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Inspire Her: Te Whakatipuranga Wahine
Empowering the Next Generation of Maori and Pasifika Leaders in STEM
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Wednesday, October 11, 2023
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At She Sharp, our mission is to actively engage a broader range of Maori and Pasifika female students by equipping them with the knowledge, network, and skills to enter STEM industries. We are dedicated to inspiring and empowering the next generation of talent from these communities to explore and embrace the dynamic world of STEM and the digital domain through immersive hands-on workshops on topics such as AI, AR, and robotics.
On Wednesday, October 11th, we will be hosting our first STEM conference for Maori and Pasifika girls in years 11-13. The event will take place at AUT (South Campus, Manukau). We are thrilled to offer this free event, as it aligns with our goal of empowering Pasifika girls as future leaders in STEM.
The conference will commence at 9:00 am - 3pm and will include hands-on workshops in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and Augmented Reality. Additionally, we will feature Pasifika experts and role models in the STEM fields. Our aim is to ignite curiosity and inspire students about potential careers in technology.
When
The event is taking place on Wednesday 11th October 2023, 9:00am - 3:00pm NZT
Where
AUT South Campus,
Manukau
Meet the Speakers
Jacoba Matapo
PVC Pacific AUT, Associate Professor - Pasifika EC
Jacoba Matapo has ancestral ties to Siumu Samoa, and Leiden Holland. She has over 15 years in educational leadership, spanning ITE and ECE management. She has led key Pasifika education projects, Adept in digital design, she led research collaborations like the Wayfinding Pasifika success project and the Pepe Meamea research project(indigenising pedagogy in ECE).
In her practice, She seeks to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and values the historical ties between Tangata Whenua and Tangata Moana. Jacoba is deeply invested in Pacific ECE nationwide and advancing culturally affirming teaching across NZ. Her Pacific research affiliations include advisory roles with MoE (Pacific) and Whatu Ora, and she serves as a research advisor for TLRI.
Brittany Teei
Founder of KidsCoin
Brittany Teei, a Maori and Pacific entrepreneur and tech innovator. A former professional tennis player, she represented NZ and the Cook Islands internationally.
In 2015, she founded KidsCoin, a tech company teaching kids financial literacy. She also established 3BagsFull, dedicated to helping Maori and Pacific individuals enter the tech industry, creating pathways for underrepresented communities. She runs Learn English Live, connecting NZ students worldwide.
An advocate for empowering young women, Brittany instills confidence and self-belief, urging them to fearlessly pursue their dreams. As a proud mama to a vibrant 2-year-old, her journey exemplifies the boundless possibilities for women who courageously pursue their dreams.
Evo Leota-Tupou
Founder of Pacific Kids' Learning
Evo Leota-Tupou, an entrepreneur, mother of five, founder of Pacific Kids' Learning in Ōtara. Evo actively engages in the EdTech community, focusing on Digital Learning and STEAM. She serves Executive Council of EdTechNZ and a member of Tech Women NZ. Evo is a representative on the Pacific Advisory Panel for Auckland Council and contributes to the National AI and Algorithm Expert Advisory Group for Te Whatu Ora. She advocates for neurodiverse learners and children with disabilities.
Before returning to Auckland, Evo was in South Korea, she witnessed educational inequities and technological advancements in classes. Her mission is to build positive community outcomes for children, and linking early education to future opportunities.
Meet the Workshop Leads
Dr Mahla Nejati
The Amazing Robot Maze Workshop Lead
Dr Mahla Nejati is a Research Fellow at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland and a Theme Leader for the Centre for Automation and Robotic Engineering Science (CARES), a robotics research centre based in the Faculty of Engineering. Mahla holds a PhD in computer system engineering from the University of Auckland and she specialises in designing vision systems for orchard and manufacturing robots. Recently Mahla was runner-up at the 2023 Women in AI APAC Awards in the Agribusiness category. Mahla has a goal to change the male-dominated robotics environment by encouraging young females to contribute to the field and assist them in their education journey.
Lesieli Oliver
ImmerseHer "Virtual Reality" Workshop Lead
Lesieli, a proud Tongan, founder and Chief visionary officer of Lālanga, Lālanga dedicated to championing Maori-Pasifika student success. It empowers educators, school leaders with innovative mentoring programs, products like the Lālanga ToolBox, and tech solutions.
Lesieli recently completed her Masters Research, focusing on digital solutions to improve the success of Maori-Pasifika students, addressing issues such as truancy, wellbeing, and academic challenges. Lālanga ToolBox, currently being used by 2,000 primary students in Auckland decile one schools. She received the University of Auckland 2023, 40 under 40 Alumni Inspiring leaders award and has launched a charity to empower Pasifika students and families through education.
Dr Dulsha Kularatna Abeywardana
SparkSTEM Workshop Lead
Dulsha is a lecturer at the Universityof Auckland and her research centres around innovative solutions for energy storage and management in electronics using supercapacitors. Before joining the University of Auckland, she worked in a variety of research and engineering positions, including Motorola & LSEG group.
Dulsha is passionate about STEM education and actively promotes engineering to girls, making significant contributions as the chair of both the IEEE Women In Engineering (WIE) New Zealand North Section and the IEEE Women In Engineering International Leadership Summit 2023. Additionally, she is a strong advocate for gender diversity in the engineering field.
Aneela Lala
SparkSTEM Workshop Lead
Aneela Lala is a seasoned Quality and Regulatory Engineering Professional with 15+ years of experience in the Medical Devices industry. Her expertise spans global strategy development, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance for markets in the US, EU, UK, NZ, Australia, and China. Aneela excels in process-driven improvement, auditing, and training, and she is known for her organizational skills and efficiency. She's passionate about promoting STEM careers, particularly for women, youth, and minority groups, actively participating in events and workshops.
Aneela's unique blend of detail-oriented analysis and empathy makes her a dynamic and results-driven leader. Aneela is the Industry Co-Chair for IEEE WIE New Zealand North.
Nils Reardon
Introduction to Augment Reality Workshop Lead
Nils has been the CEO of QuiverVision since 2014, who brings a wealth of experience with a background in commerce and law. With an LLB (first class hons.) and a Commerce Degree (economics major), he honed his skills during six years at some of New Zealand's leading law firms before embarking on his journey with QuiverVision.
Nils is the driving force behind the company's success and sets the course for its strategic direction. He also oversees the domains of finance and business management, ensuring the organisation operates at its peak potential. Nils is excited to see schools adopting technology that enhances the learning experience for both students and educators alike.
Nischay Gupta
Introduction to Augmented Reality Workshop Lead
Nischay is an experienced consultant in the tech sector. He has played a pivotal role in optimising operations & aligning strategies with QuiverVision's goals & objectives.
Nischay led the launch of a new interactive EdTech product at QuiverVision to enable engaging learning experience, benefitting over 35,000+ teachers & 100,000+ students worldwide within the first year of rollout. He spearheads the expansion of our educational & curriculum-aligned content at Quiver. He holds a Master's degree in Engineering (1st-class hons.) at the University of Auckland. He is a research intern at Empathic Computing Lab (Auckland Bioengineering Institute) working on a project involving Virtual Reality, Biofeedback & Empathy.
Meet the Expo Holders
MYOB
MYOB, is a business management platform designed to unleash the potential of businesses across Australia and New Zealand! As the #originalstartup, our roots are in finance and accounting software, but today we are so much more. We help our Aussie and Kiwi customers unleash their full potential, giving them the tools to Start, Survive and Succeed: all in the one place.
Fonterra
Fonterra Cooperative Group is the world's largest exporter of dairy products, a leader in dairy science and innovation, owner of a significant portfolio of brands in Asia Pacific, and a partner to many of the world's leading food companies. Fonterra is headquartered in New Zealand, with offices in more than 40 countries around the world.
Woolworths
Woolworths New Zealand proudly owns and operates over 185 Countdown supermarkets in New Zealand. Woolworths New Zealand is part of Woolworths Group Limited, and is also the franchisor of the Super Value and FreshChoice supermarkets, which represents over 69 stores, also part of the Woolworths Group.
Woolworths are the country’s largest private sector employer, with 20,000 New Zealanders employed in stores, support offices, processing plants and distribution centres. Their goal is to provide the best possible convenience, value, range and quality to the 2.5 million Kiwis they serve each week in the stores.
Quivervision
QuiverVision is an augmented reality research company that produces both branded content and the technology to transform that content into personalized, immersive experiences. Through continued development and client relationships, QuiverVision aims to re-draw the boundaries of the AR entertainment marketplace, connecting the physical and digital worlds in new and innovative ways.
Our Event sponsor
AUT | Google
AUT is focused on providing exceptional student opportunities, learning experiences, and graduate success by impactful research and industry connectivity.
Google supports all Kiwis towards a digital future. Google New Zealand started with just one person in 2007 and has grown to around 50 people now based in Auckland and Wellington. The team works to help Kiwis find new ways to collaborate, reach audiences and get things done. Google is committed to helping all Kiwis with the digital knowledge and capabilities they need now and in the future.
A taste of the Event
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Workshops
The Amazing Robot Maze Workshop
Learn about how computer systems, like robots, can be useful in many domains like healthcare, speech, and orchard harvesting. You will gain first-hand experience on the importance of software engineering to enable robots to function in these domains. You will make design decisions, develop code and race your robot to the finish line!
ImmerseHer "Virtual Reality" Workshop
Are you ready to step into the future of technology? Welcome to "ImmerseHer: Virtual Reality," where you'll embark on an exciting journey into the world of virtual reality (VR).
This workshop is led by Daniel and Lesieli Oliver, founders of Lālanga, current Technology teachers themselves, holding a passion for education and technology.
What to Expect:
Hands-On Experience: Dive into the world of virtual reality by exploring various VR applications.
Grow in your Capability: This workshop is your chance to expand your technological skills and understanding. Daniel and Lesieli will share their wealth of knowledge to empower you with the tools you need to thrive in the tech-driven future.
Discover Your Place in VR: Ever wondered where you fit in the future of virtual reality? This workshop provides insights into the vast possibilities and career paths within the VR industry. You'll gain a clearer understanding of how you can contribute to shaping the future.
Join Daniel and Lesieli Oliver at "ImmerseHer: Virtual Reality Workshop" and prepare to be amazed by the endless potential of VR technology. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the future, this workshop is your gateway to the exciting world of virtual reality.
SparkSTEM: Exploring Electrical Engineering Workshop
Join us for an electrifying workshop where IEEE Women In Engineering joins forces with Little Engineers to demystify the world of Electrical
Engineering and bring it to life through engaging, real-world applications. Discover the fundamental principles that power our modern world and get hands-on with interactive activities that make learning a shockingly fun experience. Whether you're curious about circuits, intrigued by electronics, or just want to light up your knowledge, this workshop is a sparking opportunity to explore the sparks and currents that surround us every day. The workshop will be conducted by Dr Dulsha Kularatna-Abeywardana & Ms Aneela Lala who are both electrical engineers.
Introduction to Augmented Reality (AR)
Introduction to Augmented Reality (AR): Providing an overview of AR technology and its applications.
Demonstration of Quiver AR Colouring Sheets (STEM Focused): Showcasing how Quiver AR Colouring Sheets can be a valuable STEM learning tool.
Quiver AR Digital Environments: Exploring the immersive possibilities of Quiver AR Digital Environments.
Quiver AR Masks: A glimpse into the engaging world of Quiver AR Masks.
