International Careers Conference opens in Wellington next week
Media advisory 9 November 2009
800 converging on capital to ‘Transform Careers and Unleash Potential’
Over 800 delegates from around the world will attend the International Careers Conference in Wellington from 19-21 November, the largest event of its kind ever to be held in New Zealand.
Under the banner ‘Transforming Careers – Unleashing Potential’, the Hon Bill English will officially open the conference at 9.30am on Thursday 19 November in a ceremony at the Michael Fowler Centre. Professor Jim Bright, a career development specialist from Australia, will deliver the first keynote address at 11.00am.
Media and photographers are most welcome to attend this event. Media passes for the whole or part of the Conference are also available, and keynote speakers and presenters are available for interview by arrangement. The full range of session topics and presenters is available online.
Requests for media passes for the Conference can be made by contacting Pete Kerr at Career Services on 04 381 5804, or email pete.kerr@careers.govt.nz
The International Careers Conference is three days of knowledge sharing and insight about creative career development in an increasingly technological world within a challenging economic climate.
Among the many presentations will be several discussions on the use of Web 2.0 and virtual 3-D environments for career development, as well as the many online tools that are available to job seekers both in New Zealand and around the world. Other sessions include career development for indigenous, Māori and Pasifika, the disadvantaged, and baby boomers who are still developing careers into older age.
Other keynote speeches will be delivered by co-executive directors of the Canadian Career Development Foundation, Lynne Bezanson and Sareena Hopkins; along with local representatives, the pro-vice chancellor Māori from the University of Waikato, Professor Linda Tuhiwai Smith, and Business and Economic Research Limited chief economist Dr Ganesh Nana.
The conference will also be one of the most technologically advanced yet held, with attendees encouraged to post their thoughts during the conference on Twitter and an online discussion forum.
Attendees – and other interested parties – can follow the event on Twitter, using the hash tag #CareerCon09, as well as contribute to online discussions about conference topics and issues via the forum on this website
Ends
For further information or interview requests, contact:
Wendy Goldswain, Marketing and Communications Manager, Career Services
wendy.goldswain@careers.govt.nz, +64 4 381 5825 or +64 27 548 4568
Pete Kerr, Marketing and Communications Adviser, Career Services
pete.kerr@careers.govt.nz, +64 4 381 5804 or 64 27 548 4568
