News & Events

^{This event is one of many which will come through the yMedia blog now that the Challenge is over. You can always check out what’s available by visiting: http://news.ymedia.co.nz/tagged/events}

It’s all on tomorrow! There are still places available for the inspirational NZ Community Economic Development Conference that is being held in Waitakere, Auckland on 19/20 April. The final conference programme is now online with 50 presenters over seven plenary and 35 workshops.

If you are interested in resilient, empowered and financially sustainable communities through social enterprise and community owned assets – this two day conference is a feast that is not to be missed! 

In addition to presentations, the conference will effectively create a two day learning community –through the many discussions and debates at workshops, open space, chats between sessions and of course, in the bar! Register now - Download registration form here.

Some conference highlights:

• How can CED help Rebuild Communities Post Disaster?
  In Lyttelton, a well developed community infrastructure that has partly been developed through time banking has helped the community to help itself post quake. A presenter from Lyttelton will be presenting a workshop called “Lyttelton in the midst of chaos - and the role of time banking in nurturing and rebuilding our community”. And Lindsay Jeffs from Christchurch Small Business Enterprise Centre will be making a presentation about how CED approach could rebuild a sustainable, resilient Christchurch.
   
• Maori programme
  Maori Trusts are old hands at social enterprise and community owned assets. This is reflected in the conference programme that includes a number of presentations from Maori practitioners includingNgarimu Blair from Ngati Whatua, Wiremu Doherty  from Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi,Rachell Mio from Awhi Credit Union,  Ella Henry from AUT plus Aboriginal Leader, Dennis Foleywho will be presenting (with Ella)  about “Indigenous Emancipation: Out of the Dominant Economy”.
   
• Politics in a lunchbox!
  Renowned blogger and media personality, Bomber Bradbury, will chair a session with Metiria Turia from the Green Party, David Parker from  Labour,  Tau Henare from  National and a representative from the Maori Party who will speak to their respective party policies relative to community economic development. Overseas experience indicates that the role of government is principally an enabling one through empowering legislation and development of innovative ways of supporting the resourcing of CED initiatives, including resource for a community driven infrastructure to support and capacity build this emergent sector… And much more here

Further information:

Di Jennings | Convenor
NZ Community Economic Development Network
di@ced.org.nz

Kendra Oxley l Event Organiser                                        
Community Economic Development Conference
Phone: 021 1641213 
www.ced.org.nz

Coming to a city near you! These incredibly inspiring, global Kiwi’s are just not to be missed!

Winging their way home for a series of exciting, dynamic and hugely inspirational presentations, these are some of our most successful and entrepreneurial NZers who all have a fairytale or two to tell - Auckland and Wellington are the lucky recipients so be sure to get in quick smart!

In order to tease you just a little –

Talk about shooting for the stars! Being a finalist in the NASA Astronaut Selection while aiming to become New Zealand’s first astronaut (and in between running marathons),Dr Karen Willcox found herself heading up an incredible, NASA-funded research team at MIT designing environmentally sensitive aircraft. As if that wasn’t enough, learning 3 new languages got the nod as well!

Marketing Chief at Virgin Airlines yet not content on showing up to the Cannes Film Festival with her rather savvy, entrepreneurial boss Sir Richard Branson, Sarah Robb-O’Hagan decided to start dealing with the world’s fastest man. Not only that, but she’s been working with him (Usain Bolt) to re-invigorate one of the world’s best known sports drinks, Gatorade – and it’s bolted.

From Fielding, New Zealand to fielding calls from global heavyweights (hundreds of them), Michael Boustridge commands the multi-billion dollar BT Global business and has friends in very high (and far-off) places. Sitting on the board of the educational not-for-profit XPRIZE Foundation, large incentives are offered to those trying to solve the delicate problems of our time.

What better way to spend your time? 

Exclusive offer: In recognition of the contribution that our young designers and innovators make to our economy, Kea New Zealand is pleased to offer the yMedia network members a heavily discounted price of $50+GST per ticket (usually $225+gst per person, this represents a 78% saving). Ticket sales will be limited at this price so you will need to be quick to secure one.

More information about the speakers is available on the following links:

• Presentations Day, Wellington - 5th April, 2011
• Presentations Day, Auckland - 7th April, 2011

Or to book simply go to www.eventfinder.co.nz and search for “World Class New Zealand” Simply enter the Promo code YMEDIA when entering your payment information to get this special price.

Get your ticket and get excited! See you there!

Further information:
Hannah Wills, Kea New Zealand
http://www.keanewzeland.com

This event is one of many which will come through the yMedia blog. You can always check out what’s available by visiting: http://news.ymedia.co.nz/tagged/events

The 2010 yMedia Awards Dinner

yMedia co-founder Adele shares her highlights of the awards evening.

Thursday, 19^th August wrapped up the biggest and best year yet of the yMedia Challenge. Seeing the Floating Pavilion transformed into sparkling glasses, fairy lights, laughter and applause was pretty cool. Even cooler was observing the nervous anticipation of the participants – it almost felt like a warped version of the (digital, Kiwi, youth) Oscars.

MC Simon Pound guided everyone through the evening, obviously having done his research. It’s no easy feat to sum up the sweat, blood and tears that went into each project, in only a few sentences – but he smoothly introduced each team’s work.

What was really rewarding, was to see so many of those who had once been students participating in the Challenge, come back as agency mentors.

The funniest bits of the evening included the impromptu ‘thank-you’ speeches from the various winners (or the sheer horror they directed towards the microphone, and the speed at which they shyly, silently scurried offstage).

All in all, it was the ideal finale to a Challenge that produced some of yMedia’s best work yet. I gushed enough about Eddy, Jade, and the management team during my speech, but the Awards night, as well as the event in general, demonstrated how they have turned a new chapter in yMedia’s history.

Having been limited to watching from the sidelines this year, experiencing the Challenge only via my Macbook in London, it was fantastic and surreal to be able to meet participants in the flesh and experience the energy that comes from being in the room during Awards night. That energy is indescribable – I don’t think I was the only one in the room who felt very lucky to be part of something incredible.