Darrin Walsh: Careers Expo full of great stories of student dreams

The Careers Expo in Rotorua is a fantastic opportunity for students.

Last week, the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce took part in the Careers Expo at the Energy Event Centre. What a fantastic two days they were. I would like to commend the organisers for putting on a great event.

This year was the first year that the chamber assisted by co-ordinating the exhibitors in the Business Hub.

These being local businesses who wanted to showcase their business and discuss career opportunities within their industry to the students coming through.

From a chamber perspective, we promoted Rotorua as a great place to live, work and play and running a guess the number of Jelly Beans competition ensured that every student visited our booth. We engaged with many of these students and had some good questions asked of us and local businesses.

There is a great story I would like to share with you with regard to one of the students who visited our booth.

Kianu Epapara visited us with his father. Kianu is 14 and lives in Rotoiti - he is home schooled.

Kianu expressed his desire of wanting to be a lawyer and wanted to know what he needed to do.

Jo Keefe, of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, directed Kianu to the Victoria University booth but also took his details to see if any local law firms would like to shadow Kianu - that is take him in and give him some advice on reaching his goals.

As there were no law firms present at the Expo, Jo came back to the office and rang two of our members. We have now confirmed that two local law firms, Holland Beckett and Lance Lawson, have agreed to meet Kianu and work with him. This is a fantastic example of how the chamber can bring people together while promoting local businesses.

I am sure the Careers Expo is full of stories similar to this one and taking part in such an event was a fantastic experience.

To the local businesses who joined us in the Business Hub, I know the organisers are extremely grateful for your support.

For those that didn't - there is always next year as we make it bigger and better.

-Darrin Walsh is chief executive of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce