Why UC? Why a BA and LLB double degree?
Ōtautahi is my home. In fact, I’m a sixth generation Cantabrian so it made sense to study here, and I was lucky enough to get an Emerging Leaders Development Programme Scholarship (ELDP). I did an LLB as I wanted to become a lawyer and lean into the challenge, but my natural strengths are the arts. I saw the combination as a balance, giving me a rounded experience. My BA majors were Political Science and Classics and the creative thinking and lessons from those classes, I still use today.
Do you have a highlight or memory that comes to mind first when you think about your time at UC?
Many memories come to mind, but I have to say meeting my soon-to-be husband, Luke. We met at the ELDP camp in 2011 and when I found out he was a skier, that sealed the deal. We’ve now been together for over 11 years. ELDP really laid the foundation of my leadership and service journey, which led me to being president of the Student Volunteer Army (SVA) for 2013 and 2014. One of the ELDP leaders, Dr Lane Perry has been a big influence in my life and his words really impacted me: “Being part of something that is bigger than you, but better because of you.”
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey so far?
While I was at uni I stood for the local elections and was elected as a community board member for the Fendalton Ward in 2013. I’ve since served three terms and was elected again this year and appointed chair of the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board. When I finished uni in 2015, I was offered a position as a graduate for a great law firm and was a solicitor for almost three years. During my time as a lawyer, I developed a social enterprise called Bead and Proceed, which exists to educate people on the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and inspire action towards them through creativity. In 2018, I made the big decision to leave the law firm and work full-time on my business, officially launching Bead and Proceed in 2019. Since launching, I’ve workshopped with multiple businesses and organisations - nearly 10,000 individuals.
Where did the seed come from that inspired you to start Bead and Proceed?
After having a particularly bad day in court, I decided to put my energy into something positive, so I made and painted a beaded necklace. Through the process, my stress lifted, and I started to think up other creative ideas and was in this state of flow. I realised I had neglected my creativity and felt this need to connect with it again and encourage others to do the same. The next day, I was flipping through a magazine and discovered the SDGs. I was compelled by the bright colours and how each goal connected to a global challenge and was shocked to find out Aotearoa had adopted the SDGs in 2015, but this was the first time I was learning about the framework. Then in hit me! I could bring people together to each paint a beaded necklace or keyring in the colours of the top 5 SDGs they feel called to action and while painting, they ideate and brainstorm ways to action their SDGs. Thus, Bead and Proceed was born. The social enterprise has grown and evolved to now offer a range of workshops, activations, and consulting services around the country and beyond.
For those who don’t know, what actually is a social enterprise?
Steven Moe describes it well: “It takes the mind of business with the heart of charity.” Essentially, a social enterprise is a for-profit business, but it exists to maximise improvement for people and the planet. At Bead and Proceed we want to raise awareness and action towards the SDGs, but we also walk the SDG talk. Our kits and materials are all sustainably and ethically sourced. For example, we partner with an amazing World Fair Trade Organisation called Silence, which is located in Kolkata India. Silence employs adults who have hearing, speaking and physical disabilities giving them quality and safe employment. The incredible artisans hand-make the kits from recycled paper and the beads from recycled wooden pallets. Our paint is from the Natural Paint Co, a sustainable paint, and through their partnership, we’ve saved over 1,000 square metres of Amazon Rainforest. Bead and Proceed is a one for one model: for every kit purchased another is donated to either a low decile school or a deserving community organisation.
What is your favourite thing about your job? What excites you the most?
Bead and Proceed doesn’t feel like a job - it’s a space that allows me to express and connect with my purpose, through sustainability and my creative self. I feel so inspired by the businesses, organisations, councils, and schools that come up with amazing sustainable solutions and ideas, and those that want to authentically align and action the SDGs. As someone who pushed their creativity down for so long, I’m excited by the idea that more people are understanding the power of creativity and are harnessing it to solve the biggest problems of today!
You’re also the elected Chairperson for the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board! What led you to want to be involved in the community on this level? What does your role see you doing?
During my time with the SVA, I was shoulder-tapped by a member in the community who told me to run for the local elections. Decisions were being made about the rebuild of the city, and I believed it was important (and still do) for the younger generation to be involved in those decisions as it will impact us in the future. My studies with political science and classics were also teaching me about the importance of active citizenship and service leadership, while ELDP and SVA taught me the value of getting involved and taking a stand for your community. The role of Chair is to promote residents’ issues and initiatives to the community board and the council, advocate for local issues, while representing the board at council committees, community events, chairing the meetings and building strong relationships with community and council stakeholders. It’s a wide role and I’m honoured to have been elected to this position.
What goals do you have for Bead and Proceed in 2023, and in another 5 years in 2028?
The ultimate goal is to make serious progress towards the SDGs with the 2030 deadline in mind. I would love to see Aotearoa be a leader towards the SDGs and for Bead and Proceed to assist the public and private sector on this mission. Already we’re making connections with Asia to grow internationally, and I want to both launch an in-schools SDG programme and develop other service offerings in leadership and creativity.
