Innovative Young Minds Launches National Programme

Acting Lower Hutt Mayor David Bassett acknowledged the support of Rotary Hutt City and other Rotary clubs around New Zealand as Innovative Young Minds expands nationwide for the first time.

“Through Innovative Young Minds we are providing twice the number of opportunities for young women to gain first-hand experience in diverse industries such as ICT, engineering and high-tech manufacturing. Here in Lower Hutt we have some of New Zealand’s most advanced technology businesses and scientific minds. There are close to 1000 high and medium tech businesses in Lower Hutt and more than 3,700 people working in those areas. This is already a success story – and we intend to become even stronger,” said David Bassett.

Dr Laura Sessions Hutt City Council’s Science and Technology Manager said there was clear demand for a programme like Innovative Young Minds with the Wellington region viewed as the place to study science and technology. “The excitement that our programme creates for participants flows through to the study pathways and careers for the young women participating in Innovative Young Minds.”

Dr Catlin Powers, Co-founder and CEO of One Earth Designs and Head of Edmond Hillary Fellowship Programme recognised for its innovative solar energy technologies and high-performance SolSource Solar Stoves was the keynote speaker at the launch. Dr Powers urged young women to be pioneers in their chosen fields and to dare to see the world differently.

The Innovative Young Minds programme is providing a dozen alumnae with an incredible chance to visit Silicon Valley (California) in April to experience science, technology and innovation on the world stage.

Katrina Watkins, a Year 13 student from Carterton, and Innovative Young Minds alumna is travelling to Silicon Valley in April with support from four Rotary clubs in the Wairarapa. “Until I went on the IYM programme I didn’t fully understand how subjects I took at school could help me with jobs I wanted to do later. I have now chosen subjects in my final year of school which will let me study computer systems and electronic engineering next year – I’m so passionate about both those subjects.”

The 2019 Innovative Young Minds programme is a pioneering initiative by Hutt City Council and Rotary Hutt City, which is changing the way young women view careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). A new charitable trust was announced at the launch to lead and advance Innovative Young Minds and providing more opportunities to advance STEM education and employment opportunities for young women. 

IYM programme in Silicon Valley

An array of activities will be experienced during a whirlwind ten-day trip, which includes face-to-face meetings with world-leading innovators including ex-pat Kiwi entrepreneur Victoria Ransom, who has been listed as one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs and has developed three companies, one of which sold to Google. Auckland University graduate Dr Privahini Bradoo, Chief Executive of BlueOak Resources, will talk about her work in creating an e-waste recycling company, and Twitch COO Sara Clemens, a tech and media veteran who was COO at Pandora and worked at LinkedIn and Microsoft’s Xbox, will speak about what it’s like in the high-tech world of Silicon Valley. The IYM Silicon Valley programme will also feature a symposium at The Harker School, featuring prestigious speakers such as the Head of the Human Genome Programme.