Kia ora, and thanks for your interest in the Business South Emerging Leadership Academy. From Monday 5 to Thursday 8 October, twelve people aged 18 to 29 will spend each morning at our Dunedin office in conversation with four people who have built genuinely interesting careers: an Olympian who walked away at the top, a manufacturing innovator, a technology leader working on AI, and a founder who came home to Dunedin to build something of her own.

The week finishes on Friday 9 October at the Accelerate South Conference at the Dunedin Centre, alongside hundreds of business leaders from across Otago and Southland.

It is free, and food is provided. This application takes about five minutes. We are not asking for a CV. We are asking what you are curious about.

If you are aged 16 to 18, please take Emerging Leadership Academy Application (Secondary School Series) form instead.

Question Title

1. Full name

Question Title

3. Mobile number

Question Title

4. How old will you be on 5 October 2026?

Question Title

5. Which best describes you right now?

Question Title

6. Where do you study or work? (Please give the name of your university, polytechnic, employer or business. Write 'not applicable' if none.)

Question Title

7. What do you study, or what is your role?

Question Title

8. Tell us about yourself. Who are you, what are you into, and what are you working towards? (100 words or less)

Question Title

9. Why should you be granted a spot in the Academy? (100 words or less)

Question Title

10. The Academy runs each morning from Monday 5 to Thursday 8 October, followed by the Accelerate South Conference on Friday 9 October. Can you commit to attending all five days?

Question Title

11. Do you have any dietary requirements, access needs, or anything else we should know to make sure you can take part fully?

Question Title

12. How did you hear about the Emerging Leadership Academy?

T