Kea has announced the first recipient of the Winter Internship Award, a prestigious new scholarship allowing leading candidates from New Zealand's top business schools to work at multinational corporates based in the US.

Courtney Sutherland, from the University of Auckland Business School, will travel to the US in November to take up her internship at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). Based in Stamford, Courtney will work on the world’s largest trading floor for the duration of her three month internship. The award is part of the Kea Education Initiative, a series of programs aimed at increasing educational exchanges between New Zealand and the US. Prime Minister John Key, who announced the establishment of the Kea Education Initiative at a lunch event in New York last year, met Ms. Sutherland at the University of Auckland Business School in June, and congratulated her on the award.

Date: December 6th 2010

My experience so far has been absolutely amazing. This time last year I never expected to find myself working in the US on the world's biggest trading floor. I am on the Foreign Exchange Sales desk learning the ropes from Kea Global board member Craig Donaldson. This opportunity came about directly through Kea and I do not think such an opportunity would have come about without Kea using its network of members to increase global opportunities for young New Zealanders.

The real value of the Kea network is two-fold for me: Firstly I have been able to engage with other Kea members in the network and have been introduced to the local ex-pat community  - there are some incredibly successful New Zealanders living over here. It is very clear that we all share a common interest in New Zealand while at the same time pursuing successful international careers. I have no doubt that these connections will be invaluable throughout my career. Secondly, there is a softer side of being part of  the Kea global network - I have been welcomed into the homes of New Zealanders over here and I feel as though there is a network of people I can go to if there were every any problem. For a young person living far from home this is important and makes the transition in moving abroad for work opportunities an easier one; it also helps us remain connected to NZ (meaning I am also up to speed with the All Blacks’ latest results).

The Kea and Kiwi Club NY Christmas party was this weekend and I enjoyed meeting more New Zealanders who are pursuing opportunities in the US (and of course eating and drinking some Kiwi Kai and wine). I hope that through Kea leveraging its network of talented NZers, more  internship opportunities like this one will be available in the future for other NZ University students. The international experience really is incredible and I am very grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

<!--EndFragment-->