Amazon seminars at EIT in Napier a 'huge success'

Johnathon Meichtry, principal solutions architect, Amazon New Zealand. Photo / Duncan Brown.

Business owners and technology students in Hawke's Bay are getting expert insights from one of the world's biggest companies.

A two-day visit from Amazon New Zealand principal solutions architect Jonathon Meichtry has been hailed a "huge success" and EIT School of Computing senior lecturer Thomas Hartley said preparations were already underway for another.

The two-day visit involved a series of information sessions from Amazon Web Services (AWS) on technology culture, trends and insights held at EIT's Napier campus.

"The two-day 'AWS on Campus' time with the students was a huge success," Dr Hartley said.

"At the opening session we had more than 80 students and guests in attendance. Many of the other sessions saw at least half that attendance when students didn't have classes to be in.

"Mr Meichtry also did a two-hour, hands-on lab session on Friday morning with 24 computing students as well as five High School Trades Academy students from three local high schools, including Flaxmere, Napier Boys', and Rudolf Steiner.

Amazon New Zealand principal solutions architect Jonathon Meichtry speaks to students at EIT Eastern Institute of Technology. Photo / Duncan Brown.

"We believe it is very important for EIT School of Computing students to have contact with, and hear from, leading computing and business enterprises and we are extremely grateful that Mr Meichtry and AWS made the time for us - and this is not just a one off visit.

"Mr Meichtry and I have already started discussing what we can do for his next visit - which can't be soon enough."

Meichtry also gave a presentation to local businesses at a Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce event.

Commerce chief executive Wayne Walford said he was "delighted" with what he heard.

"Like any other great business, Amazon's strategic focus starts with the customer. They drive a culture of innovation that starts with making the customers' lives easier."