September 2025

September Alumni Spotlight: Sharon Wilson

A passionate advocate and changemaker, Sharon is a proud alumni of the Ōruawairua Programme with the Untouched World Foundation. She brings together her love for marine conservation, mental health advocacy, and international diplomacy, working at both grassroots and global levels to inspire positive change.

This year, Sharon twice represented Aotearoa at the United Nations in New York–first at the ECOSOC Youth Forum and later at the High-Level Political Forum, where she was invited to speak on a panel about mental health, climate anxiety, and sustainable coexistence with our oceans.

Sharon is looking ahead to next steps: whether that’s an international internship (from the NZ delegation to the UN, Indonesia, or the UK) or pursuing a Master’s in Paris.

Sharon is actively involved with:

Forest & Bird Youth National Committee – championing conservation projects nationwide.

Environment Canterbury Youth Rōpū – elevating Canterbury rangatahi voices on environmental issues.

Blue Cradle – a Marine and Ocean Science NGO, where she helps with ocean literacy education events and supports connecting indigenous storytelling with global ocean efforts.

UN Youth Affairs & UNMGCY – With their core value in believing meaningful youth participation is essential for lasting change, she acts as a delegate at the United Nations representing youth voices back home in Aotearoa.

Motivated by the legacy of her best friend and a promise to create hope, Sharon works to highlight the reciprocal relationship between human wellbeing and the health of our planet.

She is one of many incredible young leaders shaping a better, more sustainable future.