What are you studying and what year?
I am a third-year student studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accounting and Information Systems. I am also studying towards a Diploma in Languages, majoring in Japanese.

What lead to your interest in innovation and entrepreneurship?
For me, innovation and entrepreneurship is in my blood and starting a business has been an interest of mine ever since I was little. But, what really set me on my path of Innovation and Entrepreneurship was when I purchased my first computer. I come from a financially poor background, but a scholarship that I received allowed me to purchase a computer, giving me access to the World Wide Web. Through this I learned about great innovators such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Jack Ma, Ma Huateng, Elon Musk (the list goes on). After researching about these great minds and what they did in their respective countries I knew that I wanted to be a part of this group of change makers.

What are you most looking forward to for Unleash Space in 2019?
I am looking forward to developing Unleash Space into the top entrepreneurial and innovation hub for students. Unleash Space has a Create and Maker Space for startups to prototype their ideas and workshops for students to learn key skills in the startup world. I’m also excited to take on a more proactive approach to getting to know students who are using the Unleash Space, finding out their needs and wants, and just looking at what they really are hungry for. I am looking forward to creating amazing experiences out of Unleash Space that last for a lifetime.

In your opinion, what is the key opportunity or value that Unleash Space offers students? 
Unleash Space is the best place on campus to mix and mingle with like-minded individuals involved in innovation and entrepreneurship. What Unleash Space has to offer is real-world prototyping using the latest technology to help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life and opportunities to connect with other students across multiple disciplines at the University.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?
I come from a strong Cantonese and Māori ancestry, but growing up I had never heard of any respected Māori entrepreneurs on the world stage. I heard about amazing Māori rugby players, actors and teachers, but never about amazing Māori entrepreneurs who had established a business to make a change for the better of our iwi (Aotearoa) or the world at large. So I plan on smashing that glass ceiling by the time I enter the next world, so that other Rangatahi (young people) will have the inspiration to one day say “you know what, I know I can be great because If Jared did it, so can I”.

What is an interesting fact about you that readers might not know about you? 
I worked as a character performer with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida for a year – best gap year of my life!