InTouch : AUT represents New Zealand at Harvard conference

New Zealand Management, Oct 1, 2008

AUT University business student Michael Teoh added Kiwi flavour to the Harvard Business Conference held in Malaysia last month - Harvard university's largest outside of America.

The conference was part of the 2008 Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) and Teoh, who represented New Zealand, was invited to attend by Harvard University.

The event brings the world's top executives, researchers and industry experts together with 300 global youth leaders. Delegates discussed the future of business and innovation in Asia-Pacific with this year's theme being corporate governance and the Asian influence in global business integration.

Teoh was the only New Zealand delegate selected by the Harvard committee. The 21-year-old Sandringham resident is in his third year of a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in marketing and international business.

He says the conference highlighted that New Zealand's youth leaders are as good as any in the world.

"Let this conference be a starting point for all New Zealand students and our future leaders," he says. "We should all think and act knowing that our capabilities and dreams can be realised when we put our hearts into them.

"New Zealanders have something valuable to contribute in shaping the world's future from our resource-filled Asia-Pacific hub. We're rich in land, people and innovation and with the right mindset we can influence and compete globally, and make the world a better place for everyone."

Teoh says forging new links with delegates from leading global institutions was an event highlight.