A key aspect of EnviroStrat/ORA's work is supporting the personal and professional development of our staff.

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As part of our impact, I am proud to be attending the STEMtastic Adventures! with Young Pacific Leaders symposium in Nadi, a three-day regional event designed to bring together policymakers, youth, educators, and innovators from across the Pacific.

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The programme features plenaries, roundtable discussions, and breakout sessions focused on key themes such as climate and conservation, digital technologies, and youth entrepreneurship.

I'm presenting on my work as project co-ordinator of Blue Nature Aotearoa - showcasing its unique model and the incredible work of our students from Albany Senior High School (ASHS), who are deeply engaged in blue projects that they create, design, and deliver themselves.

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Blue Nature Aotearoa was funded by Dr Nigel Bradly (EnviroStrat founder), alongside the late Hon Nikki Kaye, both from New Zealand. Its mission is to restore ecosystems and create new biomass in oceans and coastal waterways through education, supporting and scaling social enterprises, new industries, and blue technology solutions.

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I'm incredibly excited and filled with anticipation. It's a special honor to represent Blue Nature Aotearoa and to share the incredible work our students are doing. I am eager to learn from the diverse voices at the symposium and understand the challenges and solutions in the broader Pacific context.

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My hope is that this trip will not only allow us to share our work but also to build new partnerships and collaborations that will strengthen our collective efforts to protect our oceans. This journey is about expanding our knowledge and understanding how we can make a greater impact together, ensuring healthier oceans for generations to come.

This important trip gives me the chance to represent the shared values of our organisations and our commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders in ocean conservation.

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Pictured, is Ayla (second from left) at Auckland's Moana Sustainability Festival with EnviroStrat's Alison Smith and Cerasela Stancu, and Epsom Girls Grammar School students Anushka Dissanayake (with the microphone) and Shriya Ganti who spoke at the event.

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