DJ Mills was the winner of the 2024 Diabetes New Zealand John McLaren Youth Award in the Arts category. He is an aspiring Formula 1 photographer, and has used the award money to further his dream career. Read more in our interview.

Formula 1 Grand Prix - Melbourne, March 2025

We caught up with DJ in early May 2025…

So DJ, what inspired you to apply for the John McLaren Award?

I learnt about the awards after I had some people suggest that I enter it. After doing some research on past winners and the awards itself I decided to apply for the Arts category so that I could use the awards to help with achieving my lifetime goal of being a Formula 1 photographer.

Can you give an update on what has happened since you won it?

Since I won the award, I have been able to attend the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne and as a result, was able to get images to use for my portfolio, see how the event is run and gain ideas that I can use towards my Formula 1 Media Accreditation Application.

DJ attended one of the Diabetes New Zealand summer camps in 2025 as a mentor

I am looking at possibly attending another Grand Prix later this year, providing my accreditation application is accepted, and in the meantime, I recently shot the V8 Supercars ITM Super 440 in Taupo. That not only taught me a lot, but I made some valuable contacts and am exploring the idea of shooting more of that series in Australia.

What would you say to others thinking of applying for the award?

I’d say to give it a crack! I was never expecting to win the award when I applied and I still remember the day I got the phone call with the news I had won it! Since then, it has helped me tremendously to achieve my goals as well as gain some useful knowledge that’ll help me further my career.

What would your top piece of advice be for a young person who has just been diagnosed with diabetes?

To anyone with diabetes – embrace it! Show off all the technology we now have. Even make jokes about it – I jokingly tell people that my CGM/pump is a Wi-Fi router and they often fall for it! But most importantly, don’t let diabetes hold you back!

You can see more of DJ’s amazing photography on Instagram: @djmillsy

DNZ Awards: DJ's story

So DJ, what inspired you to apply for the John McLaren Award?

Can you give an update on what has happened since you won it?

What would you say to others thinking of applying for the award?

What would your top piece of advice be for a young person who has just been diagnosed with diabetes?