Defining people front new ad campaign

Graduates and staff whose achievements have helped place New Zealand on the international stage will feature in the University's new promotional campaign being launched this weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9mavJECTpI
Dr Kate Sylvester. Click above to view Kate's video

Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey says Massey is targeting younger students and Mäori and Pasifika students in the campaign. "We wanted to showcase some of our most inspiring people and what they are doing at Massey or in the national and international arena that is making a difference," Mr Maharey says.

"The slogan of the campaign is 'The engine of the new New Zealand'. What that means is that in fields ranging from agri-food, to business innovation, sciences, education, health, Mäori and Pasifika development, and creative arts, New Zealand is emerging with a new confidence on the global stage. We are taking on the best the world has to offer and Massey's students, staff and alumni are making up the engine that is driving that desire for change and ability to achieve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YVNeLCFJ3w
Kerri Morgan. Click above to view Kerri's video.

Successful Auckland fashion designer Kate Sylvester is the front person for the first in the series. A fashion student at the former Wellington Polytechnic design school in the 1980s, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in fine arts at the Albany campus graduation ceremonies this week.

Dr Sylvester discussed the challenge mass-produced clothing imports presented to New Zealand designers in the 1990s and how they responded creatively and with increased business and technical skill to produce brands that are internationally recognised. "Our industry will create exports worth more than $300 million this year alone," she says.

The second television commercial in the series is presented by avian and wildlife veterinarian Kerri Morgan from the New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre at the Manawatu campus. The centre, a world-leading treatment facility for endangered native species, is having increasing success in repairing injured kiwi and returning them to the wild, Ms Morgan says. "Today, experts from all around the world come to study our techniques." The centre is also part of an international response network trained in dealing with marine wildlife affected by oil spills.

Others who studied or work on the Manawatu campus and will feature in the campaign are:

Early childhood education specialist Associate Professor Clare McLachlan, whose literacy work is having a practical impact on New Zealand children's pre-school learning.

Business studies and marketing graduate Simon Barnett, who as "team captain" of the Manawatu business OBO has found global success manufacturing and selling specialist field hockey protection gear to teams and players throughout the world.

Professor of Electrochemistry Simon Hall, whose innovative approach to research projects ranging from recyling to wastewater treatment and improved nutrition have seen lead a team that has developed a way to revolutionise the $US50 billion international battery market.

Mäori Visual Arts graduate Kelcy Taratoa, whose art works have been exhibited nationally and have been selected by prominent American collect David Teplitzky for inclusion in the Roundabout exhibition in Israel this year.

From the Albany campus

Siautu Alefaio-Tugia, a senior professional clinician (pschologist), whose expertise in helping people deal mentally with natural disasters, was put into practice when she was part of the response team to the 2009 Samoa tsunami.

Senior tutor and technician Chris Chitty from the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology, whose inventions have been utilised in Hollywood feature films and whose alter-ego, Dr Robotech, is the frontperson in the television series Let's Get Inventing, which helps encourages children to embrace science in a practical way.

The campaign website will be live from Sunday at: http://www.engine.ac.nz