Celebrating Wintec wāhine: Nima Riini
International Women’s Day was on Wednesday this week and this year’s theme was #EmbraceEquity. Instead of celebrating for just one day, we decided to celebrate each day this week with a profile of a Wintec | Te Pūkenga kaimahi member or ākonga.
Nima Riini is the Wintec | Te Pūkenga Industry Relationship Manager, her role keeps her busy helping our students, on top of which she is also studying towards her master’s degree.
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Ngāti Awa te iwi
Ko Ngati Hokopū me Pahipoto ngā hapu
Ko Putauaki te maunga
Ko Rangitaiki me Whakatane ngā awa
Ko Hokowhitu me Kokohinau ngā marae
I whānau mai ahau ki Rotorua
I tipu ake ahau ki Horohoro
E noho ana ki Kirikiriroa
Ko Nima Riini toku ingoa
Tell us about your position at Wintec?
Where do I start? My role as Industry Relationship Manager (IRM) is broad, however I spend a great deal of time working with all business students preparing them for placements (work experience) in the following specialties: Administration, Accounting, Human Resource Management, Events, Supply Chain Operation and Production.
I spent a lot of time managing contracts and the relationship between industry and ākonga, there is a bit of teaching in the mix and towards the end of each placement I try and complete site visits. Last year I worked with several students who were interested in employment and internships abroad, particularly in the US, Japan, and Chile.
I am also studying towards a Master of Management in Human Resource Management (HRM) at the University of Waikato, which is something I have never thought of pursuing but am enjoying the journey that I am on.
Before I joined the Wintec whānau, I was a full-time student studying towards a Bachelor of Applied Management majoring in Human Resource Management and Events Management here at Wintec. I also worked part-time as an assistant at Drake Recruitment, became the president of the Student Association of Wintec (SAWIT), coached a junior basketball team, all while raising my daughter Tesrne. Fair to say life is a little less chaotic now.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Basketball and Netball have always been my go-to sport of choice, however, after 2 ACL reconstructions I've had to seek alternative sports to stay fit. Roughly about four years ago a good friend of mine introduced me to Waka Ama and Dragon Boat and I haven't looked back since. And spending quality time with my whānau is something that I enjoy doing and hold very important to me.
What makes you passionate about your area of work/study and would you encourage other women to get into your line of work/study?
In terms of my role as an Industry Relationship Manager, it's the student success stories, and the relationships I have formed between ākonga and Industry this is what I'm passionate about. Yes, I would encourage anyone who has the ability to work with all walks of life and create opportunities for students.
Do you have a favourite quote that inspires you?
No, but I do want to acknowledge my whānau and loved ones who now watch over me. They are my inspiration and I owe it all to them for shaping me into the person I am today.
If you were a crayon, what colour would you be and why?
The colour I would choose to best represent me, and my skill set would be blue, why? The colour blue represents a sense of calm, carefulness, loyalty, trust, responsibility, stability, and congeniality.
What are you most proud of?
Being a mum, I love being a mum even though the teenage years can be challenging at times lol, and I'm proud to be Māori.
Anything interesting or a fun fact about yourself that you want to add?
Back in 2016, I received an Erasmus Scholarship to study business at Kozminski, a private University in Poland. It was one of the hardest decisions to make, as it meant leaving my whānau for 6 months. But it was the best experience ever. I am the youngest of four and I am the first in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree.
