At the recent Global Changemakers workshop: The Race to a Greener Future, Aspen NZ alumna, Shreya Singaraju spent three and half days with young leaders from the Aspen International Partners network to address the ethical, geopolitical, and economic complexities of environmental sustainability and the procurement of critical minerals and rare earth metals. Reflecting on her time in Warsaw, Shreya shared three takeaways that have reshaped her outlook on global and local challenges.

In this edition, we put In Focus sustainable trade and where New Zealand stands in global terms, an important issue with U.S. tariffs once again back on the table. 

Next, Leadership in Action features Aspen President and CEO, Dan Porterfield, reflecting on how to ignite leadership potential.

In Depth reports on the extraordinary Dunedin Study of 1032 babies since birth. In its 52nd year, with 90% still participating, the findings have had major impact on policy settings in New Zealand and so much more is yet to come. Read more…

In this edition, we examine the upcoming US election. In Focus explores strategies offered by leading scientists and engineers in Advice to the Next President. Next, Leadership in Action celebrates Aspen NZ alumni and staff, awarded scholarships to the 2024 Global Changemakers Workshop and Aspen International Partner's Collaboration with the Steven's Initiative. In Depth investigates the intersection of AI and national security, featuring original papers from international security experts. Read more…

In this edition, In Focus explores 10 Insights on the Future of ESG, a summary of the key take-aways from the 2024 Aspen ESG Summit, which highlights why ESG principles are a commercial imperative for businesses aiming to thrive long-term. Next, In Depth takes a closer look at the global impact of emerging trade dynamics between the US and China, examining a new report Does Geopolitics Now Determine Global Trade? And as AI continues to advance, Leadership in Action showcases a forward-thinking panel from this year's Aspen Ideas Health festival, where experts discuss How AI is Transforming Healthcare.

In this edition, In Focus delves into our forum on Sustainable Food Futures, highlighting opportunities for NZ and India to collaborate. Next, In Depth examines the Institute’s latest Science and Society report on Tactics for Trust, exploring the growing trust gap in science and strategies to rebuild it. Leadership in Action features the historic USD 185.7 million investment from the Bezos Family Foundation to establish the Centre for Rising Generations, dedicated to equipping young people with tools for civil dialogue, civic engagement, and leadership.

In July’s edition, we put In Focus Summer in Aspen, where the Institute's flagship events showcase the best of what the Institute offers. In Depth delves into the Hinrich Foundation's recent report on Developing Global AI Governance for Foundational AI, which highlights the necessity and potential strategies for establishing comprehensive and robust global AI governance. Leadership in Action celebrates Women Leading the Way to a Brighter Climate Future, demonstrating their innovative approaches, commitment and leadership to a more sustainable future.

Todd Breyfogle, Executive Director of Seminars and Executive Leadership marks the 75th anniversary of the first Aspen convening, of what would become the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies in 1949.

Welcome to Arotake-Makariri, our Winter Review, where we pause to reflect on the past six months and celebrate our Aspen NZ community. Many of you have participated in our seminars, online forums and courses, and have stayed engaged through The Lookout. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey - your support as donors and active participants is crucial in enabling the Aspen NZ programme to thrive.

A few highlights from the past six months:

In this edition, we put In Focus the recent Socrates Seminar on The Future of Business, which served as an invaluable platform for engaging discussions and emphasised the imperative for strategic foresight and collaborative action in business. Leadership in Action celebrates Aspen moderator and University of Otago politics professor, Robert Patman, who received the prestigious 2024 Critic and Conscience of Society Award. Followed by In Depth, which examines the latest OECD Economic Survey of NZ.