Ishan Kokulan - Board Member

Being a Youth Member on The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award Board is an incredible opportunity that allows me to give back to a fantastic organisation that changed the course of my life.

The experience I bring to the board includes high level volunteering, technology skills, and communication skills.

Being on the board, I can be a representative of the youth voice of the organisation. Since completing my Gold Award in 2016, I have been able to apply the skills and lessons that I was taught during the many various components of the programme to my everyday life.  I would not have been able to achieve what I have done today without the aid of the Award programme.

Through roles with the New Zealand Model United Nations – including Co-ordinator and Promotions Officer - I have developed my leadership and liaison skills as well as high-pressure problem solving, project-wide multitasking and negotiation abilities. This has taught me the importance of bringing professionalism, leadership skills and a proactive worth ethic to everything I do. Many of these skills are valuable as a member of the board.

Ishan is a Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award holder.