Hello and welcome to the Young Chamber!
The Manawatu Young Chamber advocate for positive youth development and authentic youth participation within the business community.
Our vision is to better connect young people and young professionals of the Manawatu business community.
Collaborate – Working with other business organisations to create opportunities.
Connect – Connecting young people to the business community.
Develop – Making development and training more accessible to young people.
How can you get involved?
Are you a young person wanting to get connected to local businesses in the Manawatu Region/ keep updated with local events and opportunities!? CLICK BELOW
Sign Up for Youth
Are you a business wanting to connect with youth in the Manawatu Region? CLICK BELOW
Sign Up for Business Champions
Get to know us! The faces behind the Young Chamber;
The Manawatu Young Chamber was created by Mariah Clark and Felicia Aull in Oct 2017 with the board officially launching on the 1st March 2018. The board is compiled of Youth Champions in the Manawatu region, working collaboratively together to link young people within our community with the business community.
Meet our Youth Ambassadors and board members!
Felicia Aull Youth Ambassador with Manawatu Young Chamber
Felicia started with the Manawatu Chamber early 2017 as an intern developing the social media strategy with an economic focus. She is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management and is passionate about helping people live a more sustainable lifestyle. She has started her own business, Soul Family, which aims to help Kiwi’s reduce their consumption of single-use plastic. Felicia jointly heads up the Young Chamber tasked with connecting the youth of the Manawatu with Business.
Mariah Clark Youth Ambassador with Manawatu Young Chamber
Mariahs initial project with the Chamber in 2017 was to help develop the training programme Lunch and Learn. She currently works full time with Shelley Naylor Realty as a Property Manager, but still finds time to develop her leadership skills and jointly heads up the Manawatu Young Chamber. Mariah is passionate about helping individuals realise their potential and creating a central connection point for Youth Organisations.
Johnelle Hosking – Marketing and Communications Coordinator BCC/ Regional CoOrdinator Young Enterprise Scheme Manawatu and a Self Empowerment Coach.
Johnelle Hosking has a passion for people and community. Since relocating to Palmerston North in 2015 to be a co-host with Mike West in the morning on More FM, she has been involved with many community initiatives, including Big Brothers/Sisters, Future Leaders, Manawatu Young Chamber board and the DIGITS board. She’s a trained health coach who works at The Factory, managing Young Enterprise Manawatu and the AgTech Hackathon, two programmes that inspire problem solving, team work, creativity, entrepreneurship and business development in young people. Johnelle is always up for a challenge and anything that will make her, or others grow.
Remy Waldteufel-Irvine – Student City Co-Ordinator for PNCC
Remy studied at University in Copenhagen and moved to Palmerston North. She is tasked with increasing the Youth Voice in Palmerston North and is also involved with increasing the visibility and connectivity of the youth of Manawatu with Tertiary Providers.
As part of the Community Services Team she works with all four tertiary providers to provide a positive student life experience for all national and international students in Palmerston North. She is involved in Palmerston Norths Youth Space, a venture of the PNCC that provides a safe, alcohol and drug free space for young people aged 13-19 to call their own.
Alex Short – Part time at Plumbing Store, Part time Gymnastics Coach, Manawatu Youth Ambassador with MDC
Alex has family connections in the Feilding Business District and is a Manawatu Youth Ambassador as part of the advisory group to the Manawatu District Council. She leads a group of over 20 youth who are inspired to participate in local governance and want to be involved in our community. She is also on the Halcombe Community Development Group where she was able to help organise local ANZAC Day service and parade. With both these groups I am able to regularly write/present submissions to the council and give feedback from a youths’ perspective.
Ben Schmidt – MUSA President/ Student
Ben is passionate about empowering communities for change, and coordinates the Manawatu Tenants’ Union who advocate for renters at the individual and political level. He is actively involved in the community, as Chairperson of the Palmerston North Street Van, working with former prisoners as live-in manager for the Just Released Accomodation Trust, and as an Army Reserve soldier. Before working in the community sector, Ben was President of the Massey University Students’ Association, and is completing a Bachelor of Arts (Social Anthropology).
Kit Williams – Mentor, Trainer and Masters Student
Kit is originally from Germany, after moving to NZ he gained a BA in English and Media at Massey University, ultimately graduating as a Massey scholar. He then took on a team leader role where he developed his interpersonal and communication skills, becoming effective at managing and guiding his team to success. After a period a travelling around Europe to feed his travel bug, Kit returned to New Zealand and transitioned into a part-time mentoring and training role while studying his Masters degree full time. Through the interaction and communication required within both of these pursuits, Kit has built his leadership skills and discovered a real passion for helping others achieve their career goals.
Kiesha Dais – Youth Development Officer/Youth Space & Future Leaders Coach/Inspiring Stories
Kiesha is a qualified Social Worker who had been working at the Youth Space (PNCC) as a Youth Development Officer for over 5 years ago. As the Palmy Future Leaders Coach, Kiesha’s role is to empower a group of young people 17-25 years, to build on their social entrepreneurship and leadership skills whilst they take on meaningful projects to tackle local challenges within their community.
Kiesha also loves every opportunity to work alongside and connect with local organisations to achieve the best outcomes for young people within our community.