Kea taking NZ Inc to Asia Pacific

Kea, New Zealand’s global expat network, is connecting Asia Pacific based Kiwis with a series of events hosted at Google’s head offices.

Beginning in Tokyo on the 23rd July, Kea is taking its successful ‘Inspire’ event series into this rapid growth region to build global relationships and gain an understanding of opportunities and challenges for APAC based businesses.

The spark behind the events - which will be hosted by Google in Japan, Singapore and Sydney - came from a connection between Kea and a member of its World Class New Zealand network, Google’s APAC director of Enterprise Geospatial, Richard Suhr.

A passionate New Zealander who is making in-roads for the tech giant in this key region, Suhr sees real value in connecting the expat network with the vast opportunities for New Zealand in APAC nations.

"We’re excited to host Kea’s Inspire series, connecting Kiwi talent and helping to identify the opportunities and challenges for business in these regions that will lead to tangible outcomes for Kea and New Zealand," he says.

Kea’s Inspire series will feature panel discussions from Suhr, speakers from Google’s local offices in each region, and World Class New Zealand members internet mogul Jonny Hendricksen, serial entrepreneur and Sustain Group co-founder Matthew Tukaki, and APEC Executive Director and former Reserve Bank governor Dr Alan Bollard.

Kea Global CEO Craig Donaldson says taking Inspire into Asia Pacific is part of the organisation’s long term strategy to accelerate more meaningful connections among New Zealand’s growing diaspora.

"Feedback from our member network has been for more opportunities to strengthen their local networks through advice, support and collaboration from other Kiwis abroad, particularly throughout the APAC region.

"Taking the Inspire brand into this region of economic significance to focus on creating strategic networks for Kiwis will deliver tangible benefits to members and aid in strengthening New Zealand interests around Asia Pacific."

Donaldson says the growing reach and influence of the Kea network is promising for New Zealand.

"Two years ago Kea’s online network was only 30,000. Now it is over 10 times that size, and we’ve just launched a mobile app to make it even easier to connect. The World Class New Zealand network has also doubled within that time period.

"Inspire is one way we leverage these powerful networks, and on a macro level we are placing far greater focus on empowering our members to seek out new connections through innovations like the Kea app, which geolocates members around the globe and gives them a platform to connect with one another."

For more information on Kea and Inspire visit www.keanewzealand.com; and click to download the Kea smartphone app for iPhone and Android.