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Young Pacific Leaders entertaining themselves at the Inaugural Young Pacific Leaders Conference 2006

Call For Papers

Taking Up the Challenge 

Young Pacific Leaders’ Conference 2009

The Crowne Plaza Hotel

12 & 13 March 2009, Auckland.

 The F.I.R.S.T. Foundation is calling for abstracts from interested people who wish to deliver papers at the Young Pacific Leaders Conference in March 2009. 

 Pacifica, and indeed the whole country will face unprecedented, but exciting challenges.

• Pacifica will make up one in four of the labour force by 2025, almost half by 2050.
• More and more, Pacifica will set their own agenda, own paths and own objectives
• Pacifica influence on national affairs will markedly increase
• In this much more diverse society, new and diverse challenges will require new and diverse approaches. 
• Pacifica leaders from all walks of life must be identified, encouraged and promoted in all diverse aspects of the nation’s life, economy and polity.

Much of Aotearoa’s present mindset, on which our current beliefs, policies and laws are based will become less and less suited to the growing diversity of our future. New Zealand is destined to shift from being an Ill-Placed European Isolate or A Bridge to Nowhere to become:  A Member of the Pacific Community; Part of the Asian Neighborhood and actively functioning in a Diverse and Inter-Dependent World.

ABSTRACTS, in English, and not exceeding 350 words, are invited on the general themes below:

• Challenging and/or Successful Leadership
• Future Leadership Succession
• Leadership in Community, Regional and National Development Strategies
• Diversity, Community Relations, Living With Others
• Leadership, Goals and Strategies
• Pacifica in Business; Economy; Education, Community; Politics and Society

Abstracts should be submitted to yplc2009@firstfound.org  or posted to

YPLC2009, F.I.R.S.T. Foundation,

P O Box 1078,

Shortland Street,

Auckland.

Abstracts must be received by 1 November 2008. 

 Notification of acceptances will be sent by 28 November 2008.

 An electronic copy of finished papers must be received by 1 February 2009, to be included in the pre- and post- conference distributions and to be placed on the YPLC 2009 website. 

YPLC conferences are designed for committed young Pacifica from all sectors and walks of life to hear, examine, present and discuss complex issues that affect their lives, and the future of their whanau, iwi and communities now and in the future. They are a chance to discuss both shared and alternative beliefs and visions and through strengthen networks, are un-paralleled opportunities to effect positive change for Pacifica and New Zealand. 

 Two YPLC have been held this century (2005 in Wellington and 2006 in Auckland). Further information about earlier Young Pacific Leaders’ Conferences, (including lists of participants, the text and audio versions of many of the papers presented at them are available on our website”  www.firstfound.org 

Think over these questions and then decide to attend this innovative, stimulating  and innervating conference for Pacifica  leaders aged around 20 – 40 yrs.

• What are the major issues to be faced by Pacifica and by all New Zealanders?
• Who are the best qualified and most able to make those decisions?
• Who make the majority of decisions?  What are the cultural and social determinants of those decisions?
• What aspects of Pacifica life and decision-making are presently out of Pacifica hands? What aspects of Pacifica life and decision-making are still in Pacifica  hands?
• How can decision-makers be influenced?
• How can Pacifica move their participation up from “being a party to consultation” to being fairly represented among decision-makers?
• Will changing demographics make any difference? How?
• How can the future of New Zealand life and culture better represent Pacifica society and culture?
• Will our country change without us making the effort do lead it?

This Young Pacific Leaders Conference may test your commitment, help you implement innovative change and engage you and your kin or your associates in a pioneering project with significant social benefit. Leadership growth and development is not confined to one sector but is measurably portable between church, community, business and employment. Employers should make this an opportunity for leadership development for Pacifica employees where the Pacifica-friendly context and environment will bring out their best traits.  This conference offers to participants collaborative leadership skills and a greater understanding of the inter relatedness of all parts of society.

Organisations which sponsor employees and participants will benefit from the acquisition of new leadership skills, broader perspectives and wider networks across all sectors.