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Student is among Brightest Young Minds
Talented University of the Sunshine Coast student Michael Hanisch will spend next week in Sydney brainstorming with some of the nation’s most interesting young movers and shakers.
Michael, 24, of Coolum Beach has been selected as one of 100 people aged 18-28 from across Australia to attend the Brightest Young Minds (BYM) Foundation Summit from July 4-9.
Summit delegates were selected on the basis of their attributes in leadership, passion, creativity, initiative, intelligence, charisma, communication and perseverance.
Michael is in his final year of a Bachelor of Regional and Urban Planning degree and recently received a Planning Institute of Australia Prize for being the best third-year student in his degree program in 2009.
He currently works for Sunshine Coast firm, Adams Sparkes Town Planning & Development, and is studying full-time at USC, which nominated him as a summit delegate.
“Being invited to attend the summit is a massive surprise and an honour,” he said. “I’m really excited about it.
“I’m looking forward to meeting other people who are like-minded and passionate about what they are doing. And it covers all areas, not just planning.”
The BYM Foundation website says the organisation aims to encourage young people who are passionate about exploring, demonstrating and implementing ideas and alternative solutions to the current problems confronting humanity.
The summit will be co-hosted by the University of Sydney and Google Australia and will encourage ethical entrepreneurism among the 100 delegates.
Michael, who grew up in Indooroopilly and went to St Peter’s Lutheran College, said ethical entrepreneurism was important for the regional and urban planning industry.
“I think there’s definitely a social responsibility on large companies and developers, especially in developing areas,” he said.
— Terry Walsh