Summer students impress Lady Deane

Lady Deane and Sir Roderick with GMRI summer students from left, Ranui Baillie, Emily Keane, Max Blackwell, Dr Swee Tan and GMRI Chair, Paul Baines, Elysia Tan, Lucy Sulzberger and Sam Siljee

Lady Deane and Sir Roderick with GMRI summer students from left, Ranui Baillie, Emily Keane, Max Blackwell, Dr Swee Tan and GMRI Chair, Paul Baines, Elysia Tan, Lucy Sulzberger and Sam Siljee

One of New Zealand’s best known philanthropists is “terribly impressed” with the young students who have completed this year’s summer student programme at the GMRI.

Lady Deane visited the GMRI in late January to present certificates to the summer students who, she says, “should all be Young New Zealanders of the Year, they are so impressive”.

“These students are very excited about what they have achieved and learned over the summer break while being mentored at the GMRI.”

The programme allows the students to undertake projects at the GMRI, under the supervision and guidance of Dr Tan and his colleagues, from early November until the end of January, when they return to university studies.

Lady Deane and her husband, Sir Roderick, have supported the GMRI summer student programme for four years through their Deane Endowment Trust.

“We love science and we love supporting outstanding students to be mentored,” Lady Deane said.

She says the GMRI provides a wonderful opportunity for these exceptional young hopefuls, all of whom worked extremely hard under the expert guidance of Dr Tan and his team.

“It’s not enough just to be talented as these students so obviously are,” Lady Deane said, “you also need determination and organisational skills, which these young people have, and you need excellent support and guidance, which they get from Swee and his colleagues.

“Roderick and I feel these students are very lucky – they get a tremendous start on their careers with this kind of exposure and assistance.”

She says New Zealand provides excellent opportunities in both the arts and science sectors for talented young people to receive this kind of skills, career and personal development.

“We are smaller and more collegial than many other countries, which means tomorrow’s leaders get more chances to share in, and benefit from, the wisdom of today’s leaders,” she said.