 | ||
The New Zealand Women of Influence Award is an annual set of awards which recognises women who make a difference to everyday New Zealanders' lives. The Awards were first made in 2013 and were initially sponsored by Westpac Bank. In 2016, Fairfax Media became a joint sponsor.
Contents
- Supreme Woman of Influence
- Lifetime Achievement
- Board and Management
- Business Enterprise
- Innovation
- Young Leader
- Arts and Culture
- Public Policy
- Community and not for profit
- Diversity
- Global
- Rural
- Local and regional
- Social enterprise
- References
The Awards were initially presented in five categories. As of 2016, they are made in ten categories: Board and Management, Business Enterprise, Innovation, Young Leader, Arts and Culture, Public Policy, Community and not-for-profit, Diversity, Global and Rural. A Local and Regional Award was also made in 2013 and 2014. In addition, there is a Supreme Award. In 2016, an additional award, Lifetime Achievement, was introduced.
Nominations are invited from the public, and a selection panel makes the final decisions on award recipients.
Supreme Woman of Influence
Helen Robinson won the Supreme Award in 2016. Joan Withers won the 2015 Supreme Award for her work campaigning for more women on boards and in business. The 2014 Supreme winner was Lesley Elliott for her work at the Sophie Elliott Foundation, which educates New Zealanders on healthy relationships. Dame Therese Walsh, chief operating officer for Rugby New Zealand 2011, received the Supreme Award in 2013.
Lifetime Achievement
This award was introduced in 2016 and awarded to Dame Rosanne Meo.
Board and Management
The 2016 winner was businesswoman Helen Robinson, who was also the winner of the Supreme Award. The 2015 winner was Joan Withers, who also won the Supreme Award. The 2014 winner was Traci Houpapa. The 2013 winner was also the winner of the Supreme Award, Dame Therese Walsh.
Business Enterprise
The 2016 winner for business entrepreneurship was Lisa King. The 2015 winner was Linda Jenkinson. In 2014 the winner was Dame Wendy Pye. The 2013 winner was lawyer Mai Chen.
Innovation
The 2016 winner was scientist Michelle Dickinson. The 2015 winner was education futurist Frances Valintine. The 2014 winner was chemist Margaret Brimble. The 2013 winner was Marilyn Waring.
Young Leader
In 2013 and 2014 this category was "Emerging Leader". The 2014 winner was Althea Carbon, and the 2013 winner was Mahsa Mohaghegh.
In 2015 it was renamed "Young Leader" and the winner was hip hop choreographer Parris Goebel. The 2016 winner was Alexia Hilbertidou, the founder of GirlBoss NZ.
Arts and Culture
The 2016 winner was filmwriter, director and producer Gaylene Preston. The 2015 winner was Victoria Spackman.
Public Policy
The 2016 winner was Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Naomi Ferguson. This category was new in 2015; the winner was Vicky Robertson.
Community and not-for-profit
This category was originally titled "Community and Social" (in 2013), renamed "Community" in 2014, and is currently titled "Community and not-for-profit".
The 2016 winner was Catriona Williams. The 2015 winner was Stacey Shortall. The 2014 winner was also the Supreme Award winner, Lesley Elliott. The 2013 winner was Emeline Afeaki-Mafile'o.
Diversity
The 2016 winner was Wellington politician Sue Kedgley. The 2015 winner was Colonel Karyn Thompson, the most senior woman in the New Zealand Defence Force.
Global
The 2016 winner was New Zealand's auditor-general, Lyn Provost. The 2015 winner was London-based lawyer Judith Mayhew Jonas.
Rural
The 20166 winner was Mavis Mullins; the 2015 winner was Katie Milne.
Local and regional
This award has been made twice: in 2014 the winner was Wellington politician Kerry Prendergast, and in 2013, another Wellington politician, Fran Wilde.
Social enterprise
This award has been made once, in 2014, when it was presented jointly to Jo-anne Wilkinson and Anne Miles.