 strong crowd.

Mattea Mrkusic's mother Tracey Barnett was on hand to receive her AIMES Service to the Community Award from David Brook of sponsor ASB and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 39

AWARDS GALA DINNER 2015

Nick Kearney presents a donation of $10,000 to the club (accepted

by President Aidan Bennett) from the Business Excellence Network breakfast group to the North Harbour Club. BEN Breakfast has presented $109,000 to the North Harbour Club since 2007.

Pianist Max Tang.

Former President and founding member Peter Wall provided a heartwarming reflection of his involvement with the club as it celebrated two decades.

Sarah Belkner (McCullum), an AIMES Award recipient and composer of the club’s theme song, entertaining the huge crowd.

Matthew Bellingham informed attendees of the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame programme which he will Chair for the club.

Gary Monk announced the AIMES Emerging Talent and Junior AIMES Award winners to the large crowd. The presentations had been made at a cocktail party held on Wednesday November 11th.

AIMES Award recipient (2000) Clarissa Dunn and 2015 Junior AIMES Award recipient Cameron Brownsey performing together.

Matthew Flinn performing with 2015 AIMES Emerging Talent Award recipient Shauno Isomura and Junior AIMES Award recipient Quillan Denton.

Lesley Monk, Rachel O'Reilly, Tanya Parsons.

The multi-talented Tina Cross singing.

AIMES Emerging Talent recipient in 2015, Brendan Thomas was one of the nights star performers.

AIMES Arts Award winner Emily Scott gave an exceptional performance on the night.

Multi-talented 2007 AIMES Award Supreme Award winner Matthew Flinn came back from his busy schedule as a barrister in London to perform.

2010 AIMES Music Award recipient Will Martin was ’the voice’ for the evening and also performed in his very entertaining style.

A highlight of the evening was three AIMES Awards recipients Tanya Cooling (2007), Emily Scott (2015) and Clarissa Dunn (2000) performing an opera piece together.

PAGE 40 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

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NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 41

PAGE 42 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

AIMES EMERGING TALENT AND JUNIOR AIMES AWARDS 2015

AIMES EMERGING TALENT AND JUNIOR AIMES AWARDS The North Harbour Club’s annual AIMES Awards presentations kicked off for 2015 with a cocktail function at the Spencer on Byron Hotel on Wednesday November 11th to present the AIMES Emerging Talent and Junior AIMES Awards.

Eight youngsters were presented with AIMES Emerging Talent Awards, sponsored by leading accountancy firm Bellingham Wallace. They each received the award and $5,000.

Seven young people aged between 10 and 13 received Junior AIMES Awards. This is a brand new category for the awards. They each received the award and $3000, with one special award recipient receiving $2000.

The evening started with a welcome from North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett. AIMES Awards Judging Chair Andrea Davies then provided the larger than usual crowd with an entertaining overview of all the winners. North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan was on hand to present the Junior AIMES Awards to the seven inaugural recipients. A highlight of this was the presentation of a 3-D printer to young inventor Blake Tolmie by Fuji Xerox New Zealand in association with Massey University. Alexis Parker of Fuji Xerox was on hand to make the presentation to an overwhelmed Blake.

Matthew Bellingham of sponsor Bellingham Wallace then presented the AIMES Emerging Talent Awards to the eight recipients. n

A crowd of over 100 attended the cocktail function.

Junior AIMES Awards recipients with Judging Chair Andrea Davies (left), Ambassador Cam Calkoen (fourth from left) and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett (right). From left: Quillan Denton; Blake Tolmie; Iain Lam; Cameron Brownsey; Catherine Oh; Matthew O’Connor. In front: Jaden Movold.

AIMES Emerging Talent Awards recipients with sponsors Matthew Bellingham (left) and Aaron Wallace (right) of Bellingham Wallace.

Judging Chair Andrea Davies, Ambassador Cam Calkoen and North Harbour Club President Aidan Bennett are also in the back row of the photo. From left: Britt Kindred; Danielle McKenzie; Lina Kim; Brendon Thomas; Shauno Isomura. Elizabeth Mandeno, Elizabeth Lunn and Louisa Wang were overseas.

Cameron, Vaila, Paul and Paige Brownsy.

Neil and Lise Movold, Peter Baldwin.

President Aidan Bennett welcomes the attendees.

Aaron Wallace, Catherine and Graham Collie.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 43

AIMES EMERGING TALENT AND JUNIOR AIMES AWARDS 2015

North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan presents the Junior AIMES Award to classical performer Cameron Brownsey.

Matthew Bellingham of Bellingham Wallace presents the AIMES Emerging Talent Award to Singer Brendon Thomas.

North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan presents the Junior AIMES Award to academic Iain Lam.

Matthew Bellingham of Bellingham Wallace presents the AIMES Emerging Talent Award to Lina Kim.

Matthew Bellingham of Bellingham Wallace presents the AIMES Emerging Talent Award to Violinist Shauno Isomura.

North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan presents the Junior AIMES Award to inventor Blake Tolmie. He was also presented with a $3000 3-D printer by Alexis Parker of Fuji Xerox New Zealand.

Brian Dangerfield, Britt Kindred, Rebeka Dangerfield, Gloria Masters, Anna Dangerfield.

PAGE 44 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Matthew Bellingham of Bellingham Wallace presents the AIMES Emerging Talent Award to Surfer Britt Kindred.

Cam Calkoen with Jaden Movold and his AIMES Emerging Talent Award.

North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan presents the Junior AIMES Award to musician Catherine Oh.

Matthew Bellingham of Bellingham Wallace presents the AIMES Emerging Talent Award to Surf Lifesaver Danielle McKenzie.

North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan presents the Junior AIMES Award to Matthew O'Connor.

North Harbour Club Vice President Phil Brosnan presents the Junior AIMES Special Judges Award to classical performer Quillan Denton.

Gavin Baker, Allanah Wech, Bart Wech, Quillan Denton, Simon Denton.

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MEMBER PROFILE: DAVID STEDMAN

PAGE 46 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

David Stedman.

DAVID STEDMAN KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

By Aidan Bennett

As has been well documented, the North Harbour Club celebrated two decades of rewarding excellence in 2015. The longevity of the organisation is demonstrated in the fact that a second generation of family members are now coming through to prominence. One such family is the Stedman family.

Hugh Stedman was a founding member of the North Harbour Club in 1995. He has been an AIMES Awards judge, has MC’d events and for the past few years has been a hard working trustee.

It is a thrill for all that his son David Stedman joined the club as a member early in 2015.

The North Harbour Club membership is not the only thing that the Stedman men have in common. David has followed his father’s career path as well – now an award winning financial and personal insurance specialist.

Hugh Stedman spent over 30 years in the insurance business as one of AMP’s most successful agents.

“It was seeing the success that dad had that drew me to the finance and personal insurance business,” explained David Stedman when I met him for a chat at his Apollo Drive office. “I had seen the rewards that he brought to the family through his hard work and wanted the same. The flexibility of being self employed was attractive as well.

"Watching dad over the years, I also developed an appreciation of how important insurance and prudent financial decisions were to successful people, so I was keen to help people and make a difference.”

The Stedman’s are a North Shore family through and through.

David attended Takapuna Primary, Takapuna Normal Intermediate before completing his schooling at Kings. That was then followed by five years working on Superyachts in the Mediterranean. He started as the deckhand and ended up as the tender boat captain.

That tender was 40 feet in length!

It was around six years ago that David started his career in the insurance business. He has wasted no time in making a mark in the industry. Last year he was awarded the 'Kepa Group Elite+ Production Award 2014/15’, recognising his success in being one of the top performers in his industry.

David explains he provides a range of finance and insurance products and services.

“The key is the personal service I provide, getting to really know the requirements of my clients – both business-wise and familywise. My job is to find the right solution, whether the requirement is life, trauma, income protection, medical or key person insurance.

I have developed expertise in setting up buy/sell agreements, ensuring the right insurance products are chosen and ownership of those policies is clearly determined and ultimately the money is going to go to where it is needed.

“I like to be the lead adviser and facilitator and believe I have a real skill in bringing together all parties that may be involved – family, partners, lawyers, accountants, banks, mortgage brokers etc. – to

David and Hugh Stedman.

ensure the best results for my clients.

“Claim time is very important. If something happens my clients can be reassured that I will take the lead and ensure the settlements are totally as they should be.

“Best of all I am truly independent. While I work closely with the a range of respected insurance and financial institutions providing the products, the end goal is always what is best for my client. That is never compromised.”

A particular area of expertise that David Stedman also provides for business clients is in ACC. "A high proportion of my clients are self-employed business people who really do need assistance with ACC obligations. I can help them take control of their ACC with my knowledge of the better products that are available and the claims process. I believe this to be a very valuable add-on service for my clients.”

It is David's young family that consumes most of his spare time these days. He and his wife Janine have a daughter Asha (aged four) and son Lochie (two). They are currently building a new home in Karaka Street, Takapuna. His interests include anything to do with the sea. He confesses that “I can’t throw, hit or kick a ball but can get a crayfish!”.

So why did David Stedman decide to follow his father and become a member of the North Harbour Club?

“I am keen to give something back to the community and the association with Dad and the club is strong, so it was a good fit. I have seen the results with what the club has done and am keen to play a role going forward. The social and networking aspect was appealing as well.”

For more information visit: www.stedman.co.nz n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 47

FEATURE INTERVIEW: SIMON LAMB

SIMON LAMB FRESH CHALLENGES AHEAD BUT COMMITMENT TO CLUB AND REGION REMAINS STRONG Simon Lamb started as Principal at Takapuna Grammar in October 2003. One of his first visitors at the start of the following year was North Harbour Club President (and TGS old-boy), the late Ross Finlayson. He had come to suggest that Simon should join the North Harbour Club.

“I learnt pretty quickly that it was better not to say no to Ross Finlayson and looking back I am very glad I didn’t," reflected Simon Lamb in late 2015, shortly after it had been announced that after 12 years he was departing the school to take up the lead role at Kings College in Otahuhu.

“I didn’t know too many others in the club at that time, but looking back the association and contact with the network of quality people has been great for the school and me personally. I have enjoyed it immensely.”

The forward thinking Ross Finlayson had his eye on Simon Lamb as a future AIMES Awards judge and not surprisingly it only took around a year before his name was added to the judging panel, beginning a nine year involvement as a judge – seven of those as the chair of the panel.

“It was a thrill to be approached to be a judge and I really enjoyed it right from that first year under the chairmanship of Mike Antoniadis. Mike was lots of fun and ran a dynamic team.

PAGE 48 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

“I quickly gained a real insight of what the AIMES Awards were all about. Being a judge gives you a clear understanding of the depth of talent because you see all of them, around 90 per year, then get to interview the top 25 – the short list. The talent of all the applicants is astounding and you really get a feel for the effort, dedication, skill and the family support that is required to get them to where they are. You also realise there is

Simon Lamb (right) with his fellow AIMES Award Judges back in 2010.

From left: Sue Stanaway, Henry Duncan, Andrea Davies.

a fine line between the winners and the others.

“From that perspective the AIMES Emerging Talent category was a great addition to the awards in 2007 and I am proud of the part I played in implementing that. We could see it getting to the stage where many of our secondary students were being put off applying because it was becoming harder and harder to win an award. The Emerging Talent category opened up further opportunities and the recent addition of the Junior AIMES Awards has expanded things even further.”

Simon Lamb became chair of the AIMES Awards Judging Panel in 2008, a role he filled until standing down in 2014.

He will leave a big gap to fill at Takapuna Grammar. He spent over a dozen years at the school and has overseen a time of growth and change. He is hugely proud of what has been achieved and sees a very bright future for the school.

“What I am particularly pleased about is the lift in overall quality in the school for the students during my time at the school,” explained Simon Lamb. “We have focused hard on a strong teaching and learning philosophy and the kids having a greater pride in the school.

“There have been a number of highlights. The individual programmes such as 'Business and Enterprise’ (partnering with Auckland University and also involving a number of North Harbour Club members); our ‘Elite Sports Programme’; the capital works of around $40 million that has resulted in four new buildings and major improvements; the internationalising of the school – connecting in to Singapore and Asia, the philanthropic work driven by the students at Lotopue School in Samoa; being the only state school to adopt the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme.

“I am particularly proud of the Manaaki Mentoring programme that we have more recently implemented. I have driven this with the belief that it would continue and progress the focus on the individual students and help with the skills they need to be successful as adults.”

After my chat with Simon Lamb I was interested in finding out more about this Manaaki Mentoring programme so consulted Mr Google and found information on the school’s website (see inset piece accompanying this article).

So it’s off to Kings College for Simon Lamb, a role he starts in term two of 2016.

“I am lucky to have been chosen to lead another very reputable school with strong values. For me it is an opportunity to lead an independent school with a deep sense of tradition and history, probably even more so than Takapuna Grammar. My challenge is to lead them into the future.”

“Despite moving to work across the bridge I intend to stay as a member of the North Harbour Club. It is a magnificent idea that Ross, Joan and others set up and the ethos of supporting young people must be admired. I can assure you my strong support of the club will remain.”

“If I had any advice for the club it would be to push its profile much harder. It is great that the alumni is now well established and thriving (AIMES Winners Network), but the achievements of the club and the important role it plays in the community needs to be understood by the people of the North Shore and wider North Harbour area. What is has done over two decades now is truly outstanding." n

Simon Lamb in action at a TGS prize-giving.

MANAAKI MENTORING AT TAKAPUNA GRAMMAR SCHOOL It is our idea, our structure and our organisation. While many mentoring programmes have come and gone in various schools, this is very much of our making. In that respect we are developing a system, which we believe is productive and sustainable.

We have in advance of 180 staff at Takapuna Grammar School, including all administration, grounds staff, teacher aides and teaching staff. We have a roll of 1700 students. If every staff member was to offer their time as a mentor, we would have groups of about 10 students. We intend that each group of 10 students would comprise of two students from each of the year levels, a vertical selection of students. This is a good number and clearly the opportunity for senior students to mentor students of younger years is an aspect we would like to take advantage of. We would like the groups to meet fortnightly at 9:30am for half an hour on a Wednesday. You will quickly deduce that this time is part of the traditional staff professional development time and that students will lose a small part of their Study Time each fortnight.

There will be an established time for the programme every fortnight, 9.30am on a Wednesday. The programme will be theme-based and will be experienced by every Manaaki group in the school. Students and their mentors will only meet five times per term, so the contact is regular but not too frequent. The programme is built on generic skills, ones students can utilise at school and beyond, ones that will enable them to see their strengths, address their weaknesses and provide for them some life and academic capabilities. It will help them to celebrate when things go well and know what to do when things go wrong. It will help them direct their learning, establish personal goals, understand timeframe and to know who to speak with, as required.

Training will be given to every staff member involved in the project. I am very keen for as many staff to be as involved as we can, as this will keep the student numbers in each group to about 10 students. Professional development and training for staff will be well complete before we start the project at the beginning of Term 3 this year. I think it is fair to say that all staff realise the benefit that this will give to our students. n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 49

NORTH HARBOUR BUSINESS HALL OF FAME

CELEBRATING LOCAL BUSINESS EXCELLENCE In a hugely positive step for the North Harbour Club, it stepped in to relaunch the region's Business Hall of Fame in October 2015. A very special launch function was held at the Spencer on Byron Hotel in mid October.

Previously called the North Shore Business Hall of Fame, and falling under the old North Shore City Council's economic development agency's administration, the programme fell into a crack with the introduction of the new combined Auckland Council in 2010. The North Harbour Club trustees saw its resurrection as a great fit with the club.

With the relaunch this became the 'North Harbour Business Hall of Fame' and all 14 existing laureates of the previous entity were automatically inducted across. Those were:- Ralph Roberts, the

Gary Monk, Jane and Andrew Williams.

Jayne White, Bill Smale, Ngaio Merrick.

late Jim and Geoff Smale, Sir Stephen Tindall, Sir Graeme Avery, Sir David Levene, Sir Peter Maire, Diane Foreman, Peter Menzies, Ian Calderwood, David Charlesworth, Colin Harvey, Gary Monk and Jan Dawson.

The first new inductees to the North Habour Business Hall of Fame will be made in 2016. They will be chosen by a new judging panel – Matthew Bellingham (chair), Sir Peter Maire, club trustee Ngaio Merrick, life member Gary Monk and member Jan Dawson.

The club also greatly appreciates funding support from Sir David Levene that has assisted with the relaunch of the Business Hall of Fame.

For more information regarding the nomination process visit: www.northharbourclub.co.nz n

Louise Galbraith, Jane Guy, John Hastings, Don Galbraith.

Matthew Bellingham.

Lynda Cooper, Joe Bergin, Raymond Barnes, Maurice Stack.

PAGE 50 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Jan Ward, Liz Algie.

Julia Armitage, Nicola Smee.

Phil Brosnan, Barb McLean, Wendy and Hugh Stedman.

5 Big Questions…

Lynda Mann at a favourite North Shore beach with her two dogs Vinnie and Lucy.

Lynda

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Mann

1. What do you love about living in the North Shore & North Harbour area?

When I moved to Auckland 30 odd years ago there was no debate where I was going to live and we originally moved to Browns Bay. The open spaces, parks, beaches, great cafes and community spirit has kept us close to home!

2. How did you come to be living in our little slice of paradise?

We moved from Taupo around three decades ago due to work transfers. My sister had been a long standing member of Mairangi Bay Surf Club, so I had spent many summer holidays with her and knew when we moved that this would be where we would settle with our then young family.

3. What is your favourite spot in the North Shore & North Harbour area?

Any of the beach/park areas and walkways are special for me.

Takapuna is a current favourite because it has it all with both beaches and the great new café areas as well as great shops!

4. What is the one thing you feel we could do better as a region?

I would like to see more linked walking and cycling tacks. We have many good ones already – my favourite is the cliff walk along the East Coast Bays – but we could always have more and keep them better maintained.

5. Complete the following: On a typical sunny North Shore & North Harbour day of leisure I love to… …take my dogs, Vinnie and Lucy for a walk along the beach, enjoy a coffee at a local café and meet with friends for an early dinner and drinks at one of the great restaurants.

Lynda Mann is a member of the North Harbour Club and Regional Manager, Auckland North, Commercial and Agri, for ANZ Bank.

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB The first 20 YEARS of Excellence 1995 to 2015

By Ian Watson and Aidan Bennett.

Foreword by Derek Dallow.

Written by Professor Ian Watson and Aidan Bennett, this is a hard-cover publication celebrating the history of the North Harbour Club. The book includes a complete timeline of the club – in words and pictures. Ian Watson has captured the first decade and Aidan Bennett the second decade. Also included is a foreword by Derek Dallow and chapters on the founders and leaders who have contributed to the success of the club over the years. It is a real collectors piece.

This book is available for purchase for $50 plus GST. Members have the option to add the cost to their 2016 membership fee.

Order by emailing Courtney Jackson Email: manager@northharbourclub.co.nz

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 51

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB AIMES WINNERS NETWORK

AIMES WINNERS NETWORK TURNS ONE! The AIMES Winners Network, sponsored by local law firm Simpson Western, was established in 2014 and is a network dedicated to connecting AIMES Award recipients; creating a community of like-minded individuals that can promote themselves to other winners and Club members as well as catching up or sharing advice. In 2015 we held three great events with a high turnout of winners and supporters… and we went international! General Manager Courtney Jackson spoke to Cam Calkoen and Dima Ivanov, the two AIMES recipients spearheading the network about what was achieved in 2015.

COURTNEY JACKSON: The AIMES Winners Network has just turned one – how would you sum up the first year?

DIMA: I was thinking of using Cam’s trademark word, so I better not.

It was fun! At the very start, you never know how these networks will go – it’s kind of like throwing a party. You get the room all dressed up, buy the chips and drinks, but around 7pm you wonder if anyone will show up… We had three events and all of them attracted a solid crowd of like-minded high achievers – and it was great to have lots of very interesting conversations. In summary: “Off to a great start!”

CAM: Cheers Dima, I echo your thoughts. The year was absolutely awesome and I know it’s going to keep progressing with real momentum. At every event I’ve been to or seen for the alumni there’s buzzing faces and when I say faces I mean a lot. The turnout rate is something you would expect from an event that has real history, I guess that it shows how connected the winners do remain to the club and all that it stands for.

CJ: What are the key goals for year two of the network?

DIMA: Year one was all about establishment and getting started. Year two is about building on the momentum we’re creating. We want to repeat the event in London at some stage, hold an event on the West Coast of the USA and have another two or three events in Auckland.

No changes to the format – same casual-style catch ups for past winners and club trustees to talk about whatever it is they want to talk about!

CAM: Courtney, Dima and the board members have done an absolutely sterling job at bringing vision to fruition. The temptation would be to run but I think we are already are running. This has been executed wonderfully and I know it will continue. We have a stunning group of achievers who not only inspire but do and will give back. For there to be a continual buzz between club and alumni will see more

Cam Calkoen is a North Harbour Club Ambassador, and an active driver of the AIMES Winners Network. Cam won the Service to the Community Award in 2006 and 2009 and is now a full time inspirational speaker regularly traveling to Australia and abroad for speaking engagements.

PAGE 52 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

transitions from on the stage to on a table, from receiving to guiding.

The North Harbour Club needs to remain a key beat to the heart of the North Shore and who better than winners who know what it takes to succeed.

CJ: I heard a whisper of a beach style get-together for winners in 2016 – what’s that all about?

DIMA: This was actually a suggestion I got from one of the winners at the last catch up in Takapuna! I was told time and time again that we’re so lucky in New Zealand (especially around the Shore) to have so many beautiful beaches – clean, accessible, not crowded, free to visit, close to us … the list goes on. The more people we speak to that have travelled, the more we understand how amazing our beaches are – so why not hold our next catch up on a local beach?

CAM: I think the coolest thing about this network is the creativity and the ability to innovate. Who knows in years to come we could be meeting on islands, in first aid camps or just remain at The Commons, all of which is cool. The thing is here are a group of like-minded people who obviously see the importance of coming together. This network has unlimited potential and will come up with ideas that ensure all round excellence.

CJ: You both attended the 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner – what did you think of the new winners added to the Network?

DIMA: My first impression on reading the resumes of the new winners was WOOOOW!!! I’m so glad that I won my award back in 2006.

The level of achievement is now so amazing, the bar set so high to become a winner, and I’m sure that the level of applications is just as impressive. It was also great to see the junior award winners and the emerging talent crew mentioned on the night – their attitudes blow you away, and it’s clear that at least for the most ambitious part of

Dima Ivanov is the ‘other half’ of the AIMES Winners Network. Since winning the AIMES Art Award in 2006 he started a number of successful businesses in the region, now an entrepreneur and first time Dad. Dima was the first AIMES Award recipient in the Club’s 20 year history to join as a Member of the North Harbour Club.

our younger generation the word “roadblock” doesn’t exist in their dictionaries. Inspirational stuff!

CAM: Oh man what an absolutely stunning night – no surprises there though. Every year I’m there I think to myself this is the stuff that needs to be on TV, this is the stuff that will inspire minds of all ages and restore faith and trust in the future we have. To borrow the phrase of our friends at KEA these are world class New Zealanders and what they add to the network is nothing short of inspirational and an aweinspiring tribute to those who have gone before them. A lot of winners are inspired to apply by previous winners, the new winners furtherinspire previous winners, that says something doesn’t it?

CJ: For any past winners reading this who haven’t been to a Winners Network event yet, what would you say?

DIMA: You’ve gotta have dinner anyway! So come have a quick bite and a drink with us the next time we have a get together! Nah, just kidding… Winning an AIMES Award is a massive high that recognised

your talent, perseverance and hard work. It’s a huge high when you win it – but I bet that for you it’s just the start of your journey – not the end. Your journey will take many years – a lifetime in some cases – so come and hang out with other likeminded travellers and talk about your goals and problems. You’ll be surprised how much we all have in common.

CAM: We miss you! Every night I go along I’m a little unsure what to expect. Is it going to be awkward? Is it filled with small talk?

That’s the voice I’m so glad I don’t listen to because each time I go I feel honoured, I feel privileged and I’m flippin excited about the network. Why? Because these are people that are passionate, that seek opportunities, that will assist one another where and when appropriate, but not because they have to, not because they need to, but because very quickly connections are formed and possibilities created. At the same time it’s relaxed, the food is yum, people are laughing, people are high fiving, the infamous North Shore party spirit exists at the most appropriate level. Look forward to the next one. n

AIMES WINNERS EVENTS IN 2015 TUESDAY 23 JUNE AT THE COMMONS, TAKAPUNA

Directly following the 2015 AIMES Awards launch, our past winners along with Trustees got together at The Commons in Takapuna to share a drink, some nibbles and a catch up.

A group of the recipients – ranging from 2000 – 2014.

Ben Sanders (2014 Arts & Supreme Winner), Loren O'Sullivan (2007 & 2013 Service to the Community Winner) and Ben's partner Kate.

Daniel Payne (2007, 2008 and 2009 IT, Innovation and Science winner) with his wife and Eliza McCartney, right (2014 Emerging Talent winner).

WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER IN LONDON

The North Harbour Club’s first official international event. Hosted by Matthew Flinn (2007 Education & Supreme Winner) and Gary Monk (Life Member) we had over 20 expats and AIMES Award recipients get together at the Daly’s Wine Bar in London.

Gary Monk (Life Member), Matthew Flinn (2007 Education and Supreme Winner) and Amalia Hall (2005 & 2009 Music Winner).

Winners seated with Judge Jan Dawson and Life Member Gary Monk and wife Lesley.

IN SAN FRANCISCO AT TWITTER

TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER AT THE COMMONS, TAKAPUNA

On Tuesday following the AIMES Awards we got together with our new AIMES Award winners to introduce them to the North Harbour Club and fellow alumni.

Dima Ivanov (2006 Arts Winner), Sarah Mitchell (2013 IT, Innovation and Science Winner) and Amanda Judd (2011 Service to the Community.)

Elliot Christensen-Yule (2011 Arts Winner), Ben Sanders (2014 Arts and Supreme Winner) and Eliza McCartney (2014 Emerging Talent.)

Jaden Movold (2014 Junior AIMES Award winner) and Aidan Bennett (North Harbour Club President).

In addition, some of our USA based winners in San Francisco also got together in early December at the Twitter offices for lunch.

Winners connecting in San Fran. Richard Stebbing, Shaun Quincey, Sian Simpson and Nodira Khousainova.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 53

5 Big Questions… MEMBERS Lloyd Kirby photographed during the “mudrun” a RSM team building day held in 2015.

Lloyd

Kirby

1. What do you love about living in the North Shore & North Harbour area?

What’s not to love. We have an amazing amount of beaches, bush walks and stunning vistas as well as great recreational and community facilities. Two of the most modern libraries (design recipients) are on the North Shore located at Birkenhead and Devonport. We had a police sergeant talk recently at North Harbour Rotary who reminded us all that by comparison North Shore has reasonably low crime and is one of the safest of the Auckland communities. Our business community is thriving and the great networking opportunities available mean that a lot of us know each other and as a result there is enthusiastic support.

We also (can’t believe I am saying this) have awesome government representation – Jonathon Coleman and Maggie Barry get the gong for this. What an amazing place to bring up children.

2. How did you come to be living in our little slice of paradise?

I am North Shore born and bred (North Shore Hospital but not the modern building we are all familiar with). My parents built their first home in Beach Haven. I haven’t moved far and we now live in Birkenhead.

3. What is your favourite spot in the North Shore & North Harbour area?

There are many but one of the most beautiful is standing on the Beach Haven wharf looking West over the harbour towards Hobsonville. We are also lucky to live amongst a Kauri forest which provides an amazing view and birdsong which you only appreciate when you return from holiday.

4. What is the one thing you feel we could do better as a region?

Dare I say it – public transport and traffic congestion on the North Shore is a bit of a nightmare particularly for those working in the City.

More cycle lanes, bus station parking, ultimate light rail along the bus lane corridors and the obvious, a new harbour crossing (sooner rather than later). All in all though a small price for living in such a great location.

5. Complete the following: On a typical sunny North Shore & North Harbour day of leisure I love to… ...do many things including cycling with the family on many of the great trails, walking along the beach between Milford and Takapuna or through Kauri Park Reserve to Soldiers Bay or kicking back with an ice-cream from the Takapuna Beach Cafe followed by a walk along the beach to get enough room for another ice cream on the way back.

Lloyd Kirby is a member of the North Harbour Club and a Partner at RSM New Zealand, based in Albany.

PAGE 54 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

CONTRIBUTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED IN 2015

During the 20th anniversary year of the North Harbour Club, 2015, three people were recognised for their contributions over the two decades. Long-serving trustee, sponsor and supporter of the club, Gary Monk, was made a life member after he stepped down as a trustee at the July Annual General Meeting.

Founding trustee Bob Jago and founding member Prof. Ian Watson were made Honorary Members.

GARY MONK

LIFE MEMBER

Gary Monk (ONZM) joined the North Harbour Club in 1998. The Life Membership recognises Gary's huge commitment to the club over many years in many different ways.

Gary has generously given to the club over two decades, with his time and financially, Gary Monk. through sponsorship, he was an early AIMES Awards Judge and a tireless and influential trustee for 12 years. While Gary stood down as a trustee in 2015, he continues his close involvement as a judge of the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame and as a member of the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner Event Committee.

BOB JAGO

HONORARY MEMBER

Bob Jago was a founding trustee of the club and one of the key movers in its establishment in 1995. Bob was a key organiser and contributor particularly over the first decade of the club and served as a trustee for most of the that decade.

Bob Jago.

Bob has contributed to the club in many ways, not the least being through sponsorship support from his motor vehicle businesses Lexus of North Shore and North Shore Toyota. Since 2010 Lexus of North Shore has been the sponsor of the club’s annual lunch programme.

Bob remains a strong supporter of the club and the family continues its close association with Mark (Bob’s son) having been a trustee since 2012.

IAN WATSON

HONORARY MEMBER

Emeritus Professor Ian Watson was a founding member of the North Harbour Club and played an instrumental role in the establishment of the AIMES Awards programme, that is now such a key ingredient of the club. His involvement came about as he led the establishment of Massey Ian Watson with Aidan Bennett.

University's Albany Campus in the North Harbour region. Ian served as a trustee of the club and also as chairman and a member of the AIMES Awards judging panel for many years. He remains a key supporter of the club and has always been passionate about the organisation and the role it plays in the region. Ian co-wrote the book about the first 20 years of the club in 2015.

The North Harbour Club is truly grateful for the contributions these wonderful people have made to the club. n

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SMARTER SOLUTIONS FROM SPECIALISTS NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 55

CATCHING UP WITH THE WINNERS: MATTHEW FLINN

Matthew Flinn performing at the 2015 AIMES Gala Dinner.

Courtrooms and Chorales

THE MULTI-TALENTED MATTHEW FLINN Winning AIMES Awards in two different categories - Music in 2003 and Education in 2007, as well as the overall Supreme Award that year - is a rare achievement. Matthew Flinn is this rare achiever. Recipient of a Double First Class Honours Degree in Law from Cambridge University, and a former advisor to Prime Minister Helen Clark, Matthew is now a self-employed barrister living in London. But his talents extend well beyond his chosen occupation of law.

Generously flown back from the UK by Air New Zealand to perform at the 2015 AIMES Awards Gala Evening, former Rangitoto College pupil Matthew is a talented tenor. He was admitted as an Associate in Voice Performance with Distinction at Trinity College, London and has sung at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Royal Festival Hall and toured Germany and China with the London Bach Choir over the past five years.

Heather Vermeer chatted to Matthew for Northside…

How do you currently balance the law and music elements of your life?

Practising law takes up the vast majority of my time, but I manage to get my musical fix by singing with the Bach Choir in London. It is a large chorale which does some fantastic gigs (Proms in the Albert Hall, international tours, film soundtrack recordings at Abbey Road Studios and the like). Rehearsals are once a week for a couple of

PAGE 56 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

hours, and participating in all the concerts is not compulsory, so there is a little bit of leeway when things get really busy with work.

It can be tough to juggle everything, but it's absolutely essential for my mental and spiritual wellbeing to have music in my life!

What does a typical working day entail for you?

One of the best things about my job is the variety. Some days I will be researching and reading legal papers in my office in London. Other days I will be travelling up to Newcastle or down to Penzance to appear in court. On some occasions I travel to client offices (often government buildings or hospitals) for meetings and conferences. So in terms of what I do, it is difficult to think of any day as "typical", although I can say that, frequently, my days are very long!

What are you most enjoying about life in London?

London offers the full variety of life up on a platter. Every night there are hundreds of musicals, operas and plays, and you can guarantee that if there is a major musical or sporting tour, it will be passing through town at some point. It truly is a global city, and it does feel like it is at the heart of world culture, sport, politics and events. It is a very exciting place to be.

Oh, and travel! I absolutely love travelling, and London is a brilliant base for seeing the world.

Matthew Flinn in 2007 with the AIMES Supreme Award trophy.

And least enjoying?

Being apart from my family. Although I have some wonderful friends here, a big, competitive, meritocratic city can be a lonely place.

Which people in your profession do you currently look up to?

For lawyers, it's normally famous judges whom people look up to. In English law, that would be towering judicial figures like Lord Denning or Lord Bingham, who moulded jurisprudence in profound ways. For me, however, the people I look up to most are some of my colleagues at One Crown Office Row Chambers in London. They are often so successful, yet are also really admirable people. That is not something which can be said of all chambers, and not something to be taken for granted.

What do you see as your greatest achievements so far?

Achieving First Class Honours at Cambridge University was a very big deal for me. Cambridge is an environment in which all the students were top of their respective schools, all around the world, and the academic faculties calibrate their exams and grades accordingly, so that only a very small proportion will achieve the top marks. I remember I felt completely out of my depth when I first arrived, and so leaving on such a high was pretty stunning. And of course it led on to the AIMES awards in 2007!

More broadly, I feel a strong sense of pride in having broken into a profession which has very much been the preserve of privately educated, wealthy people, who frequently come from a long line of lawyers and judges. I don't have that background, and have really forged my own path. It's been very tough at times, but the fact that I've managed to set up a successful practice as a barrister is very satisfying.

How did winning the AIMES Awards help you?

There was of course the immediate financial benefit. Although I was fortunate enough to progress through Cambridge University on a

full scholarship, I then had to undergo further training before being "called to the bar" in London, including a year of vocational training which alone cost £18,000 in tuition fees. That would simply not have been possible without the AIMES Awards.

What I am now coming to recognise, however, is that being an AIMES "alumnus" is, and will continue to be, rewarding in the longer term. I have met some amazing and inspirational people among the club membership, and when I returned home recently to participate in the 20th Anniversary Gala, I was humbled and moved to see how many people continued to take an interest in me, and remained so enthusiastic about helping me, particularly when I ultimately return to New Zealand (which I definitely will do). The North Harbour Club is an organisation which strives for, and generously celebrates, success that is an important and wonderful thing to be associated with.

What are your favourite spots on the North Shore?

Long Bay beach without a doubt. I grew up just a few minutes away from it, and have countless happy memories of long summer afternoons and evening barbecues there. Every time I go home, visiting Long Bay is one of the first things on my to-do list, and when I stand on the shore and look out to Rangitoto, I always feel like I can breath a big sigh of relief.

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions for 2016?

I never used to have New Year's resolutions growing up, but I have had them for the last few years, and have - miraculously - stuck to them! So I definitely want to have one this year, but I'm afraid I'm still trying to work out what it should be!

In ten years time, ideally I’ll be…

I'm not sure where I'll be, geographically speaking, but I know that I want to have a base in London and a base in New Zealand. And I'm hoping I will have discovered the magic formula which balances professional success with family life! n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 57

AWARD WINNER UPDATES As has been detailed in this issue of Northside, the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust was formed in 1995. Since this time the club has awarded over $1.65 million to the youth of the North Harbour region through the annual AIMES Awards. The first grant was made in 1995. The inaugural AIMES Awards dinner was first held in 1996 and this hugely successful annual event has been the focus of the club's activities ever since. In these pages we have provided an update from award recipients from the past four years. It is a thrill for North Harbour Club members that these AIMES Award recipients continue to achieve at the highest levels.

CATCHING UP WITH THE RECIPIENTS 2014 TO 2011...

2014

AIMES AWARD WINNERS Supreme AIMES Award for Excellence: Ben Sanders (Author, 24) - total grant of $25,000, Excellence in the Arts ($10,000): Ben Sanders (Author, 24), Excellence in IT, Innovation and Science ($10,000): Leighton Watson (Geo-Scientist, 23), Excellence in Music ($10,000): Hye-Won Suh (Flute Performance, 22), Excellence in Education ($10,000): Finn Lowery (Scholar, 23), Excellence in Sport ($10,000): Teneale Hatton (Sprint Canoeing, 24), Excellence in Service to the Community ($10,000): Dannie Cullen (Science Communication, 22), AIMES Judges' Special Awards: Tayla Alexander (Singer, 13) & David Light (Boxer, 22).

Received $4,000 and $6,000 respectively.

The 2014 AIMES Emerging Talent Award recipients were: Harry Bartlett (Irish Dance, 16), Lewis Fry (Medicine, Ophthalmology, 22), Emily Scott (Vocal Performance, 24), Kit Reilly (Dance, 17), Nicole Ashby (Mind, Brain and Education, 21), Eliza McCartney (Pole Vault, 17), Gemma Jones (Olympic Class Yachting, 20), Daniel Hoy (Triathlete, 16).

BEN SANDERS

AIMES Arts Award 2014 (and Emerging Talent Award 2012) The North Harbour Club has been integral to my writing career. The Emerging Talent award I received in 2012 funded a trip to New York City in 2013, where a meeting I had at Macmillan Publishers resulted in a two-book deal. The Arts and Supreme AIMES Award I received in 2014 helped enable me to write full time.

The first of my two U.S. novels – American Blood - was released in New Zealand and North America in November, and will be released in Australia shortly before Christmas. This will be my first book to be published internationally, and

Ben Sanders.

has been translated into German, Russian, Italian, Hungarian, Czech, and Japanese.

Currently I’m working on my second American novel, which will hopefully be published toward the end of 2016. I hope to begin work on another novel in March or April next year, and, publishing schedules permitting, I also plan to try my hand at scriptwriting.

FINN LOWERY

AIMES Education Award 2014 Sitting in a kiwi cafe in Oxford, I find myself reflecting on my first term at Oxford University, which came to a close on Friday.

Springing most directly to mind is the wonderfully diverse student body here. Living in a multidisciplinary 'college', I am constantly exposed to people from various disciplines, all corners of the world and all walks of life. I often enjoy dinner in the company of economists, classicists, linguists, and environmentalists, who each share their perspectives (and humour) on the given topic of conversation. Certainly, it's a very exciting, although also very challenging, place to be.

Beyond the socialising, I've also been doing some learning of the traditional, formal, kind.

Reading for the Bachelor of Civil Law, I have the chance to read up each week on the most recent developments in international law, humanitarian law, constitutional theory and criminal justice.

Again, it's challenging but also rewarding.

Next term I hope to continue involving myself in the full life of the university: studying, rowing, and volunteering for RSSAF, a student organisation providing consulting services to non-profits in Sub-Saharan Africa.

For all of these opportunities, I would like to

PAGE 58 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Finn Lowery.

warmly thank the North Harbour Club for its support in getting me here.

TENEALE HATTON

AIMES Sport Award 2014 (and Emerging Talent Award 2013) Receiving the AIMES Award made a huge impact on my performance. When I first received the Emerging Talent Award it enabled me to head to Florida to train with a group of top international female K1 paddlers. Because I had come into the sport fairly late compared to most of the top paddlers, my knowledge of the sport was lacking and so I felt if I wanted to be the best I needed to surround myself with those people, learn as much as I could, train like the best and share their environment. Therefore this initial scholarship made it financially possible to do that.

This trip was a solid six weeks being absolutely worked to the ground, i started off just trying to hang onto their wash and just did everything they did, listened to everything the coach told me to do and just absorbed as much information as I could. I also became really good friends with these paddlers which has opened up even more doors for training and support since then.

Although half way through the camp I could barely hold my paddle or sit in my boat because I was so sore it was totally worth it and by the end of the camp I was pushing to the front and challenging the others during sessions. This really helped me push to the next performance level and following this camp - heading into the international season I managed to come away with several world cup medals along with 4 world titles in 3 different sports - Canoe sprint, Canoe

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Teneale Hatton.

marathon and Ocean ski.

This was only the start of what was to come and I really have to thank the North Harbour Club for making this possible. This was a starting point that lead me to achieving a world record and another world title in 2014. Following this, I was successful in being awarded the AIMES Sport Award which kick started my 2015 year of training overseas with the best paddlers and coaches to continue building off my successes so far.

This year was very different. Although I had some great successes I felt I was getting a little stale in the current environment and was faced with several barriers and felt I wasn’t able to train to my full potential and if I stayed in the current environment I feared I would drift away from the sport. This sparked me to spend the 2015 season training under one programme for the entire year that has proven successes in the past and meant that for the whole year I wasn’t moving from coach to coach and switching teams. This allowed me to train the best way for me. This also meant I wouldn’t be racing sprint canoe for the year so I decided to follow the ocean ski world series tour. For me, any racing is good racing and I didn’t want to lose that competitive edge so I raced as much as I could.

This also lead me to the world championships in Tahiti which I managed to take the win in and aided me in taking away the overall women’s world series title for 2015. Along with this, I decided to put a lot of focus on my studies which I really enjoyed. I felt I had a great balance this year and have gained a huge amount of motivation heading forward and feel I have a fresh outlook on paddling and am excited to see what the 2016 season holds for me with my eyes still fixed on the Rio Olympics in 2016.

DANNIE CULLEN

AIMES Service to the Community Award 2014 After a convolvulus-ridden day at Long Bay Regional Park, I find myself thinking back to the AIMES Awards night and I can’t believe that a year has already passed. This year has been rich with opportunities and the AIMES Award has assisted me as I take first steps towards my passion of science communication.

The award helped me almost immediately; I was able to purchase the gear that I needed as part of my Sir Peter Blake Trust Conservation Ambassadorship working with Yellow-eyed

Dannie Cullen.

Nicole Ashby.

penguins. This included my sleeping bag, hiking boots, thermals, gaiters… pretty much everything you would need to help save the world’s most threatened and rarest penguin species! On this ambassadorship we carried out penguin chick assessments and rescued sick and injured penguins across field sites in South Island. This was a life-changing experience and was also my first foray into conservation communication whilst I blogged and documented the experience online! Over the last month we have even heard the great news that some of these penguins have successfully been released back into the wild and have started nesting again.

Being part of the North Harbour Club has also afforded me the opportunity to befriend and network with other AIMES Awards winners who are pursuing their own passions, which is invaluable in itself. This year I re-joined the Long Bay volunteer group and have continued my work for the New Zealand Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Additionally I have began volunteering at the Sir Peter Blake Marine and Education Recreation Centre (MERC) teaching schoolchildren about the rocky shore. With such a large number of commitments and whilst also working at Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium and on Auckland Zoo’s ‘Zoo Tales’ web-series, it is easy to become overwhelmed and unsure at times, but upon hearing the successes and stories of my fellow AIMES Award winners, it gives me the confidence to keep striving forward and succeed.

I have also been able to start looking into upgrading my camera and filming gear. One of the biggest developments in this area is purchasing an underwater housing, the first time I’ve been able to film in high definition underwater and it’s going to be incredibly helpful for projects that I have planned for the future.

Without the award I wouldn’t have been in the position to purchase the equipment that I needed to fulfill my conservation work as well as take those first steps towards my ultimate goal and bigger picture – of making a difference for New Zealand conservation via science communication. Having a local sponsorship and support is a huge help to young people who are pursuing big dreams and might not be able to do it on their own… I know I certainly wouldn’t have been able to.

NICOLE ASHBY

Emerging Talent Award 2014 As I write, I have almost completed (pending two

remaining final exams) my Master’s degree in Educational Neuroscience at Harvard. I returned to Massachusetts this semester after a short hiatus in which I injured my knee and went through five surgeries (I am deeply grateful to a wonderful team at North Shore Hospital for giving me back my health and mobility), with renewed energy to get the most out of the remainder of my time at Harvard. Aside from the knee saga, I have had an absolutely wonderful year-and-ahalf. It has been a truly transformative journey.

I have found a second home in Massachusetts and have had some wonderful experiences, both inside and outside the brick walls of Harvard Yard. I have seen some great parts of America, I have survived blizzards, and I have met many remarkable people (who have all turned out to be approachable human beings even when I have felt the most starstruck!). It has been a real privilege to be here, and I am endlessly thankful for the support from the North Harbour Club which has allowed me to make the most of this opportunity. I will return home for 2016 to do more postgraduate study, filled with determination and hope after learning so much about the power of education.

To give you more detail, my studies have been exploring the ways in which cognitive neuroscience can be harnessed to improve the educational outcomes for students, particularly those with learning difficulties. In other words, I am trying to figure out what is going on in the brains of young people as they learn and how we can better support them through our teaching, employing both traditional and innovative strategies. Educational Neuroscience is an emerging area of research and practice, and my programme at Harvard was the first of its kind. I simply cannot wait to bring what I have learned from all of the incredible and pioneering minds across here home to the country that I love.

On top of my studies, I launched myself into three exciting internship opportunities this semester. I have been working in the Gabrieli Laboratory at MIT on a study which employs fMRI to explore the brain basis of reading disabilities in children. I have also been working in the Brain, Experience and Education Laboratory right here at Harvard looking into the neural networks underlying the development of mathematics. Finally, I have been working at a non-profit organisation called the Institute of Learning and Development which conducts pivotal research into executive functioning in children and develops interventions to enhance their academic success. Together,

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 59

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

these internships have helped to give me a better picture of how we can help children learn best.

When I return to New Zealand I hope to continue my academic studies and also to find ways to translate all of this theory into application. I plan to work in collaboration with a number of Auckland schools and other educational environments, as well as continuing some research work remotely through Harvard. See you soon New Zealand!!

KIT REILLY

Emerging Talent Award 2014 "Since being presented with an Emerging Talent Award in 2014 my life training to be a contemporary dancer has been incredibly full on. The funds I received from the award were put towards my tuition fees to study at the New Zealand School Of Dance full time programme for 2015. Without this assistance, it would have been much harder to finance my training.

This last year however has been full of highlights while living in Wellington such as performing in the World of Wearable Arts Show (WOW) and being involved with motion capture work at Weta Digital.

Next year I hope to be looking for secondment experiences at places such as Sydney Dance Company and at the worlds largest contemporary dance festival Impulstanz in Vienna. This would allow me to network with other dancers worldwide which is a vital part in establishing a successful career in the performing arts world."

ELIZA MCCARTNEY Emerging Talent Award 2014

Last year, when I won the bronze medal at the IAAF World Junior Championships, I had to reconsider my future. I was planning to study biomedical sciences at Auckland University and apply for Medical school.

Winning an Emerging Talent Award and being a

finalist in the Halberg Emerging Talent catergory for 2014 helped me realise that I had what it takes to do well as an athlete and although it was a tough decision to delay my medical studies it is also very exciting to chase my Olympic dreams.

My main event this year was to compete at the World University Games in Gwangju, Korea. It’s the second biggest sporting event in the world after the Olympics with around 15,000 athletes from all over the world. It was an amazing experience and very valuable as it allowed me to experience the full noise and excitement of a games village and large multisport environment. It was important preparation for the Olympics.

I qualified for the final easily only having to do 2 jumps and in the final after a bit of a shaky start I pushed on and jumped myself into a silver medal with a vault of 4.40m.

I’ve also been honoured this year to receive Sportswoman of the Year at the Auckland University Blues Awards, a Herald Future Star of Sports award and another nomination for the Halberg Emerging Talent Award.

The summer domestic season has just got underway and, for me, off to a great start. In November I jumped the B nomination standard to qualify for the Rio Olympics. It’s a huge relief to have achieved this so early in the season and to do it off the short 10 stride run up that I start my season with. It means I’m capable of much greater heights when I get onto my full 16 stride run up to peak later this season.

That jump of 4.50m also broke the NZ record, 3 age group records and the NZ resident record.

Outside of pole vault I’ve really enjoyed my first year at Auckland University studying towards a BSc in Physiology. I did 2 papers each semester and it was great to have the mental stimulation and balance to my life. I’m continuing study next year but will cut down to 1 paper each semester as I will be overseas a lot in the build up to Rio. My goal for Rio is to make the final and be competitive against the best vaulters in the world.

I have so much more time before then and a lot of hard training, so I’m certainly not finished yet.

DANIEL HOY

Emerging Talent Award 2014

Kit Reilly.

Eliza McCartney.

Since the AIMES Awards Gala Dinner last year I have represented New Zealand in several international races where I placed 3rd in the Oceania’s and 4th in the Japanese National Championship Open Men’s Race. Following this I went to the World Championships where I placed

Daniel Hoy.

PAGE 60 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Leighton Watson.

31st unfortunately due to an injury that stopped me running in the build-up.

The funding received helped me to go overseas and compete in these international races and also to complete a block of training on the Gold Coast to get out of the New Zealand winter.

With being injured it also helped me get back on track by helping to fund physio to help my rehab.

Next year I plan to race my first ITU World Cup triathlon and also race the same Japanese races and go to world champs in Mexico.

LEIGHTON WATSON

AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award 2014 When a volcano erupts explosively there is a violent ejection of mass into the atmosphere forming a cloud of gas and ash. This pushes the surrounding air out of the way generating sound waves. In the year since receiving the AIMES Award I have been attempting to model and understand this phenomena. Recent advances in technology have led to a wealth of high quality volcano sound data. We are using this data to understand the physics of volcanic eruptions and the accompanying sound generation. The goal of this work is to improve the monitoring of remote volcanoes and to assist in characterizing the properties of eruptions. I presented our preliminary results at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in December.

I have been working with collaborators from Uppsala University and in August I travelled to Sweden to meet them. The Swedish group are experts in numerical methods and helped to improve the sophistication of our modelling.

The collaboration has been a rewarding and productive experience, and a change from the usually highly individual nature of PhD study.

I spent a few days in Iceland on the way to Sweden. Iceland is a geologist’s paradise! Like New Zealand, it straddles two tectonic plates. In New Zealand the tectonic plates are smashing together, pushing up the Southern Alps. In Iceland the plates are pulling apart, forming new crust and creating extensive volcanism. Needless to say, it was an inspiring place to visit!

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AWARD WINNER UPDATES

HARRY BARTLETT

– Emerging Talent Award 2014 Winning an Aimes Emerging Talent award in 2014 was extremely humbling and something I am so grateful for.

To be recognised for my contribution and chosen sport dance ( a non Mainstream sport) was such a great feeling and hopefully it inspires others to apply and become part of such a great network as the North Harbour club.

Following on from my award in January I headed off to the other side of the world to train in Boston at a leading Dance school for the lead up to the 2015 World Irish Dance Championships In Montreal. Before I left I found out I had gained Excellence in all my Yr 12 Cambridge exams, became a Prefect for Pinehurst and received on the day I flew out a High Performance scholarship to Massey but regrettably had to turn it down as I was entering year 13 and about to board a plane.

Living and training in Boston whilst doing School work via distance learning, along with coaching from my NZ dance teachers via skype was a great experience. To live and be part of one of the worst snow blizzards in North America history was something I will never forget. Walking to the studio the only form of getting there in waist high snow each day was interesting. It helped freeze away the massive blisters and harden my feet even

Ella Yelich O’Connor (Lorde).

2013

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Supreme Award ($20,000) & Music Award ($10,000) – Ella Yelich-O'Connor, Singer/Song Writter/Musician; AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Bridget Costello, Musical Theatre Performer; AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Sarah Mitchell, Scientist; AIMES Education Award ($10,000) – Michael MacDonald, Scholar; AIMES Sport Award ($10,000) – Andrew Maloney, Sailor; AIMES Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Loren O'Sullivan, Community Volunteer; AIMES Special Judges Award ($10,000) – Liam Stone, Diver.

In addition there were six recipients of the North Harbour Club Emerging Talent

more from the six days a week training :) .

Being away from family and friends was a challenge at times trying to co -ordinate things but I think as kiwis we just get on and do it.

During my time in The USA I flew to Scotland for the All Scotlands (similar to the World Championships) placing 10th, attended several USA majors before heading to the World Championships in Montreal, earning the name of the kiwi who travels to all the majors:) I am happy to say I recalled again retaining a top 20 placing in the world. Although happy with this I was a little gutted as I knew I had the ability to achieve top 10. I had up a hamstring injury and didn't want anyone to know but was in a lot of pain and limited my ability to kick. This with three days before going to Montreal I picked up a severe stomach bug. However like all dancers I did the best I could on that day and I have to be happy with that. Returning home to NZ the body and hamstring needed rest and repair.

Along with my fantastic Dance teachers here, my Physio/Pilates and sports coach they helped me mentally recover from my injury and in July I was off again the represent NZ at the North American Championships where I placed 8th my best ever international ranking at one of the top 5 Majors in the world. It is something I am extremely proud of.

The principal of Pinehurst said to me once what doesn't kill you makes you stronger you never

Bridget Costello.

Awards in 2013. They were: Joel Granger, Matthew Jones, Alex Taylor, George Muir, Georgia Williams, Finn Howard, Natalie Te Paa, Keon Park (they each received $4000).

ELLA YELICH O’CONNOR (LORDE) AIMES Supreme & Music Award 2013

Comparatively to her previous two years, 2015 was fairly quiet for ex Takapuna Grammar student Ella, and deservedly so. Her album Pure Heroine broke nearly every New Zealand record when released in 2013 with her single ‘Yellow Flicker Beat’ curated for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Park 1 also receiving high praise.

Now a household name it was a stellar breakout into music for the past AIMES recipient. She spent the summer of 2015 back home in Devonport for some downtime with family and friends before starting in the studio to work on her much anticipated second album with producer Joel Little.

PAGE 62 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Harry Bartlett.

give up. This was true when Michael Flatley flew to NZ and surprised me a dream come true and being asked to audition for his shows in the future is pretty cool.

2016 holds some exciting things for me starting university doing a Business sports management / psychology degree at Massey University with the flexibility to travel with my dancing and that first trip will be back to Scotland for the 2016 world championships.

To my family, dance teachers, friends and everyone who has supported me including the North Harbour Club, it has been amazing , It is not just about the funding but the support network and helping kids like myself live a dream. What I have achieved in 2015 would never of been possible without this and I look forward to been involved with the Club in the future.

Loren O’Sullivan .

BRIDGET COSTELLO AIMES Arts Award 2013

Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, I have performed at the Thursford Christmas Spectacular in Norfolk and played the title role in 'Princess Ida' at the Finborough Theatre to great critical acclaim. I am currently cast as the Princess in 'The Tinderbox' at Charing Cross theatre through December. I keep myself busy performing at high profile corporate events and in concerts around the UK. The training received at the Academy, made possible by the support of The North Harbour Club, continues to hold me in good stead at auditions. I also make the most of the industry contacts I formed while at the Academy.

LOREN O’SULLIVAN

AIMES Service to the Community Award 2013 (and 2007) At the end of 2014 I returned to New Zealand from Honduras where I had been working as a volunteer English teacher in a home for abused

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

and abandoned children run by this amazing organisation, Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Our Little Brothers and Sisters). It has been a real culture shock coming back to New Zealand after two years living and working in such a different culture.

I have spent this year working as a Spanish teacher at Sacred Heart College in Glen Innes.

I have also remained involved with NPH, volunteering as the Child Sponsorship Coordinator for the organisation’s New Zealand-based fundraising office and spreading the word about the kids I worked with in Honduras at churches, schools and community groups. In this photo, I am speaking at a recent fundraising event, where we raised $11,000 for the children in Peru. It has been a real honour and blessing to be able to raise money for these children who have experienced extreme poverty, abuse and trauma.

George Muir.

GEORGE MUIR

Emerging Talent Award 2013 2015 has been a roller coaster year for me and my hockey. I was lucky enough to be selected for every tour with the Blacksticks this year, taking me to Malaysia, Argentina, Australia and all over New Zealand. The year started with a high in Malaysia where we competed in the Sultan of Azlan Shah cup and won gold, beating world champions Australia in a very tight final. After a quick turnaround we were off to Buenos Aires for the World League tournament and a shot to qualify for next year’s Olympics. A disappointing quarter final shootout loss to Canada here cost us automatic qualification and made for a stressful few months.

Unfortunately I picked up a hamstring injury that put me out of the national competition for 2015 and made me miss the first couple of games in a series we had against India in Nelson and Christchurch. It came right for the last two games and then into the Oceania cup, another chance for automatic Olympic qualification. Here we just missed qualification again with a narrow 2-3 loss to Australia. The Olympic qualification roller coaster continued after this as we had to rely on other teams failing to qualify for us to qualify ourselves. After a dramatic couple of months of uncertainty around qualification I can excitedly say that the Blacksticks will be going to the 2016 Rio Olympics! 2016 will be a big year!

Although this year has had its ups and downs it's been an amazing year of competing and international experience for me. I was honoured to receive two prestigious awards, the Auckland University Sportsman of the year and the North

Andy Maloney.

ANDY MALONEY

AIMES Sport Award 2013 (and Emerging Talent Award 2008) It’s surreal, sitting here in Rio on a rare day off the water, writing this update with only 239 days until the 2016 Olympic Games kick off. I am currently mid-way through a three-week stint here in Rio, getting some valuable time on the Olympic waters.

With every trip to Rio, our knowledge of the local conditions continues to grow. In the sport of sailing there are a lot of local variables to get your head around and master before race day one of a big event. With six course areas here in Rio spread out between inside harbour courses, to outside open ocean racetracks, the range of conditions is as extreme as it gets. Making sure I am on top of everything from tidal patterns, geographical effects on the wind, and the different wave states on all the courses takes a lot of time, making my trips to Rio a huge part of my build up to August 2016 - the Olympic Games.

Taking a step back and reflecting on 2015 as a whole, there were some great moments. Being the year before the Olympics, it was a matter of balancing qualification events and learning events to make the most of the calendar year. I can’t help but have thoughts of missed opportunities come to the forefront of my mind, as any athlete does when reflecting on events. We all strive to be the best we can, but being “perfect” is almost a stretch too far – there is always something we look back on and see we could have done better! The specific techniques my coach and I have been working on following a disappointing World Championship result towards the end of 2014 have come along in leaps and bounds. This has shown up in both training and racing throughout 2015, but there is always that next level to push towards, which is what keeps me motivated on the water.

I had a great start to 2015 by becoming the NZ Laser National Champion for the third consecutive year. It is always special to win the National Title against your training partners and mates. Being sailed on our very familiar training grounds off Takapuna Beach on the Hauraki Gulf, this year was no exception. My international season started earlier this year, attending the Miami Sailing World Cup event at the end of January for my first time ever. It was an awesome event, and kick starting the 2015 Sailing World Cup with some solid form to finish 4th, was good. With the podium well within reach though, it kept me searching for more.

After coming back to NZ and winning our local Oceanbridge Sail Auckland regatta in February it was then back overseas, getting stuck into the international events.

The theme of ‘close but not quite’ continued right throughout my season overseas. Anything from leading at the halfway stage of the Sailing World Cup event in England, to being in podium contention going into the final race of the 2015 Laser World Championships in Canada - the podium just seemed a touch out of reach this season! My coach and I are realistic and continue to learn from these experiences, and see the smaller details behind the scenes. I am confident with training the right things that the podium will come soon enough!

Having been consistently inside the top 10 at every major international event of 2015 did have one important implication for my Olympic Campaign. I was selected as the sole Laser representative for the 2015 Rio Test Event ‘NZL Sailing Team’. This event had always been highlighted in my 2016 Olympic plan as a very important regatta to learn from for various reasons, all which add up to make it the final and most accurate mock event of the real deal in 2016. The Test Event was as close as any event this year in the Laser fleet. I finished 11th overall, but took so much away from the regatta and experience as a whole. Rio had never felt so ‘comfortable’ to me both on and off the water, and even with the disappointing end result there were so many positives throughout the week of racing that it gives me more confidence at the Olympic venue than ever before…

That brings me back nicely to where I am sitting right now - under an old-school ceiling fan that is on maximum power, at our apartment in the Urca suburb of Rio de Janeiro (trying to always keep cool here!). The remainder of this December trip to Rio will be a nice mix of training and racing on the Olympic waters, before arriving home in perfect time for Christmas eve and the beginning of the festive season! I have to say a big thanks to the North Harbour Club and the AIMES Award judges for their continued support of my Olympic Campaign. Without their financial support, along with the NZL Sailing Team and High Performance Sport NZ it wouldn’t be possible to follow my dream of standing on the 2016 Olympic Podium. I am grateful to have the most amazing job, travelling the World to compete at the highest level and strive to be the best I can become in August 2016.

Here’s to a good summer and bring on 2016!

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 63

ALEX TAYLOR

This intensive research workshop allowed me to interact with researchers from around the world and was extremely beneficial for my PhD work. It was also a great opportunity to explore Madrid, as well as brush up on my high school Spanish!

Finally, I recently presented my research at a conference in Boston, USA, held by the American Physical Society. This is perhaps the largest conference in my field, so it was a great experience to see the vast range of fluid dynamics research that is being performed.

I remain grateful for the support of the North Harbour Club during my PhD. My AIMES Award from 2013 continues to help me in my research today, as funding for my travel came in part from the award.

Emerging Talent Award 2013 Since leaving university in 2011 I’ve been working fulltime as a freelance composer and musician.

Most of my work is composing to commission for chamber groups, orchestras and soloists, although I undertake a range of other activities, including teaching composition at Auckland University, performing regularly, and writing poetry. I've compiled a brief list of some of my musical activities in the last year or so.

In January of 2015 I recomposed Purcell's Dido and Aeneas for a new chamber production with Unstuck Opera directed by Frances Moore at the newly opened Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Art gallery in Titirangi. I also took on duties as Music Director, violinist, one-quarter of the chorus and in my operatic debut as the sorceress, complete with red leather corset and spiked dog collar, not to mention caterwauling falsetto.

In February and March I toured Australia with Live Live Cinema, playing violin, keyboards, saxophone and vocals as part of a six-piece band in a live film production of Carnival of Souls and Dementia 13. I also completed a commission for orchestra and gospel choir for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's education outreach programme. For three months April through June I was Composer-in-Residence with the Caselberg Trust in Dunedin's Broad Bay, where I composed a large solo viola work for Emma Fetherston and a substantial collection of poetry based on the music of Anthony Watson. My residency was the subject of a short documentary made

by SOUNZ, the Centre for New Zealand Music, and is available to stream on their website.

I also recorded my debut singer-songwriter album as Bellfrog, which you can find at bellfrog. bandcamp.com In July I co-convened the annual Nelson Composers Workshop with fellow composer Chris Gendall and afterwards returned to Auckland where I began second semester Harbour Hockey Sportsman of the year.

My journey started with me playing through the age groups which comes at a large financial cost in hockey. I am forever grateful to the North Harbour Club for helping me to finance this, and especially my campaign to the 2013 Junior World Cup which really gave me the international experience that has enabled me to push into the Blacksticks team. The support has also helped me keep balance in my life through exposure to other people's experience and knowledge.

After a year of ups and downs, it has finished on a high with Olympic Qualification which was the main goal of 2015. I look forward to the challenges and experiences of 2016!

MICHAEL MACDONALD AIMES Education Award 2013 (and Emerging Talent Award 2010)

I am now in the final year of my PhD at the University of Melbourne, having started in 2013. My research looks at how to predict the aerodynamic drag caused by a rough surface.

For example, barnacle growth on the hull of a

Alex Taylor.

teaching composition and theory part-time at Auckland University. In August I beavered away at a substantial new French Horn Concerto, premiered by Emma Richards and the Auckland Symphony Orchestra at the Aotea Centre and Bruce Mason. In September I arranged Anthonie Tonnon's Water Underground for the Silver Scrolls and conducted live at Vector Arena with MC Tali and the Silver Scrolls orchestra. I also launched a new performance group called hearsay. In November I completed a Chamber Music New Zealand Commission for the Enso Quartet, a New York based chamber group who will be touring New Zealand in May. Since December I have been working in earnest on my first opera, The Last Delirium of Arthur Rimbaud, with a libretto by David Herkt and directed by Frances Moore. We are holding auditions at the end of January and will be undertaking a workshop season at the end of April. I’m extremely grateful to the North Harbour Club for their support, and I hope they continue to encourage exciting young creative talent for many years to come.

Photo credit: Priscilla Northe of Striped Trees Productions

Michael Macdonald.

ship leads to an increase in drag (and hence fuel usage), compared to a well-polished surface. I am using computer simulations to try explain the physical effects that the roughness has on the fluid flow, as well as ways to more easily compute the drag. As I near the completion of my PhD, I have been involved in writing academic journal articles related to my research. I am hoping to have two articles published next year, which will go on to form the basis of my thesis. This will hopefully be completed by mid-2016.

I was also fortunate to attend a month-long workshop held at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Spain, in June of this year.

PAGE 64 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Sarah Mitchell.

SARAH MITCHELL

AIMES IT, Innovation and Science Award 2013 (and Emerging Talent Award 2012) In the past year I have made significant progress towards my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. By April, I had completed all of my class requirements and reached the end of my final term as a Teaching Assistant for a first year Ph.D. Solid Mechanics class. Following this, I was able to devote my full attention to my research, which involves utilizing topology optimization methods to determine optimal anode structures in lithium-ion batteries.

We aim to develop a battery with significantly enhanced capacity and cycle life for use in applications such as mobile phones and portable electronic devices.

By the middle of the year I had finished the core development phase, where I had created a robust computational framework that was ready to produce some preliminary results. I presented these results at the United States National Congress on Computational Mechanics held in San Diego during July. It was a great conference and my work was very well received.

The latter part of this year has been focused on utilizing my code to produce optimal anode designs. As of writing this update, I have just finished running my final simulations and I am now preparing my dissertation. My Ph.D. defense is scheduled for the first week of February so it is a very busy and exciting time!

After the completion of my Ph.D. I intend to return to New Zealand and begin a career in analytics.

I am very much looking forward to living on the Shore once again!!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the North Harbour Club for their continued support, without which this incredible journey may not have been possible.

Thank you!

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Matthew Jones.

MATTHEW JONES

Emerging Talent Award 2013 Earier this year I was working at a Bioinformatics research lab in New York City. New York proved not to be my cup of tea so I left in June, travelled through the west coast of the USA then returned to New Zealand. Since returning I have started a job at Orion Health.

Orion Health makes software for the healthcare industry. I am currently working on bringing Genomics and other similar data into the patient’s electronic medical record. The incorporation of “omics” (Genomics, Proteomics, ect.) data in medicine is part of Precision Medicine. Precision Medicine is predicted to be the next big thing in medicine and is set to revolutionise the way we diagnose and treat patients. Genomic data can tell us: what pharmaceuticals will work, not work and are dangerous for a patient, for example the effectiveness of different cancer drugs can be predicted; predispositions towards certain disorders, for example the BRCA1 gene raises your risk for breast cancer; immunity to disorders, for example possessing a certain variant makes you immune to HIV and the plague; and the presence of genetic disorders for example Huntington’s disease. My work concerns bringing this information in front of both clinicians seeing patients and researchers looking for new patterns.

Jason Bae.

my final opportunity for Olympic qualification.

Currently I am part of a four that is spending the summer in Auckland in the hope to be fast enough come February for New Zealand Elite selection. This would then hopefully see me selected to try and qualify the boat for Rio.

2012

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Supreme Award ($20,000) & Sports Award ($10,000) – Lydia Ko, Golfer; AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Rob Tucker, Artist; AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Amy Smith, Neuro-Scientist; AIMES Music Award ($10,000) – Jason Bae, Musician; AIMES Education Award ($10,000) – Andrew MacDonald, Doctor; AIMES Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Joseph Bergin, Community/ Youth Ambassador.

In addition there were six recipients of the North Harbour Club Emerging Talent Awards in 2012. They were: Petra Bullock, Nick Hall, Teneale Hatton, Sarah Mitchell, Mattea Mrkusic, Jeremy Reid, Ben Sanders (they each received $4000).

Finn Howard.

FINN HOWARD

Emerging Talent Award 2013 I spent three months in Europe earlier this year training with the New Zealand rowing team ahead of the 2015 Elite World Rowing Championships which were held in France at the end of August.

The three months training were invaluable in the lead in to this event and I had the intention of using this event for Olympic qualification however unfortunately with a disappointing result consequently missed out on qualifying in the coxless four.

There is a last chance regatta in May which is

Lydia Ko.

LYDIA KO

AIMES Supreme & Sport Award 2012 (and 2011 Emerging Talent Award)

The young ex-Pinehurst student entered 2015 as the youngest ever world No.1, winning five times on the LPGA tour to climb to the top spot. The remainder of the year was no different as she spent her second season as a golf professional with stellar rankings. In 2015 she won both the Race to the CME Globe for the second successive year and the LPGA Tour with prize money totalling US$2.8 million.

2016 is set to be a massive year for Lydia as she kicks off playing at Clearwater Golf Club this February in the New Zealand Women’s Open - many saying her latest results put her on track to be the greatest women’s golfer ever to play the game.

JASON BAE

AIMES Music Award 2012 (and Emerging Talent Award 2009) When I won the AIMES Music Award in 2012, I was able to use the scholarship prize money to buy a plane ticket to London in order to take a live audition at the Royal Academy of Music. My audition was successful and I was one of 10 applicants from all around the world to be accepted as a Masters student in piano performance. This July, I have graduated my Master of Arts degree in piano performance with the highest distinction award, DipRAM. After my graduation, I was contracted with the Austrian Gramophone | Paladino Music in Vienna to make my first debut CD, ‘Marylebone’ at Vienna Konzerthaus. The CD was released on September and it is now available in iTunes, Paladinostore.com, and Lewis Eady Showroom in Auckland. From September – October this year, I have given eleven piano recitals in a nationwide tour of New Zealand as an artist of Chamber Music New Zealand Encompass Tour series and I performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5 “Emperor” with Bach Musica at Auckland Town Hall. In London, I have performed in St. James’ Church Piccadilly, Asia House London, and Steinway Hall. I was also invited to perform at Cosmos Hall in Seoul by New Zealand Embassy in South Korea for the 2015 New Zealand Festival in Seoul.

I am currently based in London. www.jasonbaepianist.com.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 65

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Amy Smith.

AMY SMITH

AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award 2012 After being awarded an AIMES Award for my PhD research into neurodegenerative diseases, I completed my doctorate at the University of Auckland in 2013. I chose to pursue a career in biomedical research and I moved to the UK to begin work as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford at the beginning of 2014.

I am currently working in the Wade-Martins neurodegenerative disease laboratory in Oxford. We are interested in learning about the earliest changes to cells in disorders of the brain such as Parkinson’s disease. The aim of my project is to identify a marker in the blood for Parkinson’s disease to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of this progressive neurodegenerative disorder.

Blood is collected from Parkinson’s patients and healthy individuals and we analyse the blood cells to see if we can find differences between patients and healthy individuals.

If we can also find changes in the blood of people who are at-risk of developing the disease, these blood markers have the potential to increase our understanding of how the disease is caused, to provide a basis for monitoring disease progression, and enable drug development for earlier stages of disease.

I presented some of my work at a conference in Cambridge earlier this year and was able to get good feedback on my work from international researchers. I plan to publish this work in a scientific journal in the coming year, and of course there are still many questions in this field of research to keep me busy.

I am really enjoying my experience at Oxford and in the UK, but I still always look forward to a yearly summer visit to the North Shore!

Joe Bergin.

JOE BERGIN

AIMES Service to the Community Award 2012 (and 2010 Emerging Talent Award) This past year has been a truly eventful and significant one for me. In amongst all the challenges and opportunities were a few key milestones which kept me as busy as I've ever been.

To start, after four years and countless hours of study, anxious late nights and beating my head against a brick wall (all in equal measure), I finally completed my Bachelor’s degree in law and graduated in the winter.

Although studying and working full-time led to more than one occasion where I seriously contemplated throwing it all in and joining some kind of roaming circus, to finally don the regalia and receive my long coveted degree, it all seemed worth it! The next step is completing my professional’s course and finally being admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court.

This great occasion was quickly followed by my elevation to the role of Chairman of the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board of the Auckland Council a month before my 23rd birthday. The splitting of the term of the Chair into two lots of 18 months was agreed unanimously by the Board at the start of the Council triennium and meant a significant step up in responsibilities from my previous role as Deputy Chair. It has been a truly incredible role which continues to challenge and excite me every day. Although I am the youngest to have held this elected position across the city, my fellow Board Members, Deputy Chair,

Councillors and the Council staff have shared generously their experiences and knowledge to bridge any gaps in my understanding of the issues facing our city and our community. I continue to love this role and the many amazing people working in the community who I meet through it.

While I do still struggle with some of the slow and overly complicated processes of the Council which constantly seem to cause all kinds of delays for some of the exciting community facilities and partnerships, I am excited by the progress that is finally being made on key projects such as the playground at Takapuna Beach and the new youth centre in the former Takapuna RSA. I anticipate a few more really exciting breakthroughs this coming year, especially with the new Council urban redevelopment agency Panuku Development Auckland setting its sights on Takapuna, and look forward to tackling the many challenges they will bring.

I continue to be extremely grateful for the encouragement and support I received from the North Harbour Club ever since first receiving the Emerging Talent award in 2010.

In particular, the ongoing personal support and inspiration I get from my fellow alumni and the unstoppable and eternally insightful Joan Finlayson who is always keeping an eye out for me and never more than a phone call away.

The enduring value of being a previous AIMES recipient is this support from an incredible group of locals and fellow recipients. Thank you to all the North Harbour Club members and sponsors for the momentous role you play investing in the future of young people across the North Shore.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 67

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Nick Hall.

NICK HALL

Emerging Talent Award 2012

Jeremy Reid.

JEREMY REID

Emerging Talent Award 2012 While I suspect many of my fellow AIMES-ers have been doing much more exciting things, 2015 for me has been mostly a year of sitting in libraries with eyes aching over some impossible passage of Greek or Latin, and agonizing over Microsoft Word documents while jittering slightly from the last cup of coffee. I have also spent much of the year teaching, so when I'm not struggling with my own work there is always the relief of marking 100+ essays and exams and responding to student emails about what is clearly stated in the syllabus. Such is the glamorous life of a graduate student in philosophy.

I spent the first half of the year finishing up my time as a Visiting Scholar at Princeton, where it is very cold, very expensive, and the food is astonishingly bad. On the other hand, the library is magnificent and the people are intellectually stimulating so I did, however, get a lot of work done and was able to defend the prospectus and plan for my dissertation when I returned to the University of Arizona in the Fall [sic.], so I have now ticked all the prerequisite boxes and advanced to the status of PhD Candidate (or in academic slang, I'm now ABD, "All But Dissertation"). For those interested, my dissertation is on issues in ancient political philosophy, specifically philosophical critiques of Athenian democracy and the Roman mixed constitution. I am especially dealing with problems of how political institutions, laws, and constitutions can be best arranged

so as to minimize the harmful effects of bad and ignorant rulers on the one hand, and to educate the citizens in such a way that they are able to recognize and follow good laws and create a more just society on the other hand. Ancient authors tend to make fewer assumptions about the way that politics should be done than we do now, so while my work is historical I hope that the contemporary import will be refreshing, thought-provoking, and beneficial.

One upshot of being on the East Coast of the United States was an increased ability to travel and to network with other scholars in my field. I was able to visit, attend conferences, and in many cases present work at NYU, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Penn, Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, and the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. I am also excited about the coming months, as I have been invited to present at conferences in San Francisco and in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Traveling for academic reasons is less fun than for holidays – especially on a student budget – but it is nice to see more of the country and people tell me that it's important to leave the library occasionally. (It is unclear whether leaving the library to go to another library counts.) I am very happy to be back in the desert with my wonderful friends and colleagues (it's warm, cheap, and delicious here), but I plan to go on the job market next year looking for an academic position in philosophy so it will be many more months of hard work to come. If you know anybody who wants to hire a philosopher, please don't hesitate to let me know!

PAGE 68 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

I have now been in my role as an Able Musician in the Royal New Zealand Navy Band for just over a year and I've enjoyed it so much! Without the support of the North Harbour Club I don't know if I would have reached my goal and have become the professional musician that I am today.

The money that I was awarded through the AIMES Award helped me to pay for tuition at the University of British Columbia in Canada.

For two years I studied the trumpet and with the skills that I learnt I was able to successfully audition for the Navy Band.

Since joining the Band I have been able to take my music across New Zealand and even internationally when we went on a trip to Rarotonga in July. Some of the most rewarding performances are those that are in the 'Morning Melodies' series that we play in the North Shore's own Bruce Mason Centre. It is always such a highlight to perform in front of North Shore audiences after the support that I have received from this community.

In the future I will hopefully be performing in Belgium and France in April as well as traveling New Zealand for the Navy's 75th birthday celebrations. I can't wait to get started!

2011

AIMES AWARD WINNERS AIMES Supreme Award ($20,000) & AIMES IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Richard Stebbing, Biomedical Engineer; AIMES Arts Award ($10,000) – Elliot Christensen-Yule, Actor; AIMES Music Award ($10,000) – Moses MacKay, Singer; AIMES Education Award ($10,000) – Blake Hansen, Scholar; AIMES Sports Award ($10,000) – Thomas Abercrombie, Basketballer; AIMES Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Amanda Judd, Community Worker; Judges Special Award ($10,000) – Alisha McLennan, Dancer.

In addition there were six recipients of the North Harbour Club Emerging Talent Awards in 2010. They were: Alexandra Foster, Adam Gerrett, Seok Jun Bing, Aine Kelly-Costello, Lydia Ko, Rebecca Dubber (they each received $4000).

Blake Hansen.

Moses Mackay.

MOSES MACKAY (SOL3 MIO)

AIMES Music Award 2011 Baritone Moses Mackay, is the third member of well-known musical trio Sol3 Mio. The group’s 2013 album was the biggest selling New Zealand album that year and the second biggest in 2014. In 2015 Sol3 Mio released their second album ‘On Another Note’ which was the highest selling album of the year and announced a national tour for 2016 with 12 dates across the country.

The new album continues the journey that the group have been on for the last four years, delving deeper into their operatic roots and Moses say’s they’re delighted to be heading on the road again.

“We can’t wait to hit the road and tour New Zealand again, especially following the release of our new album”. “While we love taking our music to all corners of the world, there is nothing quite like playing at home. It is and will always be our favourite place to tour”.

Sol3 Mio’s Auckland show is at Vector Arena in Friday 11 March.

BLAKE HANSEN

AIMES Education Award 2011 (and 2006 Emerging Talent Award) This year has marked many larger life changes since winning an AIMES Award what now seems a good many years back – highlighting for me just how important the foundation of the award was in ‘starting out’. The most obvious (and most joyful) change being that I was married this summer, on August 1st. We were thrilled to have friends and family join us in Cambridge, UK, to celebrate. Joanna and I were married at the church where I have been working (Holy Trinity Cambridge) for the last five years and where we met for the first time

three years back.

This time also seemed right to bring to a close my work as the Youth Pastor at Holy Trinity Cambridge and since September I have returned to work much more aligned with my original biochemical training - as a global health consultant with a firm based out of the US. We still live in Cambridge and the job itself is a reflection of the C21 nature of jobs now – meetings via google hangout, collective work forums, international teams providing 24-hour service and having not met a single one of the people I work with except online. I anticipate greatly when travel means I will get to meet my colleagues and understand much more of the work of our client NGOs on the ground. The work itself is stimulating and it is a real privilege to be involved in the global aid sector – a long held goal. As it happens when I received an AIMES award, much of the value of the prize went toward funding an internship with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva. Now I am pleased to report that such experience proved a springboard to my current job – exposing me to many of the clients I now work with. The effects of the AIMES award are still felt, and I remain grateful for it!

RICHARD STEBBING

AIMES Supreme & IT, Innovation & Science Award 2011 I applied for an AIMES Award during my first year at Oxford and I have very fond memories of my first trip back to New Zealand and the AIMES gala dinner. In particular, I remember being absolutely stunned by the size of the event and the amazing enthusiasm of everyone there. Meeting all of the other recipients in person was a lot of fun too – they are a very impressive group!

The AIMES Award crucially enabled me to continue my DPhil (PhD) research for a fourth

Richard Stebbing.

year in Oxford, giving me the opportunity to pursue additional projects that I otherwise would not have been able to do. After receiving the award in 2011, I continued my DPhil, spent two summers at Microsoft Research in Cambridge working in the Machine Learning and Perception Group, and finally finished my degree in December 2014.

2015 was super busy but very exciting. On my way back to New Zealand for Christmas last year I had an opportunity arise to join a very early-stage company in San Francisco which I ended up taking. Working as part of a small start-up has been an incredible learning opportunity so far and a really positive complement to my previous academic experiences. We have very tight deadlines for developing and implementing new technologies for product lines, so I’ve had to quickly learn how to prioritize my effort and balance where complexity is necessary and where it isn’t yet. I do feel very fortunate to have joined a team with an excellent culture, and as a result of this, I believe we are getting this balance spot on. We’ve got a lot to do over the next year or two, so it’s bound to be interesting at the very least!

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 69

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Established in 1988, Schnauer and Co is a well established boutique law firm located on the North Shore. Our expertise lies in the following areas of the law: • • • • • •

Property Commercial Elder Law Employment

At Schnauer and Co we: • Deliver client focused and innovative advice and solutions • Build close relationships with our clients • Are committed to providing high quality services and value to our clients

222 Kitchener Road, Milford, North Shore, Auckland City 0620 P.O. Box 31-272, Milford, North Shore, Auckland City 0741 Ph + 64 9 486-0177 | Fax + 64 9 486-0175 Email schnauer@schnauer.com PAGE 70 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Tom Abercrombie.

TOM ABERCROMBIE AIMES Sport Award 2011

2015 has been another hectic year with basketball keeping me busy throughout.

Another successful campaign with the Skycity Breakers saw us take out our 4th championship in the last five years in March. I still get goosebumps thinking about that night. You dream about winning championships with a last second shot and the way things unfolded was an unforgettable experience.

After the Breakers season I had an amazing opportunity to go and play for San Sebastian in the Spanish basketball league. The Spanish season runs a lot longer than the Breakers which allowed me to join the team for the last two months of their season. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the Spanish league, widely regarded as the second best in the world after the NBA. It was a fantastic experience and I loved the opportunity to test myself against some of the top players in Europe and see a beautiful part of the world.

After jetting back from Europe following the Spanish season I was straight back to Europe again to play with the Tall Blacks.

A successful tour saw us travel to four different countries over a couple of weeks and pick up some great wins over Mexico, Great Britain and China. Unfortunately our bid to qualify for the Olympics didn't go to plan going down to an Australian team laden with NBA talent.

Currently I am back into another season with the Skycity Breakers.I am extremely grateful to the North Harbour Club for my AIMES Award which allowed me to travel to the U.S and test myself against some of

Elliot Christensen-Yule.

the best players in the world. I truly believe that experience helped me grow as a person and player and allowed me to strive towards achieving many of the things I have done so in the game since then.

ELLIOT CHRISTENSEN-YULE AIMES Arts Award 2011

Rebecca Dubber.

After two years playing the role of Student 8167606 at the University of Auckland, I can now report that I am officially a Computer Scientist. My time at university was totally awesome-burgers. So much so that I’m a little sad it’s all over. Well, I guess that’s what you get for fast-tracking your degree and doing lots of summer school!

Thanks to the University’s General Education programme, I was able to expand my repertoire with two courses outside the Science faculty this year. The first, Turning Points in Western Music, covered everything from Gregorian chant to Elvis, the fortepiano to The Beatles and opera (my favourite) to Niggaz Wit Attitudes (a close second).

Meanwhile, Introduction to Dance and Creative Processes exposed me to the world of contemporary dance. Having two left feet, I knew it was going to be tough but I put my best foot forward (the left) and achieved First in Course with the highest mark the department has ever given. Next year I will be playing the role of a computer programmer for Xero, helping them make their beautiful accounting software. Until then, I’m working as a projectionist at Capitol Cinema, taking an online course in ethical hacking and auditioning for acting gigs to tide me over. I am ever thankful for my AIMES Award and the ongoing encouragement and support of the North Harbour Club.

REBECCA DUBBER

Emerging Talent Award 2011 Hi Everyone, 2015 has been another whirlwind year in my corner and even with Christmas fast approaching everything is showing no signs of slowing down, in fact it would almost seem to be speeding up!

I am now roughly 10 months away from the Paralympic games in Rio and things couldn’t be going better for me at the moment, training is going well and everything else seems to be slowly falling into place, but enough about what’s happening now I’ll get on to what’s happened this year.

2015 has been probably the best year for me competitively ever. I have set three personal bests and won two silver World Championship medals. It has been a lot of hard work, frustration and a few ups and downs but to me it’s all worth it with what I have achieved this year. Of course all my achievements would not be possible without the help of my many and wonderful supporters, and even though it’s been a few years since I won my emerging talent scholarship I still hold the North Harbour Club close in my books as an organisation that has significantly helped me get to where I am today.

So thank you again, I hope you’ve enjoyed my update and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 71

AWARD WINNER UPDATES

Alexandra Light.

ALEXANDRA LIGHT Emerging Talent Award 2011

The last year has been a bit of a change from my normal routine of performing as I’ve studied to become a makeup artist, personal trainer and best of all - had the privilege of becoming a mother. On August the 18th I gave birth to my daughter Isabelle Light. Isabelle has (so far!) been a content, happy baby - which has made the whole process of motherhood a lot easier! Being a mum is definitely more than I’d ever thought it would be. I am loving every minute of it and can’t wait to see what life throws at me next!!

Alisha Mclennan.

ALISHA MCLENNAN Emerging Talent Award 2011

This year kicks off with a hugely successful Summer School for Touch Compass. We lead 24 participants, from New Zealand and Australia, through a week of dance classes, improvisation tasks and repertoire. I thoroughly enjoy the energy of so many new faces and being part of the team planning and leading the week. The week was also an audition and six new dancers were invited to join the company.

With our fresh-faced company assembled it was time to get on with creating a new work with chorographer Marc Brew (UK/AU) and remount two works from 2014. The new work 2x2x2 was premiered at the Takapuna Grammar School’s Dance Evening as well as in Prime Cuts at Tempo, the full length work

Aine Kelly-Costello

will be performed in 2016. The remount works were toured to Hamilton and Wellington, it was an intense tour with teaching workshop as well as performing.

Whilst preparing for the tour, the company performed a number of smaller performance, creating a jam packed rehearsal schedule. We performed at AUT Diversity Week – twice, the DHB ball and a fundraiser with L’Ecole dance.

Small gigs have been scattered throughout the year from Devonport Primary and Bayswater Primary to performing at the sculpture opening in the Botanical Gardens and most recently at the Devonport Christmas Festival. A short work Clasp was performed at many of these.

Another busy year and that’s without mentioning so many other highlights this year or any work teaching and choreographing on the Touch Compass youth class and the Takapuna Grammar integrated dance class who challenge me but I’m always so proud of.

ÁINE KELLY-COSTELLO Emerging Talent Award 2011

I'm beginning to enjoy this annual ritual of the AIMES reflection on the year gone by because it lets me consider what I took away, and want to keep with me, from that period. I'll start in the present. I am in Salamanca, Spain, and I have spent four months here now on exchange. I'm studying Translation (Spanish and French)—Translation being something I have wanted to study for a few years now, and French is a language I decided a solid seven months ago that it would be useful to acquire.

This pattern of fulfilling aims I've had for a while and picking up new ones along the way has perhaps been the backbone of 2015. I had no idea before leaving New Zealand, for example, that by the time I got to Spain, I would have met a warm and kind friend from Rome in France, who would invite me to her apartment there. I'd never have ventured through the Historic but transport-dysfunctional and pick-

PAGE 72 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

pocket-infamous city on my own, and I prefer to take the lead from someone local in an unfamiliar place, anyway. I especially loved the Academia de Santa Cicilia's rendition of Dvorak's Seventh Symphony; it was more than worth my €12-ticket. If being more lastminute than usual was the saga of this year (while in Rome, I diligently allotted my French project due on the following Wednesday to the directly preceding Tuesday), then learning how to adapt came part and parcel. You may have noticed that I mentioned both that I started learning French seven months ago and that I went to France before I got to Spain. It follows, then, that I set foot on Montpellier's pot-hole-rich footpaths with merely the bare bones of grammar I scraped together for myself before arriving, and with no spoken French practice whatsoever. My host mother, patient as she was, spoke no English. For me, baptism by fire did turn out to be a good choice.

But was it ever a relief to disembark after the fourteen-hour bus trip from Montpellier to Salamanca in the land of a language I happen to have a particular affection for, not to mention much more practice unravelling and communicating in. It was a relief to come back here to a loving host family I had lived with before. A relief to find other students like me, from Marseille or Colorado or Brisbane who I'd share the ups and downs, and especially the most ordinary days with.

The university choir would turn out to be my second Spanish family, and I've been fortunate to learn from some passionate Translation scholars whose classes will probably encourage me to further study in the field. My experience was not utopian either, but I didn't come here for utopia; I came here for a dash of life in a culture which was not my own. For me, being a tourist might open you to new ways of seeing, but living abroad can open you to new ways of thinking. Thank you, France and Spain.

Construction Interiors Seismic Strengthening Leaky Building Remediation Health & Safety Leadership Innovation Career Development Best practice

Phil Brosnan, North Harbour Club Vice President & Trustee

www.brosnan.co.nz | phil.brosnan@brosnan.co.nz | (09) 479 4347 or 021 566 242 Proud of our involvement and sponsorship of the North Harbour Club.

AWARD WINNERS 1996 - 2010

$1.65 MILLION 2010

The AIMES Award winners for 2010 were:Supreme ($20,000) & AIMES Sports ($10,000) – Jacko Gill Arts Award ($10,000) – Verity Burgess IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – David MacDonald Music Award ($10,000 each - Joint Winners) – Sophie Bird; Will Martin Education Award ($10,000) – Andrew MacDonald Service to the Community Award ($10,000) – Anita Walbran Judges Special Award ($6,000) – Shaun Quincey Emerging Talent Awards 2010 ($4,000 each) – Maddie Dillon, Chloe Francis, Stephanie Mitchell, The Naked & Famous, Michael Macdonald, Joseph Bergin.

2009

The AIMES Award winners for 2009 were:Supreme ($20,000) & Sport Award ($10,000) – Melissa Ingram Arts Award ($10,000) – Anna-Louise Dillon-Herzog IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000 each - Joint Winners) – Daniel Playne & Yvette Perrott Music Award ($10,000 each - Joint Winners) – Grayson Masefield & Amalia Hall Education Award ($10,000) – Adrienne Anderson Service To The Community Award ($10,000) – Cameron Calkoen Emerging Talent Awards ($4,000 each) – Sophie Corbidge, Chris Rahardja, Jenna Gallie, Jason Bae, Ellen Deverall, Arkesh Patel.

2008

The AIMES Award winners for 2008 were:Supreme Award ($20,000) & Sport Award ($10,000) – Tom Ashley Arts Award ($10,000) – Sophie Henderson IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Daniel Playne Education Award ($10,000) – Naomi Jones Service To The Community Award ($10,000) – Sean Yang Judges Special Award ($7,000) – Melissa Ingram Emerging Talent Awards ($4,000 each) – Verity Burgess, Brittany Carter, Andrew MacDonald, Andrew Maloney,Yvette Perrott, Yousif Rassam, Chris Steele, Erin Taylor,The Earlybirds (Filip Kostovich, Jared Aisher, Michael Cannon, Sean Patterson and Kane ter Veer).

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AWARDED...

2007

The AIMES Award winners for 2007 were:Supreme Award ($15,000) & EducationAward ($10,000) – Matthew Flinn Arts Award ($10,000) – Ananth Gopal IT, Innovation & Science Award ($10,000) – Daniel Playne Music Award ($10,000 each - three Winners) – Sarah McCallum, Tanya Cooling & Hollie Smith Sport Award ($10,000) – Jo Aleh Service To The Community Award ($10,000) – Loren O’Sullivan Emerging Talent Awards ($2000 each) – Samuel Coldicutt, Robert Ellis, Mikhail Koudinov, Alexandra Maloney, Stephen Smith, Rob Tucker

2006

The AIMES Award winners for 2006 were:Joint Supreme Award ($10,000 each) & Sport Award ($10,000 each) – Juliette Haigh & Rebecca Spence Arts Award ($8,000) – Dmitri (Dima) Ivanov IT, Innovation & Science Award ($8,000) – Hayley Reynolds Music Award ($8,000 each - Joint winners) – Julia McCarthy & Sarah McCracken Education Award ($8,000) – Chye-Ching Huang Service To The Community Award ($8,000) – Cameron Calkoen Emerging Talent Awards ($2000 each) – Tom Ashley, Richard Chen, Caroline Grey, Blake Hansen. Violinist Richard Chen also received $5,000 from Corelli School for production of his own CD.

2005

The AIMES Award winners for 2005 were:Supreme Award ($10,000) & IT, Innovation & Science Award ($7,000) – Nodira Khoussainova Arts Award ($7,000) – Ananth Gopal Music Award ($5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD) – The Checks (Rock Band) Karel Chabera, Jacob Moore, Ed Knowles, Sven Petterson, Callum Martin Education Award ($5,000) – Elizabeth Duncan Sport Award ($5,000) – Hannah McLean Judges Special Award ($5,000) – Amalia Hall

As has been detailed elsewhere in Northside, the North Harbour Club and Charitable Trust was formed in 1995. As of November 8th, 2014 the Club has awarded over $1.65 million to the young people of the North Harbour region through the annual AIMES Awards. We have featured reports from some recent winners in previous pages. These are the other AIMES Awards recipients dating back to 1996.

2004

The AIMES Award winners for 2004 were:Supreme Award ($10,000) & IT, Innovation & Science Award ($7,000) – Heather Brown Arts Award ($5,000) – Kendra Oxley Music Award ($5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD) – Simone Roggen Education Award ($5,000 each, Joint winners) – Vicki McCall & Nicole Roughan Sport Award ($5,000 each, Joint winners) – Juliette Haigh & Corney Swanepoel

2003

The AIMES Award winners for 2003 were:Supreme Award ($20,000) & Music Award ($7,000) – Kristen Darragh Arts Award ($8,000) – Felicity Rogers IT, Innovation & Science Award ($8,000) – Nodira Khoussainova Music Award ($5,000 plus $5,000 from Corelli School for production of a CD) – Matthew Flinn Education Award ($8,000) – Karen Lindsay Sport Award ($8,000) – James Cressey

2002

Music Award ($9,000) – Sarah McCallum Music Award ($4,000 each) – Emma Buckton, Vanessa McGowan Education Award ($5,000) – Paul Bracewell Education Award ($3,000) – Ian Munro Sport Award ($8,000) – Michael Bullot Sport Award ($7,000) – Terenzo Bozzone Sport Award ($2,000) – Dean Kent Sport Award ($2,000) – Jennifer Dryburgh Judges Special Award ($1,000) – Fleur Ritchie Judges Special Award ($500 each) – Jordan Barnes, Jonathan Coulam

2000

The AIMES Award winners for 2000 were:Supreme Award ($5,000) & Education Award ($8,000) – Clarissa Dunn Arts Award ($8,000) – Andrea Proud Music Award ($8,000) – Lara Hall Sport Award ($8,000) – Monique Robins Sport Award ($5,000) – Scott Talbot-Cameron Sport Award ($5,000) – Steven Ferguson Sport Award ($3,000) – Michael Bassett Sport Award ($3,000) – Terenzo Bozzone Sport Award ($2,000) – Simon Rea

1999

The AIMES Award winners for 2002 were:Supreme Award ($10,000) & Sport Award ($8,000) – Terenzo Bozzone Arts Award ($8,000) – Anna-Louise Herzog IT, Innovation & Science Award ($8,000) – Michael Brown Music Award ($8,000) – Sarah McCallum

The AIMES Award winners for 1999 were:Supreme Award & Music Award ($8,000) – Rainer Gibbons Arts Award ($1,500) – Mark Wells Arts Award ($1,000) – Helen Candy Arts Award ($1,000) – Felicity Rogers Arts Award ($1,000) – Elaine Dowsett Arts Award ($1,000) – Jon Gorrie

Music Award ($5,000) – Robbie Ellis

Arts Award ($500) – Bradley Fagan

Education Award ($8,000) – James Russell

Music Award ($500) – Ji-Hyun Kim

2001

Music Award (Presented with a Picolo Clarinet) – Teresa Davis

The AIMES Award winners for 2001 were:Supreme ($5,000) & Education Award ($8,000) – Mark Robinson Arts Award ($8,000) – Helen Candy

Education Award ($3,000) – Nikolozi Meladze Education & Sport Awards ($2,000) – Jamie Voss Sport Award ($5,000) – Benjamin Pilley Sport Award ($5,000) – Jennifer Dryburg Sport Award ($2,500) – Slavik Shorinov

Continued on next page…

5 Big Questions…

Tammy McLeod with her young children on Mairangi Bay beach.

$1.65 MILLION

AWARDED... (CONTINUED)

1998

The AIMES Award winners for 1998 were:Supreme Award & Sport Award ($8,000) – Nathan Handley Music Award (Presented with Baby Grand Piano) – Justin Bird Music Award ($3,750) – Neil Watson

Tammy

McLeod

1. What do you love about living in the North Shore & North Harbour area?

I really love the beaches and the great outdoors life we have on the North Shore. There is a real sense of community here as well and even though we are living in a big city, the community spirit is amazing.

Education Award ($2,500) – Amanda Rubick Sport Award ($2,000) – Jemima Smeadley Sport Award ($2,000) – Alister Gair Sport Award ($2,000) – Felicity Gould-Hope Sport Award ($2,000) – Jennifer Dryburgh Sport Award ($2,000) – Jayson Herbert

1997

The AIMES Award winners for 1997 were:Supreme Award & Education Award ($6,000) – Philip Misur Music Award ($3,000) – Lara Hall

2. How did you come to be living in our little slice of paradise?

When I left university I got a job working at Davenports in Takapuna. It didn’t take us long to realise that not only was the North Shore a great place to work, but also a wonderful place to live. Now, 18 years later, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

Education Award ($2,000) – Claire Speedy

3. What is your favourite spot in the North Shore & North Harbour area?

We are fortunate to live in Rothesay Bay, close to the beach. It is a beautiful spot and a peaceful little bay and would have to be my favourite place. It’s also a great location, being a 10 minute walk from Browns Bay which has everything you need and a 20 minute walk from Mairangi Bay which has everything you want!

Sport Award ($2,000) – Craig Harper

4. What is the one thing you feel we could do better as a region?

I think we do well as a region, but now that we are part of the 'super city’ I think it is important that we do all we can to preserve the culture, community feel and lifestyle of the North Shore. It is what makes this such a desirable place to live and work.

5. Complete the following: On a typical sunny North Shore & North Harbour day of leisure I love to… … go for a run along the cliffs, then spend the day at Rothesay Bay beach with my family and a good book!

Tammy McLeod is a trustee of the North Harbour Club and Director of Davenports Harbour Lawyers based in Albany.

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Sport Award ($2,000) – Sarah Macky Sport Award ($2,000) – Jayson Herbert Sport Award ($2,000) – Alastair Gair Sport Award ($2,000) – Julie Worth Sport Award ($2,000) – Matthew Davies Sport Award ($2,000) – Nathan Handley

1996

The AIMES Award winners for 1996 were:Supreme Award & Arts Award ($10,000) – Patricia Bolton Music Award ($2,000) – Ben Hoadley Music Award ($1,500) – Aron Ottingon Sport Award ($5,000) – Daniel Slater Sport Award ($2,500) – Matt Brown Sport Award ($2,500) – Simon Cooke Sport Award ($1,000) – Jacqui Ashworth Sport Award ($1,000) – Abby Lye Sport Award ($1,000) – Emma Tepavac Music Award ($1,150) – Cameron Bettridge (Presented 1995)

NORTH HARBOUR CLUB EVENTS

‘AFTER 5’ BOARDROOM NETWORKING FUNCTIONS A real positive for the North Harbour Club has been the resurgence of the regular ‘After 5’ networking events over the past couple over years. They have been part of the club’s programme since its inception and have increased in popularity due to great organisation and the efforts of the hosting members. A big thanks must go to those members who have hosted these events, and to trustee Gary Simpson and GM Courtney Jackson who are instrumental in the organisation.

ALBANY TOYOTA IN MARCH

There was a strong turn-out on March 12th for a function at AIMES Music Award sponsor Albany Toyota, hosted by founding trustee Andrew Mackenzie and his son Hadyn, now the CEO of the leading motor vehicle franchise. Members, guests and Albany Toyota team members were joined at this event by AIMES Award winners Joe Bergin, Ben Sanders and Dannie Cullen.

DAVENPORTS IN JULY

The second ‘After 5’ for 2015 was hosted by Tammy McLeod of Davenports Harbour Lawyers at their Albany offices in early July.

Around 40 members and partners joined Davenports' customers and staff for an enjoyable evening. Davenports has a strong history with the club, with former managing partner Derek Dallow heavily involved through the first 15 years of the club and his successor Tammy McLeod now a trustee. Davenports are also a sponsor of the North Harbour Club.

James Daio, Les Clemm, Lynn Gordon and Kevin Chow.

ASB IN SEPTEMBER

The ASB North Harbour Business Banking office in Constellation Drive was the venue for the third ‘After 5’ of the year, hosted by club member David Brook on September 16th. Around 50 members, partners and ASB business banking team members mixed and mingled in the futuristic ground floor office. David Brook addressed the crowd and AIMES 'Service to the Community'Award winner Joe Bergin provided a report on his progress since picking up the ASB sponsored award in 2013. The evening concluded with Vice President Phil Brosnan thanking the ASB team for their hospitality.

SIMPSON WESTERN IN LATE NOVEMBER

2015 wrapped up in style with a well-attended Christmas ‘After 5’ function at Simpson Western in Takapuna, hosted once again by trustee Gary Simpson. Inclement weather meant that the function had to remain indoors in 2015, rather than on the roof of the Byron Street building which had become a tradition in recent years. Vice president Phil Brosnan’s wife Michelle won the prize for the best ‘festively dressed' person on the night. Simpson Western have been strong supporters and sponsors of the club for a long time.

Recently their sponsorship has been a very important ingredient in the establishment of the AIMES Awards “Winners Network”, the alumni group of award recipients. n

Nick Delamare and Andrew Mackenzie.

Joe Bergin, Ben Sanders, Dani Cullen and Michelle Bennett.

Parsons, Wendy Stedman and Delamare.

John Cobb, Phil and MIchelle Brosnan.

Host David Brook of ASB introduces speaker Joe Bergin at the September After 5 function.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 77

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE

The large screen of the multimedia system which is well over 30cm wide.

The rear three-quarter styling is characterised by sharp contours that run from the front wheel arch to the rear where the C-pillar has been blacked out. A Lexus-first feature providing a dramatic ‘floating-roof’ effect.

Aidan Bennett and the RX450h F Sport.

For the second year in a row Northside publisher and North Harbour Club president Aidan Bennett had the pleasure of spending three days test-driving a brand new latest model Lexus. Last year Lexus had just launched the NX range, so the NX300h F-Sport was the vehicle. This year just as Northside was going to press Lexus was launching the brand new RX range.

A completely new design for the already popular big brother SUV to the NX. This is Aidan’s report of his Lexus RX experience.

LOVING THE NEW LEXUS RX! First of all I need to declare my bias. After driving the Lexus NX300h F-Sport last year I couldn’t wait to get into the slightly bigger new generation RX. The NX was special, so I presumed the RX would be very special. And it was.

The RX is the latest Lexus to recover the ‘L-finesse’ design makeover – featuring the same sharp origami creases, squared off wheel arches and the now distinctive Lexus ‘spindle’ grille. So this vehicle is quite different to previous model RX’s. In fact it’s a head turner. when I drove in to our company carpark heads turned and one of our young people commented “gee that truck looks hot”.

And it does, while the design is distinctive, this SUV will appeal to the discerning.

The black vehicle I had the pleasure of driving over three days was the RX450h F-Sport. A hybrid. There are six models to choose from in the new 2016 range which is generation four of the RX. For the technical folk the RX450h I drove has a 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine partnered with an electric motor (making it a hybrid) that provides total system power of 230kW and 335Nm of Torque. While I can’t attest to it, this vehicle is apparently 11% more fuel efficient than the previous equivalent model. CO2 emissions have also been reduced by 12 percent with the new model. Being the F-Sport model it had some neat features that 'performance drivers’ will love.

The new RX is 120mm longer and 10mm wider than the previous model. It feels like it when you are in the cabin with lots of legroom and boot space. It is a big vehicle. Apparently the batteries

(for the electric motor) have been relocated creating 16% more boot space. To open the boot in the F-Sport all you need to do is swipe your hand across the Lexus emblem and the boot opens automatically. Very nifty!. One of the days I was driving I played golf and what a pleasure it was to have such a large area for the clubs, trundler and gear. The smart key activates an illuminated walk up entry system with puddle lamps and lighting on the exterior handles. Great for when approaching the car when it’s dark.

There is no doubt you are driving a highly specked luxury vehicle with all the bells and whistles. The ambient LED illumination of the key elements gave the F-Sport I drove a distinctive feel. The added touch of a wireless phone charging tray is also very user friendly that drivers will love. What they will love the most, however, will be the large screen of the multimedia system which is well over 30cm wide. This is standard right across the 2016 RX range. I loved how easy it was to pair up my phone and operate the entire in-vehicle entertainment stuff.

The standard features across the range are significant, including:- all wheel drive, satellite navigation, 8-speed auto transmission, 20” alloy wheels, leather, integrated daytime running lights and fog lights, 8-way power adjustable front seats with memory for the driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, rear seats with 40:60 split and one touch fold levers, front and rear sensors and reverse camera as well as all the safety attributes as I have covered in the next paragraph.

2 Link Drive, Wairau Park • PAGE 78 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE

The new RX450h F Sport as tested.

For the safety conscious the RX is the perfect vehicle. Lexus is known the world over for its safety and there are several features that place this vehicle as one of the very best with the new Lexus Safety System(+) on all grades which draws on a combination of radar and camera functions to detect potential hazards and assist with the appropriate action. The system includes the pre-crash system, all-speed dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beam headlights (adaptive high beam on limited grades), lane keep assist system which when enabled will provide corrective steering assistance to stay centred in a lane and lane departure alert with sway warning. It also has a blind spot monitor, vehicle stability control, traction control and no less than 10 airbags!

The RX450h F-Sport version that was mine for the few days has some added features such as aluminium and leather F Sport detailed interior, Mark Levinson premium audio system with no less than 15 speakers and the touch power boot door. The F Sport has special sounds too! An air intake sound generator amplifies the engine noise into the cabin. The combination of the optimised pressure distribution of the seat cushions, unique F Sport leather steering wheel with paddle shifters and leather gear lever ensure an exhilarating experience for

those who demand the thrill that driving brings. Performance drivers will get excited!

A panoramic view monitor is also a feature of F Sport and Limited.

This uses cameras to display a 360-degree view of the vehicles immediate surroundings including a bird’s eye view for improved sight. It works in conjunction with the Lexus parking assist sensors and monitor, blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert.

The great thing about a Lexus Hybrid is they are great around town as well as on a long drive. When you are driving around the 50kph mark in town or in queues on the motorway it is the electric motor that does the work. So very economical and quiet. With all the power and features these vehicles are also fantastic on long trips with great performance and features. When there is a chance to use their performance modes 'Sport S’ and ‘Sport S Plus’.

The RX is a fabulous car. If you are thinking about a luxury SUV then this should be top of the list. You will also be supporting a local business that is a massive supporter of the North Harbour Club as the lunch programme sponsor. Simply give Mark Jago or one of his team a call today on 442-3670 or visit: www.lexusofnorthshore.co.nz n

Other latest Lexus models at Lexus of North Shore now…

NEW LEXUS LX SUV LX570 & LX450d options

NEW LEXUS NX SUV NX200T & NX300h

NEW LEXUS RC COUPE RC200T & RC350 & RCF

Phone: 442-3670 • www.lexusofnorthshore.co.nz NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 79

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES 2015

CHARITY LUNCHES The North Harbour Club Charity Luncheons have long been highlights of the events calendar. Since 2010 the lunch programme has been known as the Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunches, due to the generous sponsorship of Mark and Bob Jago. Four Luncheon events were held in 2015.

CAM SLATER LUNCH IN APRIL

Cam Slater, AKA ‘Whaleoil’ was the guest speaker for the club’s first North Harbour Club Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunch of the year held at The Spencer on Byron Hotel on April 14th. A crowd of around 250 people were entertained by the controversial blogger and media personality. It proved to be an entertaining lunch with Cam Slater interviewed by the excellent MC Mark Sainsbury. Takapuna boxer David Light, who won an AIMES Judges Special Award in 2014, was also on hand to provide the club with an update on what he had been up to in the six months since receiving the award.

A good crowd was on hand for an entertaining lunch.

MC Mark Sainsbury interviews Cam Slater.

DEREK HANDLEY LUNCH IN MAY

Internationally successful Kiwi entrepreneur Derek Handley was speaker for the second Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunch also held at the Spencer on Byron Hotel on May 22nd. The lunch was MC’d by Radio Live’s Andrew Patterson. Interviewed by Patterson, Handley proved to be an inspirational speaker. Members and guests could clearly see why he had achieved outstanding success at such a young age. He was the Founding CEO of The B Team, which he helped set up alongside Sir Richard Branson. The B Team is a global leadership collective aimed at making business work better for people and the planet to meet the challenges of the 21st century. This was after achieving business success with The Hyperfactory and Snakk Media. Guests also heard an update from AIMES Supreme Award 2014 winner, writer Ben Sanders, who has secured a Warner Bros contract which will see his work adapted into a Hollywood movie.

Prudence Foster, Claire Curlewis and Beulah Thomson.

Rudi Bublitz, Mark Talbot and Pierre LeNoel.

Andrew Patterson, Derek Handley, Ben Sanders, Matthew Bellingham.

PAGE 80 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Heather Vermeer, Joan Finlayson, Michelle Bennett and Lesley Monk.

Ash Pateriya, Euclid Fong, Graham Stuart and Bob Jago.

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES 2015

LADIES LEADERSHIP LUNCH IN JULY

Shane Cortese.

Carolyn Skilling, Leanne Wallace, Lisa Hill.

Debbie Hurren, Rajni Prasad.

The club’s annual ‘ladies lunch’ was held at the Spencer on Byron on July 10th. For 2015 this was given the title of ‘North Harbour Club Lexus of North Shore Ladies Leadership Lunch’ due to inspirational ladies in leadership being the theme for the lunch MC’d by club ambassador Shane Cortese. Very contrasting and interesting presentations were made by four impressive leaders – Olympic rower (and AIMES Award winner) Juliette Drysdale, independent director (and club member) Jan Dawson, self-named lipstick company founder Karen Murrell and Westlake Girls’ High School Principal (and club member) Roz Mexted. The 300 guests were also treated to pre-lunch hair styling, make up try-outs and bubbles.

Heather Vermeer, Claudia Renford, Michelle and Aidan Bennett.

Debbie Wareham, Tayla Boyd, Robyn Farrington.

Lesley Monk, Sarah Greenway, Jan Ward.

Susan Kidston, Julia Doap, Michelle Mattheson.

Kathryn Morrison, Ashleigh McNaughton, Stefanie Mills, Binty Bringans.

Juliette Drysdale, Bernie Studholme.

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 81

LEXUS OF NORTH SHORE CHARITY LUNCHES 2015

WORLD CUP RUGBY LUNCH IN AUGUST

Bill Francis, Aidan Bennett, Peter Montgomery, Josh Kronfeld.

Mike Atkinson, Matt Bellingham, Stuart Fluker, Mike Thompson.

The club’s fourth and final Lexus of North Shore Charity Lunch was a ‘Rugby World Cup Warm-up Lunch’ held at QBE (North Harbour) Stadium in late August. The guest speaker was former All Blacks flanker Josh Kronfeld and the MC was former Tongan international and media personality Willie Lose. Over 300 were in attendance to hear Kronfeld talk about his own Rugby World Cup experiences from 1995 and 1999. Club ambassador, former trustee and club member Pete Montgomery (known as ‘The Voice of Yachting’) was also in attendance to talk about his biography that had been published just a week prior to the lunch. He was joined by the book’s writer Bill Francis.

Andrew Brown, Manish Hemraj, Raymond Barnes, Paul Stewart.

Hiren Shah, Manesh Maru, Akhilesh Moulick.

Estelle Verani, Tania Wakefield, Alexandra Foster, Robyn Skyes, Kylie Harris.

Catherine Jenkins, Joan Finlayson, Lesley Monk, Sarah Greenway.

PAGE 82 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

Geoff Nash, Dean McGahey, Darin Bayer.

Ian Watson and Aidan Bennett have collaborated to produce the North Harbour Club book 'The First Twenty Years of Excellence’.

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

QUALITY BOOK CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF THE NORTH HARBOUR CLUB The efforts of the North Harbour Club over a 20 year period from 1995 through until 2015 have been truly exceptional.

When the founders created the charitable trust back in 1995, it is highly unlikely that they would have foreseen that the organisation would be in such a strong position, and have achieved so much, two decades later.

To celebrate this success, the first 20 years of the club has been captured in a 200 page hard covered quality book – The First Twenty Years of Excellence – written by founding member Ian Watson and current president and long-serving trustee Aidan Bennett. It is a high quality presentation that serves as a great record for the charitable trust.

Professor Ian Watson, the inaugural principal of the Massey University Albany Campus, has written about the first 10 years of the North Harbour Club. These are 10 chapters that capture the story of how the club came about and set about establishing its purpose of rewarding exceptional youth through the AIMES Awards programme while the members enjoyed fine wine and food and one another’s company.

Ian Watson covers the facts, such as the early desire to keep the club as an ‘exclusive’ group, a desire that changed over time as the trustees could see that there was a need to involve a wider sector of people to ensure success. A wise move as it turned out.

You’ll also enjoy the foreword provided by Derek Dallow, one of the key players in the club from the outset. As the honorary lawyer for 15 years he saw first-hand what made things tick and how it all unfolded.

The task of Watson’s co-writer Aidan Bennett was to capture the second decade of the club, having personally served as a trustee right through that period. He document’s the second decade as a period that included strong new leadership, the sudden passing of the driving force behind the club (Ross Finlayson) and the growth of

the AIMES Awards via a significant lift in support from the business community.

As well as documenting the second decade, Aidan has also interviewed and profiled all the key players in chapters called ‘The Founders’ and ‘The Leaders’ that really does provide the full picture of how and why the organisation has achieved its success.

Not only is this book an excellent historical record that generations will look back on, it also highlights what can happen when different sectors collaborate for the good of their community.

In this case the momentum was started by a group of business leaders, along the way they have embraced the education and public affairs sectors and made a real difference to those achieving excellence in the arts; information technology, innovation and science; music; sport and community service. They’ve also had some fun.

It is certainly worth a read. Just $50 with (of course) all proceeds going towards the North Harbour Club Charitable Trust and its AIMES Awards programme.

Visit: www.northharbourclub.co.nz n

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 83

THE LAST WORD: MATTHEW BELLINGHAM

THE LAST WORD I love New Zealand, but in particular I love Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula. Well, let’s get specific – I really love the North Harbour region where we live and enjoy the serene rural lifestyle of Coatesville, and Pauanui, where we own a beach house. We are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful city that is the hub of the New Zealand business, providing a plethora of opportunities and world class education as well as providing an exceptional place to live and is the gateway to so many amazing places to holiday and relax.

I also think that we are lucky to be living in the current times.

Yes, there are challenges – but when aren’t there? Generally speaking you can look through the eyes of pessimism and talk about what is wrong in the world, or you can adopt a glass half full approach and think about what is right with the world.

In my view, we have a lot to be grateful for in 2016: • We live in a beautiful country • There is a positive feeling around New Zealand • We have a strong economy by world-wide standards • We have low unemployment with plenty of opportunities for those that want them • We enjoy a high standard of living • Low oil prices (helps to run my V8) • Good fishing and diving (my passion – second only to my family) I think that we have a lot to look forward to in 2016 and beyond, not the least of which is another stunning year ahead for the North Harbour Club. As a former president of the club I continue to be amazed and humbled at the talent that we have in our remarkable region and I am proud to be a contributor to our wonderful organisation which plays such a vital role in nurturing and supporting that talent.

So yes, the club is unique and awe inspiring, but it needs us all

PAGE 84 NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016

to remain focussed and engaged in order to keep up the work that we are doing. If you have room to add another goal or resolution for 2016, then how about making community engagement just one of them. And of course you have the vehicle right on your lap. Whatever your current contribution, why don’t you get more involved with the North Harbour Club through things like: • Attending every lunch • Booking your table for the 2016 AIMES Awards now • Hunt out at least one new member and introduce them to the club, then take them under your wing and introduce them to the existing members • Sponsor something • Attend the after five functions • Engage with and help out at least one of our prior winners in some form • Do business with someone in the club We have a very rare and unique organisation that contributes more and touches lives in so many ways. In fact all of us – even me as the immediate past president – can’t fully comprehend the massive impact that we have had over the lives of so many people and families over the last 20 years. What I do know that each of us in our own way is making a significant contribution to a legacy. I for one plan to be a big part of that contribution for the future.

So go on, what are you waiting for? Get engaged now and be proud of the difference that you are making.

Matthew Bellingham is a director of accountancy firm Bellingham Wallace, long time sponsors and supporters of the North Harbour Club. He was President of the club from 2012 to 2015 and has been a trustee since 2009. Matthew lives at Coatesville with his wife Tarryn and young family. n

“I help others maintain the standard of living to which they have become accustomed, no matter what life throws at them.�

David Stedman Authorised Financial Adviser P 09 215 9538 | M 021 451 058 E david@stedman.co.nz www.stedman.co.nz

NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2015/2016 PAGE 85

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