WFUNA Young Leader of the Year 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

29 March 2022

Press Release:

WFUNA Young Leader of the Year 2021

The United Nations Association of New Zealand are very pleased to share that our Executive Officer Maisy Bentley has been named the World Federation of United Nations Associations’ Young Leader of the Year! She is the first New Zealander to receive the prestigious award, which included nominations open to every UN association in the world. 

Maisy was selected for her outstanding contribution to UNANZ, her active participation in efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and finding creative and innovative solutions to continue implementing youth programs amidst challenges posed by COVID-19.

Maisy has been involved in UNANZ since highschool, first through UN Youth and then as the Executive Officer of UNANZ for the last 3 years. She participated in global policy-making at the UN in New York and contributed to academic research that was delivered to the high-level political forum at the UN. Maisy is in her final year studying a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and Bachelor of Arts in International Development and Māori (indigenous) Studies. With a focus on using her legal and academic skills for social good, Maisy has also worked in several government departments where she focused on women's rights and sat on various boards.

Maisy’s advice for young people interested in connecting with the UN/UNA is to be open minded because opportunities do not always come from where you think they will. “Many people want to work with or for the UN and/or UN Associations, but your experience will be so much richer if you approach that goal with an open mind, looking to contribute, and develop your skills while creating a positive impact alongside good people."

You can see Maisy’s full interview with WFUNA about her work and involvement with UNANZ here.  

For more information please contact [email protected]