Queen's Birthday weekend had more than the usual significance for Brad Olsen this year – as well as preparing for upcoming university exams, the BCom student was also studying protocols around meeting the Queen.

Queen's Birthday weekend had more than the usual significance for Brad Olsen this year – as well as preparing for upcoming university exams, the BCom student was also studying protocols around meeting the Queen.

The second-year Victoria Business School student has been selected as one of sixty young leaders to receive The Queen's Young Leaders Award from Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace.

Brad is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce in Public Policy and Economics, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science. He will sit three of his four exams earlier in order to take part in the Award's 'residential week' trip to England later this month.

Brad and the other recipients will have a full schedule of workshops, seminars and lectures, including visiting the Prime Minister's office No 10 Downing Street, the BBC World Service and the University of Cambridge. The Award also offers a year-long online leadership programme, run from the University of Cambridge.

Brad was taking part in a TacklingPovertyNZ workshop when he received the call announcing he had been selected. "I was blown away. It's an incredible opportunity. I only applied two hours before the deadline."

The Queen's Young Leaders Award recognises "exceptional young people in the Commonwealth", and the residential week aims to help the recipients continue developing work they are doing in their communities.

Brad says his selection validates the work he's been doing in youth advocacy for the last five years.

During that time he has been a youth representative for a number of government departments, national organisations and local government committees, including the National Youth Advisory Group and UNICEF New Zealand.

While studying at Whangarei Boys' High School, he was on the local council's Youth Advisory Group and helped set up a free healthcare clinic for young people.

Brad intends to work in the public service.

"I'm passionate about youth participation and engagement. We all have a stake in society and shaping our own lives, but there's a number of people who don't have the ability to see the opportunities out there, or don't have the ability to access them. I want to use my skills to help change that."

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