Xero prize and presentations

The Xero team are proud supporters of the yMedia Challenge and part of the prize package is a 12 month subscription to Xero for the Challenge winner.

Xero is a New Zealand Stock Exchange-listed business that builds the world’s easiest online accounting system – it’s simple, smart and secure, and removes the pain associated with doing your books.

As part of their support for yMedia, Xero is offering a special price for community groups, charitable trusts and clubs - at half the usual rate, you pay just $24 plus GST per month for full access to Xero. It’s the ideal package for community groups:

• Shared online access means full transparency, accountability and seamless handover.
• Anywhere, anytime access for people you designate.
• Highly secure and cost effective.
  

To find out more, sign up for one of Xero’s free presentations being held next week for community groups at their offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Register at www.xero.com/events.

http://blog.xero.com/2008/06/seminar-xero-for-community-groups/

Digital identity & networks - Wellington

On Tuesday we had our second workshop for students at Xero in Wellington.

Megan Hosking from Alto began by confessing to being a bit of a "rebel". According to her business card she's "a big thinker and loves to bang on about all sorts of things". Megan bung on about a variety of things, from Good Friday where her employees spend every Friday doing whatever they want, to her definition of a "designer" being a "servant to process". Her presentation stirred thought amongst the tertiary students - that's opposed to "thunking" which Megan expands to "clunky thinking", her explaination of how poorly designed products make it on to the shelves. Megan's presentation showed us her perspective of the truths of our modern world, an insight into the thinking behind a creative person. Check her presentation below!

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Anthea Whittle from Terabyte spoke about her experiences from the 2007 yMedia Challenge. Anthea and Hayden worked with SIDS NZ during the Challenge and developed a new website for them. Anthea found herself managing the project, while Hayden took on the coding aspects of the website. Anthea spoke about how the success of their project depended on the great relationship they had with the two SIDS workers. She explained that in website design, knowledge of the audience is the most important thing to keep in mind. Anthea is now a Project Manager - her experience with SIDS NZ in the yMedia Challenge was invaluable in her placement at Terabyte. See her presentation below!

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Thanks to the students who attended from Massey, Victoria and Natcoll. Thanks to Xero for the venue. Thanks to Megan Hosking and Anthea Whittle for speaking. And thanks to Epic Beer for the beer.

Technology and Social Change - Wellington Student Workshop

Last night yMedia ran our first workshop for 2008!

18 students from Victoria University, Natcoll Design Technology and Massey University came to the meeting room at the Xero Wellington office on Customhouse Quay.


We started the night off with some pizza and Epic Beer. We also had some veges with Lisa's hummus (unfortunately no, we're not getting any sponsorship from her).

Pamela Minett and Adele Barlow introduced the students and speakers.



Tim Norton presented first with a compelling presentation about the power of "purpose", with the message that you can do what you love to do and "make it your day job". Check his blog at http://www.makeithappenhq.com/


Sigurd Magnusson (Siggy) followed with a demonstation of SilverStripe and of course the funny YouTube video.



Nathan Champion finished with a student preso on Managing a Project. Check his Saatchi & Saatchi Internship blog and YouthLaw digital media blog.


Thanks to everyone who made it possible and thanks to everyone who came!

Quick catch up on last few weeks...(cont'd)

Sheena and I were heading to the Auckland Xero office on Beaumont Street. Pamela had already visited the Wellington Xero office, but we thought it would be good to take a look at the Auckland office and meet Hamish Carter, the Relationship Manager there. Wow, that's the same title as me? Maybe he will be able to give me some hints on how to manage relationships!

We climbed the stairs of the lovely brick office and met Hamish at his desk. We moved to the large meeting room, if you can call it that, it was empty apart from a large table, chairs and a projector. Oh and a bar and kitchen to the side.

We talked about this year's yMedia Challenge, Xero and how we could work together more. Hamish offered for us to use the Xero Auckland office for some of the workshops we will be holding. He might also come along and speak at them. The speakers are being organised by Adele from Hong Kong, so we'll have to get her in touch with Hamish at some point.

If you don't know about Xero, it's accounting software that's all web-based. So you never have to install anything on your computer, just log in to the website and do your accounts from there. Pretty cool that it's a New Zealand product and they are expecting to take it to the world!