Baragwanath receiving the Blake Leader Award

Amanda Jane "Minnie" Baragwanath MNZM is a disability advocate from New Zealand.[1] In 2011, she founded Be. Accessible, a social enterprise which aims to make New Zealand accessible and inclusive for all people with disabilities.[2][3]

Biography

Baragwanath grew up in Palmerston North.[4] When she was 14 years old, she was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, an incurable disease of the eyes which caused her to lose her sight.[2] Baragwanath studied at Massey University and completed a bachelor's degree in English literature, a bachelor of communication studies and a graduate diploma in economic development.[2]

In 2011, Baragwanath founded Be. Accessible, and Be. Leadership as a subproject. Be. Leadership focused on providing leadership development programmes for disabled New Zealanders.[5] In 2019 she renamed the organisation Be. Lab and established the Centre of Possibility at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).[6] At the Centre of Possibility Baragwanath works with AUT researchers and academics in the field of possibility design and innovation.[6]

Recognition

In 2013, Baragwanath received the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award and in 2014 she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.[2][7] In 2017 she received the New Zealand Women of Influence Award for Diversity.[8] In 2019 she was named by Zonta International as one of 100 Women of Achievement in New Zealand for her leadership and advocacy for social change.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Amanda Baragwanath MNZM | The Governor-General of New Zealand". gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Disability advocate Minnie Baragwanath: losing my sight at 14 hasn't held me back". thisNZlife. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Meet Minnie Baragwanath, the woman leading the global accessibility change". Idealog. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Minnie Baragwanath to speak at Manawatū Zonta's Women's Day breakfast". NZ Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Be. Leadership 2012". www.scoop.co.nz. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Minnie Baragwanath". www.belab.co.nz. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Blind ambition: Brave Minnie's mighty battle". Now To Love. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "2017 Winners". Women of Influence. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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