About ASPIRE

ASPIRE is the University’s Professional Staff Conference. It is an opportunity for a large-scale gathering of kaimahi who, although working together to achieve our collective goals, may not often have the chance to actually get together face-to-face.

ASPIRE had its beginnings over 20 years ago as the ‘General Staff Conference’ run over two days, every two years. Over time it has evolved, but at its heart, ASPIRE is organised by a working group of professional staff, for professional staff.  

It is a conference that offers development opportunities broader than those you might have in your specific role, encourages whanaungatanga (connection and relationships), and provides the chance for us to look up and look around at what else is happening across Waipapa Taumata Rau.  

The format of ASPIRE is continuously evolving (!) but proudly, many of our speakers and workshop presenters come from within our own teams and communities.