MATES Programme Manager: Connor Bourne

EMAIL: [email protected]

MATES EPSOM CAMPUS OFFICE

Room 203, Building Block B

Epsom Campus, University of Auckland

74 Epsom Avenue

Auckland 1023, New Zealand

EMAIL: [email protected]

 

   

   

	MATES Programme Manager: CONNOR BOURNE Connor started at MATES back in 2015 as a mentor in the Education 200 paper at the University of Auckland. He has been a coordinator at MATES Jr for the past 3 years seeing the introduction of Finlayson Park and Mangere East Primary to the programme. Connor finished his Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology in 2017 and more recently finished his Post Graduate diploma in Counselling theory in 2019, beginning a Masters of Counselling in 2020. MATES was the first place Connor found he could give back to the community and affect change in people’s lives through empowerment and education. Through MATES Jr Connor has seen amazing mentors become amazing professionals and talented students thrive in both high school and in life. He was appointed MATES Programme Manager in March 2021.
	MATES Junior Coordinator JESSICA VEA Jessica is of Tongan descent, born in the beautiful island of Tonga and raised in Auckland New Zealand. She is currently studying a Postgraduate degree in Creative Technologies at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Through her studies she aims to encourage more of our Pacific communities to take on opportunities that would pave a way for more Pacific representation in the STEM industry. "Since a young age I’ve found joy in teaching others and now being a Coordinator working towards a bigger cause has been one of my greatest job experiences to date. Knowing that we are providing a space for students who have the potential to grow beyond their limits is very rewarding," Jessica says.
	MATES Junior Coordinator HESTER ACHARYA Hester is a 22-year-old Fine Arts and History student who was born and spent half her life in Canada, before moving to New Zealand from primary to the start of high school. She returned to New Zealand for university where she discovered the MATES programme. Hester has always loved caring for children, teaching them, and helping them succeed in their passions. "I joined MATES as a mentor because I felt it was a great way to continue to develop my passion for teaching and childcare. Through MATES I have discovered a passion for uplifting, empowering, and guiding children and youth," she says.
	MATES Senior Coordinator SAANE MAFI Saane is 24 years old, from Tonga, currently undertaking a postgraduate degree in Health Sciences at the University of Auckland.  Saane became a MATES mentor as way to give back to her community and to gain experience in working with young people. Through this she was able to realise her passion for working with and for youth. "MATES mentors help create safe spaces for young people to succeed and grow. As a coordinator I hope to maintain the provision of these safe spaces to enable young people to flourish, as well as support the mentors through their journey this year," Saane says.
	MATES Senior Coordinator ANNELIESE MITCHELL Anneliese is originally from Cumbria, in England, but moved to New Zealand at age five. She has lived most of her life in Hawkes Bay but moved to Auckland three years ago for university. Anneliese recently completed her Bachelors of Global Studies majoring, in Global Politics and Human Rights and has just began a Masters in Disaster Management at the University of Auckland. "I joined MATES in 2019 as a mentor for both MATES Jr and Snr, because I love working with young people and have always been very interested in youth engagement. I decided to become a Coordinator because I believe MATES is an incredibly important programme and provides so much for our mentees," Anneliese says.

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