Outstanding Alumni Awards 2018

A number of our high-achieving alumni were honoured during the Outstanding Alumni Awards at Alumni Event 2018.

Rosie Yijia Lyu

Designation: Chief Editor – New K Media Group.

Duration in this position: One year.

Profile: Assists the president of the organisation who is based in Australia. Single-handedly manages the publication and distribution of the City Walker Magazine. Manages the business operations of New K Media in New Zealand.

Achievement: Started with an internship at Sky Kiwi working as an assistant project manager, focusing on content writing and blogging for online media. She also had a deep focus in customer service. She progressed to Asian International Group working as marketing manager of Koca Media – hosting international celebrity events in Auckland. She later progressed through recommendation to a larger organisation – New K media in order to bring their products to New Zealand.

Warrick Davidson

Designation: Entrepreneur – Health 2000.

Duration in this position: Two years.

Profile: Focuses on customer service and promoting health products. On a daily basis, attending to customer queries and issues with natural supplements. 

Achievement: Started working as a manager after his education. Progressed to acquire the store and invested passion and effort to provide excellent customer service. Works closely with OPAIC interns at Health 2000 ensuring quality work experience and guidance as an alumni mentor.

Sagar Shah

Designation: ICT Technician – Travel Corner Limited.

Duration in this position: Two years.

Profile: Responsible for ensuring our staff give great customer service as well as monitoring the financial performance of the business. Day-to-day tasks include dealing with customer queries and overseeing business development.  

Achievement: Started with Travel Corner in the start-up team as a developer. Progressed within the organisation from an IT assistant to the ICT Technician. Worked on a project with the IT lecturers in developing a classroom observation app. Works closely with OPAIC interns at the Travel Corner Limited in ensuring quality work experience and guidance as an alumni mentor. At least one graduate has been employed in a full-time role.

Rahul Kamath

Designation: Hotel Assistant Manager – Ibis Budget Hotels.

Duration in this position: Two years.

Profile: Supervises the front office and housekeeping department reporting directly to the general manager.  

Achievement: Started with Ibis Budget Hotels as an interning night auditor. Progressed through the organisation working his way up to becoming an assistant manager. He has provided five hotel students with permanent employment. He works closely with OPAIC interns at Ibis Budget Hotels in ensuring quality work experience and guidance as an alumni mentor.

Mohit Mavi

Designation: Duty Manager – The Spencer on Byron Hotel.

Duration in this position: Two years.

Profile: Works closely with guests to greet, converse, and assist with enquiries, especially when VIP guests, long-stay guests, and others are in the hotel lobby. Stays current with all hotel products, services, policies and emergency procedures. 

Achievement: Successfully progressed within the rooms division from a night auditor to guest service agent, assistant night manager, night manager and now working as a duty manager. Works closely with OPAIC interns at The Spencer on Byron Hotel in ensuring quality work experience and guidance as an alumni mentor. Thanks to his guidance and hard work, a total of 27 hotel students have kick-started their hotel careers in New Zealand.

Melody Yin

Designation: Store Manager – 3A Signs Ltd.

Duration in this position: Three years.

Profile: Responsible for ensuring our staff give great customer service as well as monitoring the financial performance of the business. Day-to-day tasks include dealing with customer queries and overseeing business development.  

Achievement: Progressed within the organisation through an internship opportunity. Started as an assistant manager and graphic designer. Now responsible for the business operations and development for the Otahuhu Branch. She has also given employment to one graduate after they completed their internship. Worked closely with OPAIC interns at the 3A Signs for the past two years in ensuring quality work experience and guidance as an alumni mentor.

Wilson Kuriakose

Designation: Manager - Training and Development – LookSharp.

Duration in this position: Three years.

Profile: Training aspiring managers, identifying training needs, coordinating and conducting training for different levels of people, supervising team trainers who conduct training for the other employees. 

Achievement: Successfully planned, organised and implemented a future manager training course within the company and provided certification for those who passed the course.  It is a great platform for the beginners to show their skills to reach their career goals in the retail chain Look Sharp. Thanks to his training course, we have 18 former OPAIC graduates employed with Look Sharp around Auckland. More than half of these graduates are at a management position. All other employees who are at a management position also do the training course to grow within the company.