This Week in Rotary
Posted By Bob Girvan
The Aspiring Leaders Forum (ALF) is an annual event held in Wellington that brings together a diverse group of committed and courageous young leaders from across Aotearoa New Zealand. Guided by facilitators and esteemed national leaders, selected young people discuss leadership from a narrative point of view, throughout a carefully articulated and varied four-day programme.
The Rotary Club of Ashburton Plains was pleased to nominate and sponsor Summer Anderson to attend ALF in 2025. Summer spoke to club members last week to share the highlights and her learning from the event.
The first day of the Forum was spent at Parliament House enabling a real-life glimpse into the day-to-day of Parliament, and a chance to hear up close and personally from our MPs. Summer’s group had the opportunity to speak with Hon. Simeon Brown, the Minister of Health, Minister for Energy and Minister for State Owned Enterprises.
Summer explained that for much of the Forum, the delegates worked in small groups. The friendships made have continued after the Forum, building a peer-support network to reinforce the ideas gained.
Inspiring keynote speakers are a feature of ALF, and Summer was thrilled to hear from William Pike. William survived a freak Mount Ruapehu volcanic eruption. This eruption claimed one of his legs, but left his drive to succeed and passion for adventure unscathed.
Amongst the workshops and speakers, the groups also completed a community service challenge, a sports competition, and enjoyed an epic barn dance complete with checked shirts and cowboy boots.
It is such a pleasure to hear how much our ALF delegates gain from the Forum. We look forward to sharing news of our 2026 ALF nominee soon.
Aspiring Leaders Forum attendee Summer Anderson with President Elect Steve Allen.
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