At the event, Academic Programme Manager Dave Hicks shared some thoughts and memories, noting that the new facility mirrors the improving recognition and acceptance of neurodiversity.

After years of making do in adapted spaces, the team is thrilled with a building designed specifically for the unique needs of neurodiverse ākonga, complete with thoughtful touches like calming interior design, LED lighting (goodbye fluorescent!), and a welcoming social area, he says.

To be honest, I've wanted to be fully independent from a very young age, says Renée. “Of course, when you go to university and start living on your own, you become slightly independent, but my family and friends always stayed close during that time. When I got the opportunity to study abroad, I decided I wanted to go as far away as possible. I knew that New Zealand was a beautiful country, and the culture wasn't too different from my own, so that's why I decided to do my semester abroad in New Zealand.”

There are lots of factors to consider when choosing a career path. Thanh An Le vividly remembers making that decision. At the time, the two most popular options in his home country of Vietnam were economics and technology. 

Ultimately, his family persuaded him to explore electrical engineering at the University of Technology in Ho Chi Minh City.

As one of the region’s most prestigious awards programmes, recognising the exceptional and innovative use of colour in the built environment, the Dulux Colour Awards attract an array of extraordinary projects.