Newcomer Leadership Scholarship Recipients Announced

Central Otago District Council’s Welcoming Communities and Business South Inc., have partnered for a second year, to offer scholarships to two deserving Central Otago newcomers to attend the Business South Leadership Academy in September.

Caitlin Laurenson (left) and Dewald De Beer (right) are the 2023 recipients. Caitlin moved to Cromwell in 2020 and is a property and commercial lawyer with Mactodd Lawyers and was recently named in the 2023 NZ Lawyer Rising Stars List. She is also an active volunteer with Babybox, Cromwell Promotions Group and helps to lead a Cromwell women’s business group, Pinc Ladies.

Dewald and his family moved to Central Otago from South Africa in 2017 and is an insurance broker at C&R Insurance in Alexandra. Dewald has over 20 years’ experience in business and sales management across various industries. He is passionate about serving the community.

The leadership academy will help Caitlin and Dewald network with and learn from other business leaders ensuring that they realise their full potential. This is one of many initiatives the Welcoming Communities programme champions to help roll out the welcome mat to newcomers in the Central Otago district.