This is the second time Alexia has received an AIMES Award from the North Harbour Club. She was a recipient of an AIMES Emerging Talent Award in 2016. Back then Alexia was in her final year at Albany Senior High School. Her aim was "to take a gap year in 2017 to focus on her organisation. This will include touring the country and establishing Tech and Leadership Workshops for young people throughout New Zealand.”

18 year-old Alexia has delivered on those plans. In 2017 she has taken the bold step of working on her social enterprise initiative full time. Alexia is the founder and CEO of GirlBoss, an organisation with one key mission in mind - to inspire, empower and equip New Zealand girls to become the change makers of the future.
GirlBoss encourages girls to:- Embrace male-dominated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) fields; Develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills; Connect with other like-minded youth; Aid and enable their communities. It’s aimed at supporting young women from 13 to 18 years-old into STEM careers. It is New Zealand’s second largest young women’s network with around 8000 members.
“I might have studied at university with others my age, or even worked at a large company so that I could make mistakes and learn on someone else’s watch,” said Alexia in her 2017 AIMES Award application. “But I have discovered my ‘why’ and it compels me."
“Every day New Zealand women of all ages sign up to become GirlBoss members and supporters. They are united by the understanding that if we are going to improve outcomes for women we will need to work hard and be there for each other.”
Recently Alexia received this email from a student. "I am very fortunate to be a recipient of the Vice Chancellors Significant Student Scholarship and a Microsoft Student Partner. All this would not have been possible without the motivation and determination that the GirlBoss community has given me.”
“Whether it is in a change of direction, a determination to stick to the hard path or in setting up GirlBoss clubs in their school, it is these ripples of impact which remind me that GirlBoss is making a difference,” says Alexia.
Alexia lists her recent milestones as:- Doing an internship at New Zealand Treasury, she led a comprehensive research project investigating diversity practices in the public sector; Working with Brisbane Girls High School to launch the Australian version of GirlBoss (ChangeMakeHer); Being selected by United States Ambassador Scott Brown and NASA to be part of their Stratospheric Obsevatory for Infrared Astronomy Project (SOFIA). This involved being onboard NASA’s 747 (the world’s largest flying observatory) during a mission to seek out new stars and planets; Presenting my project to expand GirlBoss internationally at the Future of Work Conference in Malaga (Spain), New Zealand’s first Eisenhower young fellow to do so; Being named a 2017 Global Teen Leader and representing New Zealand at the 7-Day Just Peace Summit in New York; Assisting Dr Michelle Dickinson and Joe Davis (of Nanogirl Labs) with the running and performance of science shows.
Future aspirations that Alexia has outlined are:- To cement the economic sustainability and impact of GirlBoss through workshops in schools, businesses and organisations across New Zealand; Launching GirlBoss Awards for 11-18 year-olds and have secured TradeMe as major sponsor and Derek Handley as a judge and advocate; Growing the GirlBoss mentoring programme through technology advancements (online mentoring etc.). Currently have 45 senior level executive women as mentors and are partnering with Mai Chen’s Super Diverse Women on a project.
“There are a number of key steps I could take which would enable me to make even more of an impact with GirlBoss,” explained Alexia, when quizzed on how she will spend her AIMES Awards grant money. “I would like technical assistance to setup online access between my mentors and my young GirlBosses. Membership and access to our monthly newsletter will always be free and funding allows me to provide these whilst I build up a sustainable business model. Funds would also enable me to exhibit at the 2018 Career’s Expo’s around New Zealand and the U-Learn Teachers conference – aimed at membership growth nationwide. They will also be used to help establish trademarks in new markets around the globe, such as China, Indonesia and the UK.”
Alexia has spoken at or promoted GirlBoss at around 40 schools and events to date in 2017. She has also been a finalist in, or won or received, no less than 16 awards or scholarships in 2016 and 2017.

Alexia Hilbertidou reflects on receiving the North Harbour Club AIMES Service to the Community Award, sponsored by Albany Toyota and a cash grant of $15,000:-

Receiving an AIMES Award was an incredible privilege and I truly felt a strong sense of community and support on the Awards Night. As the Gala Dinner coincided with Armistice Day, it was a powerful opportunity to honour the bravery of the men and women who fought in our wars. I would like to thank the North Harbour Club – the members, the sponsors, and the lifetime patrons. I believe in the unlimited possibilities for women to change the world. And in presenting me with this award you send a message which says that “you too believe in that potential.”

Who has had the biggest influence on your achievements to date and why?
My mother, because from a young age she introduced me to social equity and community involvement. She taught me that I am never too young to evoke change and to always take action when I see an injustice.

What will 2018 bring for you?
Thanks to the support of the North Harbour Club, with this AIMES Award, I am enabled to continue my work with GirlBoss New Zealand next year. We will be continuing to grow our membership and work towards our vision of every young women in New Zealand being part of the GirlBoss community. We will run our Changemakeher workshops in at least 35 high schools around the country.
Through receiving an AIMES Award I have seen how impactful an award scheme can be and hence, in 2018, we will be launching the GirlBoss Awards – a nationwide search for high school aged women creating change and defying stereotypes. Just like the AIMES Award winners, the GirlBoss Award winners will receive a cash grant, networking opportunities, and support.
I have been chosen as a 2018 Queen’s Young Leader. This is an award given to 60 Commonwealth community leaders per year. As a winner I will receive bespoke training, mentoring and networking opportunities, and will take part in a residential leadership development programme in London run by the University of Cambridge. In July, I will visit Buckingham Palace to be conferred with the award by Her Majesty the Queen.
In 2018, I will also relaunch our mentoring programme, host a GirlBoss conference, and organise a GirlBoss Fundraising Gala.