Dr Iki Mafi Uele received the inaugural Inspiring Minds Award, which celebrates teaching excellence in accounting, at the 2026 Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference.
University of Otago Accounting lecturer Dr Iki Mafi Uele has been recognised for his creative approach to teaching, receiving the inaugural Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) Inspiring Minds Award.
Presented at the recent 2026 Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand (AFAANZ) Conference in Melbourne, the award celebrates excellence in first-year accounting education and recognises educators who inspire student success through innovative teaching and learning.
The judges recognised Iki for his commitment to enhancing student engagement, creating an inclusive learning environment and supporting students from diverse backgrounds to see accounting as an accessible and rewarding discipline.
“I sought to cultivate an intellectually rigorous and enabling learning environment, grounded in progressivism, an ethic of care, and an andragogical commitment to developing confident, autonomous and critically discerning learners,” Iki says.
“This recognition also reflects the Otago Business School’s commitment to educational excellence. As a gateway paper, BSNS115 plays a pivotal role in shaping students’ earliest University experience and equipping them with the confidence, judgement and adaptability to thrive in an increasingly complex business landscape.”
Otago Deputy Vice-Chancellor Pacific Dianne Sika-Paotonu says the award is a well-deserved recognition of Iki’s outstanding commitment to teaching excellence and his dedication towards supporting student success.
“Dr Uele joined the Otago Business School as a Lecturer in the Accountancy and Finance Department in 2023 and has established himself as an exceptional educator and mentor. His commitment towards making his teaching relevant and rewarding, as well as his genuine care for his students has had a significant impact on the student experience,” Dianne says.
“His success is a testament not only to his excellence as an educator but also to the positive difference he is making in the lives of his students.
“We are immensely proud of his achievements and warmly congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition,” she says.
Iki was one of two inaugural award recipients, alongside a team from Adelaide University recognised for their collective initiative teaching persistence in first-year accounting.
The recipients were acknowledged for their passion, creativity and commitment to creating positive learning outcomes across Australia and New Zealand.
– Talanoa by Pacific Communications Adviser Viena Faiva
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