AUT celebrates 25 years of partnerships
AUT marked 25 years as a university with its first-ever Partnerships Dinner, Together for 25 - Poipoia, held on Thursday 2 October. The special occasion brought together 180 partners and collaborators from across Aotearoa and beyond.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Damon Salesa described Together for 25 as a commitment to the future. He said AUT’s strength lies not only in what it does, but in how it does it.
“AUT doesn’t just work with partners, we work alongside them,” said Professor Salesa.
We bring our strengths, our people and our ideas into spaces where they can make a difference. Together, we create knowledge that works, for our communities, our industries and our future.”
The evening featured storytelling and reflections aligned to five key themes — Māori partnerships, government engagement, industry collaboration, philanthropy and community connection.
These themes were brought to life through short films featuring AUT staff and speeches from leaders in iwi governance, international diplomacy, professional sport, hospitality and digital innovation.
Among the speakers were Marama Royal, Chair of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust and AUT Pro-Chancellor, Mr Matsui Shinji, Consul-General of Japan in Auckland, Nick Becker, CEO of Auckland FC, Tony Astle, AUT Seddon Honorary Fellow and culinary pioneer, and Namulau‘ulu Nu‘uali‘i Eteroa Lafaele, AUT alumna, co-founder of Fibre Fale and 2025 Young New Zealander of the Year.
Assistant Vice-Chancellor Engagement Amy Malcolm says the event was more than a dinner, it was a statement of intent and a signal of AUT’s future.
“AUT is proud to walk alongside partners who share its values and vision. We collaborate with organisations that want to do things differently and do them together.
That’s what Together for 25 represents, a commitment to impact, innovation and purpose.”
Professor Salesa says AUT understands the scale and complexity of what lies ahead, and the kind of collaboration it will take to meet it.
“We all know that the challenges ahead are complex. They will not be solved by one institution, one sector, or one voice. They will be solved by people working together, across boundaries, with shared purpose and mutual respect.”