An address by Mike Seawright
Mike Seawright, Founder and Executive Director ReliefAid
Thursday, 4 June 2026 2:00pm
Hawke's Bay
Havelock North Club, 8 Campbell Street, Havelock North
Since leaving the corporate world behind over two decades ago, Mike has been delivering humanitarian assistance to families living in the world’s conflict zones. He has provided medical aid in Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan and Pakistan, economic development and energy projects in Afghanistan and most recently emergency humanitarian aid, leading multiple interventions in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Frustrated that not enough was being done to help families affected by war and conflict Mike founded ReliefAid. With a simple vision of helping families who had no one else to turn to, ReliefAid has delivered life-saving aid to over 1.6 million people in war-torn Gaza, Syria, Lebanon Afghanistan, and Ukraine, and they are not stopping there.
While his work surrounds him in war and conflict Mike counts himself lucky to bear witness to what he calls “the very best of humanity”. When not travelling to oversee ReliefAid’s international interventions he lives in Auckland with his family.
The usual door charge of $8 will apply, to cover venue hire and afternoon tea costs
Since leaving the corporate world behind over two decades ago, Mike has been delivering humanitarian assistance to families living in the world’s conflict zones. He has provided medical aid in Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan and Pakistan, economic development and energy projects in Afghanistan and most recently emergency humanitarian aid, leading multiple interventions in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Frustrated that not enough was being done to help families affected by war and conflict Mike founded ReliefAid. With a simple vision of helping families who had no one else to turn to, ReliefAid has delivered life-saving aid to over 1.6 million people in war-torn Gaza, Syria, Lebanon Afghanistan, and Ukraine, and they are not stopping there.
While his work surrounds him in war and conflict Mike counts himself lucky to bear witness to what he calls “the very best of humanity”. When not travelling to oversee ReliefAid’s international interventions he lives in Auckland with his family.
The usual door charge of $8 will apply, to cover venue hire and afternoon tea costs
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