MEDIA RELEASE
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2015
John Key meets with young Canterbury engineers
Recently the Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key met with young engineers in Canterbury to talk about leadership. Many of
these engineers have been working on the Christchurch rebuild.
At the meeting, hosted at the Christchurch offices of MWH Global, the Prime Minister said really strong leaders have
great teams. He emphasised the importance of the team knowing the leader’s expectations and how the leader is likely to
react to issues. He also said success in leadership is to do with attitude. Mr Key disclosed that he set his sights on
becoming Prime Minister when he was only 11 – a vision he never lost.
The Prime Minister stressed that determination, focus and preparation are vital to success. He urged his audience not to
be afraid of whether people will back them or not. His best advice to someone going into leadership for the first time
is to be yourself.
Fritha Bevin-McCrimmon, Regional Chair for Engenerate Canterbury, said the event had been a fantastic opportunity to
hear the Prime Minister to share his stories. “What better person to talk to young engineers about leadership than the
leader of the country,” she said.
Engenerate is a nationwide IPENZ initiative celebrating and assisting Members who have had less than 8 years’ work
experience.
ends