Inaugural Saili Malo Pacific Leaders Summit.

On Monday 25th of July, Camryn and I had the opportunity to attend the inaugural Saili Malo Pacific Leaders Summit at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) South Campus in Manukau. The Summit proved an opportunity for Pacific school head leaders to network with other Pacific head students from schools around Auckland. We were gifted with inspiring words from community mentors and renowned leaders. Former professional heavyweight and Boxing Hall of Fame, Faumuina Toialetai Mafaufau David Tua ONZM, alongside his wife, Helen Tua, shared their experiences through adversity, leadership in practice and examples of when leadership led them to advance in their respective careers.

Camryn and I, as Pasifika head students, spent the first day of Term 3 going through workshops with other Pasifika head students, exchanging our thoughts about identity, career pathways, relationships, and servant leadership. We had the opportunity to network with other Pacific head students, share our experiences of the year so far and understand the existence of different dynamics within prefect teams.

The day went fast, there wasn’t enough time for us to continue to network, luckily enough there was a social event in the evening at the Manhattan in Mount Roskill. Camryn and I invited our deputies, Isla Annan, Teuila Leota, Joshua Siaki and Lincoln Henry to have dinner, celebrate, socialise and hear words of wisdom from the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito William Sio. Beyond the certificates that Camryn and I received for attending the summit, it was a warming experience to meet other student leaders, spend time together as a head prefect team and be surrounded by words of encouragement, a day that gave us faith in our abilities as Pacific Islander leaders.

Malo ‘aupito to Mr Talamaivao for taking us to this event.

Andre Fa’aoso 13BM & Camryn Gemmell-Orsborn 13BH