#Girlboss At Rangi Ruru Girls’ School on Monday
How Did She Make the Queen Laugh at An Awards Ceremony in London This Week?
“You’re doing good work.”
That’s what 19-year-old Alexia Hilbertidou was told by Queen Elizabeth at an awards ceremony in London this week.
On Tuesday, this driven Kiwi received a Queen's Young Leaders Award for her work founding GirlBoss where she encourages women into science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) careers and higher leadership.
The NZ Herald reported that Alexia told the queen that currently in the NZX 50, there are more CEOs named John than CEOs
who are women and that she was striving to change that. Alexia says the Queen chuckled at the John fact and said she was
doing very good work.
Ms Hilbertidou, who has recently returned from a space mission with NASA, is visiting Christchurch’s Rangi Ruru Girls’
School on Monday (2 July) to share her story and talk to girls about GirlBoss, a women’s network of more than 8000
members.
School principal Dr Sandra Hastie says the whole school is really excited about Alexia coming to Rangi.
“We know about Alexia, our girls know who she is and how influential this amazing young woman is,” she says. “We all
need positive and inspiring role models; Alexia is one of ours.”
“With strong and effective female leadership being such an important part of Rangi’s ethos, Alexia’s work around
empowering women through STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Arts and Math) is a perfect fit for us,” says Dr
Hastie.
Alexia’s passion for education is why she was named a Top 30 Global Teen Leader, the most influential New Zealand woman
under the age of 25 at the 2016 Westpac Women of Influence Awards, and only this week being named a 2018 Queen’s Young Leader.
Alexia will be here at Rangi Ruru on the 2nd July and the 4th of July – photo / interview opportunities are available on
Wednesday 4th July (see schedule on pg 2).
#weknowgirls #girlpower#girlbossnz #rangi4life
Schedule in ChCh:
Alexia is in Christchurch thanks to the generosity of EPIC Innovation, led by Wil McLellan wil@epicinnovation.co.nz and Colin Anderson. EPIC is committed to lifting participation of young people in technology and as a result of their
support, Alexia is able to offer 10 Changemakeher workshops free to Christchurch.
Alexia will be at Rangi Ruru 2.30pm - 3.30pm on Monday 2nd July to speak to 110 Y12 girls, with approx. 30 other
parents/teachers and students in attendance.
She will then be back at Rangi on Wednesday 4th of July to do two 2 hour Changemakeher workshops with Year 10 and 11 students.
This would be a good photo opportunity, seeing the girls participating in the workshops. It is interactive and a lot of fun!
Wednesday 4th July is a day Alexia is best placed for media interviews as she will have just arrived back from London
from the Queens Young Leader Awards and will need some time to re-charge her batteries.
Alexia Hilbertidou
Alexia is a sought-after speaker who has spoken to more than 20,000 people in corporate offices, government agencies and
schools in the last 18 months.
Just returned from a mission with NASA, Alexia’s own mission is to get young women to the table - the boardroom table
that is, and she believes the decisions made while young are crucial in paving the way.
Alexia’s passion for STEAM led her to create Girlboss when she was just 16 years old. Less than two years later GirlBoss
has become an 8000 strong network for ambitious, young New Zealand women.
Despite being only 18, Alexia has packed a significant amount of leadership and entrepreneurial experience into her
life. A Global Teen Leader, a Ministry of Youth Development Top 5 Young Leader, and winner of the Westpac Young Leader
Award, Alexia’s humble origins and incredible journey make her a positive and relatable role model for young women from
every corner of New Zealand.
ENDS