When Lola Fisher was 13 years old, she co-founded Create Happy Media, which became the country’s largest youth-run media outlet, amplifying youth voices nationwide. In 2022, research conducted at Create Happy revealed that 83% of headlines about young people in Aotearoa were negative. This insight became a driving force behind Lola’s work, revealing the need for youth storytelling and positive representation. In less than 4 years, Create Happy published 450+ articles and gave 120 young journalists the opportunity to interview Forbes 30 Under 30 recipients, international activists, the New Zealand Police, actors, politicians, and global leaders.

Since 2022, Lola has personally contributed over 8000 hours of unpaid voluntary work to youth organising and sector building, often committing more than 50 hours a week. These experiences have shaped her understanding of community care and the challenges young people face when stepping into traditionally adult spaces. Today, as Co-Founder and Co-Director of Gen-Z Aotearoa, Lola builds networks, resources and infrastructure that allow rangatahi-led organisations to thrive sustainably. In less than 2 years, the organisation has reached over 2 million people and strengthened national youth sector capacity. Lola has worked directly with over 45 organisations on youth voice initiatives, including child rights organisations and governmental partners. She has also engaged with diplomatic missions and foreign governments internationally, bringing rangatahi perspectives to global conversations.

In the past year, 18-year-old Telesia Tanoa’i has emerged as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most inspiring young cultural storytellers and changemakers. With an international upbringing spanning Taiwan, Fiji, and Aotearoa, and of Samoan and Fijian heritage, Telesia bridges cultures through film, language revitalisation, and social advocacy. Her recent co-creation of youth-led video journals in five Pacific languages – funded by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Moana Reo programme – has helped revitalise heritage languages and empower young people to celebrate their identities.

Beyond language preservation, Telesia’s filmmaking has earned international acclaim. Her debut documentary Telesia 2 the World has screened at 17 international film festivals, winning Best Young Filmmaker at the Best International Film Festival and Best Student Film at the Lily Indie Film Fest. As a facilitator for the Pasifika Youth Short Film Competition, she has mentored more than 500 students, fostering confidence, creativity, and pride in their cultural heritage.

Léon Bristow is a creative leader using storytelling and design as tools for inclusion, equity, and change. Diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour at age 11, which resulted in permanent blindness and epilepsy, and then a second brain tumour at 27, Léon has transformed personal challenges into purpose. As an Art Director at Colenso BBDO and Founder of BEINGS – a groundbreaking casting platform championing diversity in the creative industry – Léon is reshaping how stories are told and who gets to tell them.

At just 29, Léon has become one of the most recognised young creatives in the world. Ranked the 4th Best Art Director globally at Cannes Lions and the first New Zealander in a decade accepted into the Cannes Lions 30 Under 30 Creative Academy, Léon’s accolades reflect both vision and impact. Through mentorship, advocacy, and inclusive design, Léon is creating space for others to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Raised in a rugby-loving whānau in Te Tihi-o-Maru Timaru, Jorja Miller began her journey with the sport at just four years old, demonstrating an unwavering commitment that would propel her to new heights. In 2022, Jorja leapt onto the global stage, joining the Black Ferns Sevens team, making an impressive debut at the Rugby World Cup Sevens where she clinched a silver medal. This was merely the prelude to her crowning achievement – making her Olympic debut, helping securing gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics and becoming Aotearoa New Zealand’s youngest female gold medallist.

Jorja’s earned numerous titles including World Rugby’s Women’s Rookie Sevens Player of the Year (2023), NZ Women’s Sevens Player of the Year and Supreme Player of the Year (2024), Women’s Sevens Player of the Year (2025), 2x Sevens World Series Championship titles, named in numerous Dream Teams and made her impact in XVs – debuting at Rugby World Cup 2025 with her instrumental on field skills earning her finalist nomination in both World Rugby’s Women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year and Women’s 15s Player of the Year. Away from the limelight, Jorja remains deeply committed to her roots, actively engaging with local schools and rugby clubs in her hometown of Timaru. Through her leadership and passion, she’s reshaping the narrative for women’s rugby, inspiring rangatahi to chase their sporting aspirations and transforming the face of the sport in Aotearoa.