Join the IPANZ New Professionals Leadership Team for a light breakfast, intravenous coffee, and the opportunity to meet Simon Draper, Executive Director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
Come at 7.15am for breakfast; the speaker will start at 7.45am. It's an early start but well worth the effort to hear Simon discuss first-hand his career path, highlight and challenges. There will be opportunity to ask questions and engage with Simon as well.
About Simon Draper
Simon Draper is the Executive Director of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, the leading non-profit, non-partisan organisation in the country focussed on New Zealand-Asia relations.
Previously, Simon was with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade where he worked in various roles since 1991. Most recently he managed New Zealand’s engagement and policy with the United Nations in New York, the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and the Commonwealth in London as director of United Nations, Human Rights and Commonwealth Division. A highlight in this role was steering New Zealand's successful campaign for a United Nation's Security Council seat.
Simon has held several other leadership positions within MFAT including as Consul-General to French Pacific Territories (2008-2011), director of the chief executive' s office (2005-2008), and foreign policy adviser to Rt Hon Simon Upton.
Before joining MFAT, he worked in the banking and consultancy sectors. He speaks working level Korean, French and Italian.