Aspen Institute New Zealand Wins International Endorsement
Aspen Institute New Zealand has been welcomed into the fold of the international Aspen Institute and will be up and running over the next six months.
Based in Queenstown, Aspen Institute NZ is a non-partisan and non-ideological organisation focused on education and policy. Its mission is to foster leadership to contribute to the development of both New Zealand society and globally.
Aspen Institute NZ has been appointed one of 11 global partners of the Aspen Institute and the first in the Southern Hemisphere. Founder and Chief Executive, Christine Maiden Sharp, is excited to have the endorsement of the international institute’s Executive Committee and Board of Trustees:
“We can now get underway with a programme of providing forums to encourage constructive dialogue on critical issues that matter to New Zealanders and for all New Zealanders,” Ms Maiden Sharp says.
“Aspen Institute NZ’s top priority is encouraging young New Zealanders and individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate in and shape meaningful dialogue. We plan to focus on climate change, technology, and inequality/intolerance in our first three years. That will include people from all walks of life, as well as New Zealand and international topic experts.”
A range of activities will roll out including seminars, national forums, international conferences and community festivals. The first seminar was held this week in Queenstown on Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Risks, moderated by Neil Jacobstein, a global thought-leader on AI and robotics.
Aspen Institute NZ co-patrons are former Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Don McKinnon.
Both Helen Clark and Sir Don McKinnon have strong international profiles in their respective work with the United Nations and the Commonwealth and bring a wealth of knowledge and networks to the Aspen Institute.
Sir Don says a local arm of the Aspen Institute will be invaluable to New Zealand.
“There is no forum like it for long-term policy discussions. The international name Aspen is a draw card and New Zealand is a well-respected democratic society. This will be a step up for New Zealand’s international engagement,” Sir Don says.
“Aspen Institute NZ will help raise the standard of debate on issues that matter most to New Zealanders, provide access to an extraordinary global network and enable current and future leaders to contribute to new ideas on key issues on a world stage,” Helen Clark says.
Former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has welcomed the creation of Aspen New Zealand.
“As a Trustee of the Aspen Institute and as a long-time friend of New Zealand, I am delighted to welcome Aspen Institute NZ as our newest international partner. This is an especially appropriate moment to welcome New Zealand into Aspen’s global community.”
“In recent months, the people of New Zealand have inspired us all by showing resilience and a commitment to democratic values in the face of hate. No matter its size, New Zealand is now in a world leadership role,” Secretary Albright says.
Aspen New Zealand leadership
A strong board has been established and includes a wide range of New Zealanders from a variety of backgrounds.
Sir Don McKinnon chairs the board and members are:
Sir Eion Edgar – based in Queenstown and former chair of Forsyth Barr as well as many other leadership and director roles.
Neil Jacobstein – Chair of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at Singularity University and Distinguished MediaX Visiting Scholar, Stanford University.
Katie Milne – President of Federated Farmers NZ.
Bill Moran – former Chief Operating Officer of Treasury and principal economic advisor to two Ministers of Finance. Chair of Sport NZ.
Jane Taylor – Barrister and Professional Director; Chair of Orion New Zealand, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research and Predator Free 2050, Deputy Chair of RNZ.
Lisa Tumahai – Kaiwhakahaere of Ngāi Tahu.
Sir Maarten Wevers – former diplomat and Chief Executive of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Chief Executive Christine Maiden Sharp is the former Executive Director of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Singapore and was a consultant with McKinsey & Co.
About the Aspen Institute
Based in Washington DC, Aspen Colorado (the sister city of Queenstown) and on the Wye River in Maryland, the Institute has 11 partners operating in 14 countries around the world. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The network is dedicated to promoting dialogue on ideas and values that inspire people, communities and institutions. Each partner is independently financed and operated, with their own staff on the ground. The Institute encourages collaboration between partners, providing a global network of young leaders, experts and fellows.