Chairperson
Gaylene Hughes
Keeping us focused on the task at hand is Gaylene, our Chair and inaugural Trustee.
Gaylene first became involved with IYM when she accompanied a young woman (now an IYM alumnae) to Silicon Valley in 2019. This experience opened her eyes to the possibilities that the STEMM offered and sparked her passion to support more young women interested in this sector. As Chair, Gaylene brings a financial background, an eye for opportunity, and a vast network of local businesses. When something needs to be done, she knows the right person to ask! As a result we have a wide net of research and tertiary institutions, small businesses and individuals supporting IYM in various ways.
Gaylene’s advice for young people who are choosing a career path is to do something that they love to do and be open to opportunities and seize them firmly. It’s all about meeting people, stretching yourself, being confident and broadening your experiences. In the words of Dame Anita Roddick - “To succeed you must believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality”. Gaylene wholeheartedly agrees.
Trustee
Allan Brown
Allan Brown understands the value that technology and innovation bring to Hutt City.
He was there when the idea for IYM was formed at a Rotary meeting and was one of the visionaries that brought the programme to life.
As an inaugural trustee, Allan brings a wealth of experience and insight into the manufacturing and technology industry.
He enjoys seeing the growth in the young people who participate in the IYM programme and hopes to see it continue for many years.
Allan’s advice to young people is “to take every opportunity that comes your way, explore options and choose a path with long term prospects”.
In the words of Richard Branson - “You don’t learn to talk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.”
Trustee
Aleisha Amohia
Aleisha Amohia (Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) (she/her) is a passionate young advocate for diversity and equity in all spaces, sparked by her experiences as a young Māori-Asian woman in the technology industry.
Aleisha is the Koha Technical Lead at Catalyst IT, an open source software company, where she started out as an intern software developer in 2014. She is a Victoria University of Wellington graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Management and Information Systems).
Aleisha is also actively involved in community organisations, with past or present links to the National Council of Women New Zealand, Wellington Alliance Against Sexual Violence, InternetNZ, Victoria University of Wellington Women in Tech, YWCA Greater Wellington, and more. She's currently the President of the Wellington Branch for the National Council of Women New Zealand, where she facilitates conversations about local women's issues, works closely with Wellington City Councillors and Members of Parliament, and co-organises events to raise awareness about the gender equality movement in Aotearoa and encourage connections between Wellington women.
Born and raised in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aleisha is the eldest of four children, and their family has a dog named Cassie. Aleisha is extremely proud of her Māori-Asian whakapapa and is on active journey to explore her identity and heritage. She also loves sport, music, travel, food, and wine.
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Programme Manager
Emma Stoddart
Emma is our Programme Manager.
Emma comes to us from the Education sector, having worked as a science teacher for the past eight years specialising in biology.
Raised in the Wairarapa, she has worked in a range of schools including a Montessori high school and a private girls’ school, as well as spending some time working as a careers advisor.
Emma’s organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to connect with a wide range of people, make her a great fit for this role.
Her colleagues used to call her a walking calendar!
A mother of two girls, she Emma loves to spend time at the beach fishing or out boating.
Trustee
James Lamb
James Lamb is the head of Business and Economy at Hutt City Council.
As a trustee representing Hutt City Council, James focuses on the development of STEMM.
I help teams collaborate for the greater good, growing the potential in people and places, bolstered by my optimism, curiosity and creativity.
I am...
- a collaboration broker always looking for the 1+1+1=5 scenario
- a problem solver unpicking how it really works to turn complex ideas into everyday conversation
- a leader by example hosting workshops, fronting pitches
- a human-centred designer challenging the status quo
- a creative visual thinker and storyteller
Trustee
Fleur Francois
As a woman working in the STEMM sector, Fleur brings valuable industry insight to our programme.
As a Trustee Fleur brings a passion and enthusiasm for seeing more women working in the sector. She brings experience in strategy, governance and risk management skills - and a desire to see greater diversity and inclusion in the STEMM sector.
What excites Fleur about our programme is that we are inspiring the next generation of innovators and leaders. Her hope is that we continue to reach and inspire more young women to achieve their potential.
Fleur’s advice to young women is to choose a career path that aligns with their values and if you choose STEMM, you’ll probably end up working in a career that hasn’t been invented yet. That’s the beauty of STEMM.
And remember - it’s about progress, not perfection.
Trustee
Zeena Khan
Zeena, Leader. Speaker, Author, joined the IYM team July 2023. From a young age Zeena’s Dad would often say “Learn the rules and play the game better.” Little did he know these words would shape her life.
Emigrating from Suva, Fiji to Mangere, South Auckland, in the early 80s, Zeena is of Chinese, Fijian, and Indian descent. Growing up, she often struggled to find her place, but inspiration from her dad, and the acronym DRIVE (Determination, Redirection, Insight, Vibe, Enthusiasm) guided her through. In time, she learnt to push herself, be open to trying new things and back herself in the world of work.
Her compass also includes a gem of wisdom gifted from the influential women in her life “Know who you are, where you come from and where you are going.”
Zeena’s superpower is communication. Her ability to bring people together and empower them to change their lives is second to none. She has solid experience in both private and public sectors, in roles ranging from customer service to governance. Her field of expertise includes leadership, change management, learning and development. Professional Development has been key to Zeena’s success, she leads with positivity and purpose combined with a growth mind-set, her unique background and experience speaks to her mission to uplift and guide the next generation of leaders and career professionals to find their flow and move with confidence.
As a trustee for Innovate Young Minds, Zeena is looking forward to positively contributing to the mahi (work) and learning from others along the way too. To find balance and zen in everyday life, she loves to visit art galleries, write poetry, and spend time with loved ones.
Communications & Funding Manager
Monique Warring
Emma is our new Programme Manager.
Emma comes to us from the Education sector, having worked as a science teacher for the past eight years specialising in biology.
Raised in the Wairarapa, she has worked in a range of schools including a Montessori high school and a private girls’ school, as well as spending some time working as a careers advisor.
Emma’s organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to connect with a wide range of people, make her a great fit for this role.
Her colleagues used to call her a walking calendar!
A mother of two girls, she Emma loves to spend time at the beach fishing or out boating.
Monique joined the IYM team in May 2022 as IYM's part-time Commmunications and Funding manager.
She has an extensive background in public relations and funding within not-for-profit organisations, as well as communications experience in the government sector.
Monique has spent the past 14 years working in the youth sector and loves the energy and passion that young people have for life.
Outside of IYM, Monique helps out as part of the gardening team at Zealandia ecosanctuary and is a trustee for the Delphinium Charitable Trust who raise funds for at-risk youth in the Hutt Valley.
In her spare time, you’re most likely to find Monique somewhere outdoors – at the beach, walking her dog in the hills or paddling her kayak.