Scholarship recipient and Marketing Manager of Aspen NZ, Pip Souness, reflects on her recent visit to Washington D.C. for the International Partners Collaboration, exploring the potential of virtual youth exchange to inspire, connect and empower future generations.

"Fostering global connections through programmes like the Stevens Initiative isn’t just about bridging cultures; it’s about equipping the next generation with the tools to lead in a world that demands collaboration across divides. This experience reinforced for me that the solutions to our biggest challenges lie in empowering young people to think critically, connect meaningfully, and act collaboratively on a global stage."

Building on the success of last year's inaugural workshop in Berlin, co-hosted by Aspen Germany, we are thrilled to announce a scholarship opportunity for the second edition of "Global Changemakers: The Race to a Greener Future." This year, the event will be held in Warsaw, Poland, from December 12-15, 2023, in collaboration with Aspen Central Europe.

This workshop offers a unique opportunity for young leaders aged 25-35 with a keen interest in environmental sustainability and critical minerals. Apply now!

We are excited to announce we are taking nominations to attend CityLab, the premier global summit that gathers the world's leading urban experts, being held in Mexico City this October. This event is a unique opportunity to exchange bold ideas and evidence-based solutions to the most pressing challenges cities face today.

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:

The second forum in our International Dialogue Series, in collaboration with Ananta Aspen Centre in India, focused on 'Navigating the Digital Frontier.' With a mission to 'turbocharge' the relationship between India and New Zealand, the forum opened new communication channels through the Institute's international network to explore digital technology opportunities. 

“The Aspen Institute’s Global Changemakers event was an incredible experience. The opportunity to learn from so many different people each with their own fascinating stories and experiences was an absolute privilege. The combination of intellectual and social discussions was the perfect mix to make for a memorable experience that got the most out of everyone.” Peter Southey-Jensen, Aspen NZ Youth Alumni & Scholarship Recipient

The inaugural Evidence and Values Based Decision Making (EVBDM) course at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for Te Kahui Hononga / Northland Intersectoral Forum Regional Leadership Group provided a unique platform to explore and enrich decision-making skills in our community.

A message to the Aspen Institute community from CEO Dan Porterfield, in light of the recent Hamas attack in Israel.

In our August edition, we put In Focus the recent Aspen Security Forum, one of the world's premier forums focussed on current international affairs. Followed by Leadership In Action with a look at the remarkable perseverance of our partner Aspen Ukraine, plus, an In Depth look at the Institute's report on Roadmap for Wildfire Resilience: Solutions for a Paradigm Shift which explores the bold policy action required to change the trajectory of how we manage and prepare for wildfire impacts.