NEWSROOM
CIE alumni named in 2021 40 Under 40 list
16 November 2021
The University of Auckland’s annual 40 Under 40 list aims to spotlight alumni who are shining in their personal and professional lives. Honourees are selected for recognition in six different categories depending on where they have made an impact: business leaders, entrepreneurs, disrupters and innovators, humanitarians, performers, and influencers.
Nine of this year’s named alumni are former participants of programmes run by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) such as the Velocity (formerly named Spark) student-led entrepreneurship development programme. CIE Director Darsel Keane says “Participants of CIE programmes are motivated and hungry to make their mark on the world. I am delighted to see so many of our CIE alumni acknowledged for their efforts and impact”.
This year the University of Auckland has launched a Take 10 podcast, enabling listeners to learn about some of the listed alumni’s journeys and their tips for success.
Congratulations to our CIE alumni
Syed Adeel Ali –Syed Adeel Ali is the founding CEO of APIMatic, a software company that started in a PhD cubicle and today has users in more than 200 countries, with offices in New Zealand, Pakistan and the United States.
Nawaz Ahmed – Nawaz Ahmed works on crypto projects with international firms. He’s also an angel investor who advises start-ups and runs a podcast.
Matty Blomfield – Matty Blomfield is the co-founder of Hectre, an orchard management software tool designed to reduce the amount of fruit wasted globally, by giving growers access to a platform that significantly improves the performance of their business. He is also the co-founder of Hacktivate, a high-pressure technology sport.
Matty Blomfeld 40 under 40 podcast episode
Emma Blomkamp – Not yet 40, Dr Emma Blomkamp is already an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne, has been published in ten international journals, co-edited a book and squeezed in a working OE to Cambodia and France. Based in Australia she works independently as a co-design coach, bringing together professionals and the public to find creative solutions to shared problems.
Rahul Gandhi – Rahul Gandhi is a Wellington Hospital doctor training to be a specialist physician. He has an MBA from Oxford University and a Master of Public Health from Harvard. He is also a former Innovation Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Healthcare Transformation Lab and has been an advisor to Pallium India, an organisation bringing pain relief to Indian states through advocacy, education, and healthcare delivery.
Sarah Liu – Sarah Liu is the founder and managing director of The Dream Collective, an Asia Pacific (APAC) top 10 diversity and inclusion consultancy, which has empowered and equipped thousands of professional women into leadership roles. With Amazon Web Services Australia, Sarah has set up the #SheDares campaign to demystify careers in technology for professional women. She has represented Australia in the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance to discuss the future of work globally.
Kate Riegle van West – Dr Kate Riegle van West is the founder and CEO of SpinPoi, a social enterprise taking the health benefits of poi to the world. A former circus performer, Kate has found a unique way to blend her passions for performance, wellbeing and science into a successful business doing social good. She is also a recipient of a Future Leader Award from the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Shaun Tan – Dr Shaun Tan is the Head of Technology at Lanaco, a Kiwi start-up that is pushing the boundaries of materials science. Lanaco uses premium grade wool to make high-performance masks and filters, and counts NASA and the NZ Olympic Team among its clients.
Daniel Xu – Daniel Xu is the co-founder of Spark 64, an artificial intelligence (AI) agency helping organisations leverage AI to do things faster, cheaper and smarter. In addition, Daniel chairs the Return on Science Physical Sciences Investment Committee, and he was the founding chair of Momentum, the country’s first student-led investment committee.
Daniel Xu 40 under 40 podcast episode
16 November 2021
The University of Auckland’s annual 40 Under 40 list aims to spotlight alumni who are shining in their personal and professional lives. Honourees are selected for recognition in six different categories depending on where they have made an impact: business leaders, entrepreneurs, disrupters and innovators, humanitarians, performers, and influencers.
Nine of this year’s named alumni are former participants of programmes run by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) such as the Velocity (formerly named Spark) student-led entrepreneurship development programme. CIE Director Darsel Keane says “Participants of CIE programmes are motivated and hungry to make their mark on the world. I am delighted to see so many of our CIE alumni acknowledged for their efforts and impact”.
This year the University of Auckland has launched a Take 10 podcast, enabling listeners to learn about some of the listed alumni’s journeys and their tips for success.
Congratulations to our CIE alumni
Syed Adeel Ali –Syed Adeel Ali is the founding CEO of APIMatic, a software company that started in a PhD cubicle and today has users in more than 200 countries, with offices in New Zealand, Pakistan and the United States.
Nawaz Ahmed – Nawaz Ahmed works on crypto projects with international firms. He’s also an angel investor who advises start-ups and runs a podcast.
Matty Blomfield – Matty Blomfield is the co-founder of Hectre, an orchard management software tool designed to reduce the amount of fruit wasted globally, by giving growers access to a platform that significantly improves the performance of their business. He is also the co-founder of Hacktivate, a high-pressure technology sport.
Matty Blomfeld 40 under 40 podcast episode
Emma Blomkamp – Not yet 40, Dr Emma Blomkamp is already an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne, has been published in ten international journals, co-edited a book and squeezed in a working OE to Cambodia and France. Based in Australia she works independently as a co-design coach, bringing together professionals and the public to find creative solutions to shared problems.
Rahul Gandhi – Rahul Gandhi is a Wellington Hospital doctor training to be a specialist physician. He has an MBA from Oxford University and a Master of Public Health from Harvard. He is also a former Innovation Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Healthcare Transformation Lab and has been an advisor to Pallium India, an organisation bringing pain relief to Indian states through advocacy, education, and healthcare delivery.
Sarah Liu – Sarah Liu is the founder and managing director of The Dream Collective, an Asia Pacific (APAC) top 10 diversity and inclusion consultancy, which has empowered and equipped thousands of professional women into leadership roles. With Amazon Web Services Australia, Sarah has set up the #SheDares campaign to demystify careers in technology for professional women. She has represented Australia in the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance to discuss the future of work globally.
Kate Riegle van West – Dr Kate Riegle van West is the founder and CEO of SpinPoi, a social enterprise taking the health benefits of poi to the world. A former circus performer, Kate has found a unique way to blend her passions for performance, wellbeing and science into a successful business doing social good. She is also a recipient of a Future Leader Award from the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Shaun Tan – Dr Shaun Tan is the Head of Technology at Lanaco, a Kiwi start-up that is pushing the boundaries of materials science. Lanaco uses premium grade wool to make high-performance masks and filters, and counts NASA and the NZ Olympic Team among its clients.
Daniel Xu – Daniel Xu is the co-founder of Spark 64, an artificial intelligence (AI) agency helping organisations leverage AI to do things faster, cheaper and smarter. In addition, Daniel chairs the Return on Science Physical Sciences Investment Committee, and he was the founding chair of Momentum, the country’s first student-led investment committee.
Daniel Xu 40 under 40 podcast episode
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