Aspiring Leaders' Forum 2009 - 30 July to 2 August

The dates for Forum '09 have been set, the hotel is booked, Parliament is ready, the host MPs are excited and nominations are now open.

As we prepare for our 4th Annual Forum we look forward to meeting the new group of talented and motivated young New Zealand leaders who will join us in Wellington. Each year we are blown away by the calibre of the delegates and the compassion and vision they hold for our nation. As New Zealand, and the world, face uncertainty and hardship we believe with a new sense of conviction that great leaders who are motivated by love and concern for others are needed to see us through. Our hope is that this year's event is an opportunity to explore why "who we are" and not "what we do" is so important and how as individuals together we can all play a part in seeing our nation flourish and grow.

If you know of a young leader in your local area who would benefit from spending time discussing the role of faith and values in leadership please contact us at the Forum office to receive a nominations pack. Likewise, if you would like to attend and are aged between 18 and 30 please also drop us a line. Nominations opened March 16th.

To find out more about the Forum, its programme, philosophy and costs please click here.

What's the Forum about?

Each year thousands of young New Zealanders grapple with the task of answering some of the fundamental questions of life. Which direction should I take? What will I do with my life? What is my purpose?

It is this stage of life that is one of the most important – these young New Zealanders are in the process of determining their direction, they have begun to develop a critical-thinking approach to life, they are defining goals and aspirations and yet their ideals are still intact. One day these young people will lead our nation. Their view of leadership and what it means to lead is therefore of critical importance to New Zealand's future.

The Aspiring Leaders' Forum on faith and values attempts to bridge the growing divide between our nation's young people and its leaders as they come together in Wellington to debate and discuss the ideas and philosophies of leadership. While Members of Parliament will host the Forum, the focus is not purely politics: it is about encouraging young people to be better leaders in the areas of society they are engaged in, be it the arts, business, politics or sport.

There are always more followers than leaders, yet one leader can affect the lives of millions. Our hope is that the Forum will build a bridge from one generation to the next, inspiring and elevating our young people's expectations of leadership.