Leadership Academy

2027 registrations are now open!

Choose either our On Campus programme: LEAD Connect, or the online programme: LEAD Online below to register Leadership Academy options

88 schools throughout NZ have participated in the Academy

Almost 800 students have completed The Leadership Academy

WMS is in the top 1% of business school worldwide

Waikato ranks top 151–175 globally for Business & Economics

The Waikato Management School Leadership Academy was established with a clear purpose: Supercharging impact and careers through leadership.

The Leadership Academy is an engaging and supportive environment which fosters the growth in capability, confidence, and character of ambitious and self-motivated Year 13 students.

Participants come from diverse leadership backgrounds, illustrating our commitment to nurturing leadership potential.

Whether you're a school prefect, a quiet changemaker, or someone simply curious about growing as a leader, this programme is for you. We welcome students from all walks of leadership, including those who haven’t held formal roles but show the spark and potential to lead.

Through a first-year UniStart paper, you’ll get a taste of university life while building real-world leadership skills that can shape your future, wherever it leads.

Students engage with leadership concepts and training and explore how to find their own unique voice and clarify their own values. They will be able to apply these skills in their schools and communities and help others develop as leaders.

Entry Criteria

The Leadership Academy is open to year 13 secondary school students who:
Have met the criteria for discretionary entrance to the University.
Have New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency*.
Have their NCEA Level 2 Certificate or above endorsed with Merit or Excellence.
Have their University Entrance Literacy
Have the support of their school to participate in the Leadership Academy

The WMS Leadership Academy – Leadership Education and Development (LEAD)

2027 Registrations open now! Select your preferred programme below to register. The registration form must be completed by the staff member in charge of the Leadership Academy programme at your school.

LEAD Connect

March to June. Each year the programme launches with an in-person event during term one. Early in term two, cohorts join through a mix of online and face-to-face sessions at our Hamilton campus. The programme ends with our in-person Summit Day in June.

LEAD Online

March to June. A flexible, learning experience with one-on-one tutorials, remote access, self-nomination, and a tailored final assessment. Ideal for students balancing other commitments or studying from different locations.

Commitment

For eligible domestic students, fees would be covered by the Unistart scholarship so there are no costs for students or your school.

For LEAD Connect students there will be some travel involved, so there might be the need for car-pooling and travel to the locations where the cohorts meet locally, or to our Hamilton campus three times during the programme.

The total time commitment for students will be approximately 150 hours. This is made up of the readings, assessments, on campus events for LEAD Connect, online tutorials and leadership activities that the students will already be involved in through school.

The Leadership Academy - what's it all about?

Hear from some of the students and teachers who have taken part in The Leadership Academy.

WMS Leadership Academy team

Jamie Fitzgerald

Executive Leadership Fellow (BCS, University of Waikato)

Jamie is passionate about helping people realise their potential by co-creating an inspiring purpose, effective goal-setting and communication. Jamie is the CEO of his consultancy business, Inspiring Performance (opens in a new tab). and a Distinguished Alumnus of Waikato Management School. An avid adventurer, he has walked unaided to the South Pole and holds the world record for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. In 2011, Jamie managed the design and delivery of training to 7000+ Rugby World Cup 2011 volunteers.

Tui MacDonald

Leadership Academy Paper Convenor MMgt (Dist)

Shaping our future leaders is something Tui is passionate about. Leadership comes in many forms and Tui is excited to share knowledge on this important topic. The Leadership Academy is a wonderful opportunity for students to build their skills and apply them to support their communities.

Tui is a lecturer in Leadership and PhD candidate at the Waikato Management School. Prior to her role at the university, she was the Director of her corporate communications, media management, and marketing consultancy.

Tui has whakapapa to Ngāti Ranginui, Ngā Puhi, Te Atiawa and Ngāti Pāoa.

Ros Elliott

Student Engagement Coordinator, Waikato Management School

Ros is the first point of contact for students in the Leadership Academy. With decades of experience in secondary and tertiary education, Ros brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Her background as a careers advisor has fueled her passion for helping students realise their potential. Ros is dedicated to guiding and supporting students as they navigate their educational and career paths, encouraging them to succeed.