Nurturing institute for up-and-coming leaders

By SIMON COLLINS

Auckland University plans to keep the country's emerging leaders in touch with one another through a New Zealand Leadership Institute.

The institute, attached to the university's business school, will run short courses and "networking" events for leaders in business, Government, education and the community.

It is advertising for a chief executive. It is also seeking five or six founding sponsors, and is already negotiating with two professional service firms and one major corporate.

"Leadership really rings a bell for corporates as well as the community because there seems to be a pulling-back of people who want to lead or be in middle management," said former King's College headmaster John Taylor, who now heads the university's external relations.

A governing trust will be formed representing the sponsors and other partners, including the Government, as well as the university.

Business School deputy dean Michael Powell said he hoped to appoint the chief executive by the end of next month and have the institute in place by mid-year, with its first courses in the second half-year.

Vice-Chancellor John Hood told the Knowledge Wave Trust's leadership forum last week that the institute would "harness the energy, ideas and momentum" of the three-day forum, which brought together 100 "emerging" leaders and 350 older leaders.

It would aim to develop new leaders aged 17 to 35, with a special goal of "realising the leadership potential in all ethnic communities".

The trust has started a chatroom for emerging leaders. The Leadership Institute will operate a website and annual national leadership awards.

business.auckland.ac.nz

Herald Special Report - February 18, 2003: