New Zealand Women of Influence Awards
Annual awards in ten categories
The New Zealand Women of Influence Awards are an annual set of awards which recognise women who make a difference to everyday New Zealanders' lives. The Awards were first made in 2013 and were initially sponsored by Westpac Bank.[ 1] In 2016, Stuff NZ became a joint sponsor.
Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, winner of the 2020 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award
Nominations are invited from the public. A panel selects finalists in each category, who are invited to an awards dinner at the Aotea Centre in Auckland where the recipients are announced.[ 2] In 2021 the awards dinner was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Categories
The Awards were initially presented in seven categories; additional categories have since been introduced and as of 2020 the Awards are made in ten categories: Board and Management, Business Enterprise, Innovation and Science, Young Leader, Arts and Culture, Public Policy, Community and Not-for-profit, Diversity, Global and Rural. In addition, there is a Supreme Award, which is awarded each year, and a Lifetime Achievement Award, which has been awarded four times.[ 1] [ 3]
The category Innovation and Science was titled Science, Health and Innovation until 2019. In 2021 it was renamed Innovation, Science and Health.[ 4] The category Young Leader was titled Emerging Leader in 2013 and 2014. The category Arts and Culture was titled Arts in 2013 and 2014. The category Community and Not-for-Profit was titled Community and Social in 2013, Community in 2014 and Community Hero in 2021.[ 4]
The category Social Enterprise has been awarded once, in 2014. The category Local and Regional has been awarded twice, in 2013 and in 2014.[ 5]
In 2021, the category Global was not awarded, a category Environment was added and the category Rural was re-named Primary Industries.[ 6] [ 4]
Judges
Dame Silvia Cartwright is the head of the judging panel. On the 2020 panel with her were Sir John Kirwan , Vanisa Dhiru , Abbie Reynolds , Sinead Boucher and Gina Dellabarca.[ 7] In 2021 Francene Wineti replaced Sir John Kirwan on the panel.[ 8]
Recipients
Parris Goebel, winner of the 2015 Young Leader Award and the 2020 Arts and Culture Award
Year
Category
Recipient
Notes
2021
Supreme Woman of Influence
Bronwyn Hayward , expert on sustainability, climate change and youth
[ 6]
Lifetime Achievement
Dame Silvia Cartwright , New Zealand’s first female High Court judge and second female Governor-General
Board and Management
Cassandra Crowley , CEO of Te Arawa Management Limited
Business Enterprise
Jessie Wong, director of Yu Mei
Innovation, Science and Health
Bev Lawton , founder and director of Centre for Women’s Health Research – Te Tātai Hauora o Hine
Young Leader
Kate Gatfield-Jeffries, co-founder of Young Women in Business and Law mentoring groups
Arts and Culture
Qiane Matata-Sipu , founder and creator of NUKU
Public Policy
Melanie Mark-Shadbolt , Deputy Secretary Māori Rights and Interests, Ministry for the Environment
Diversity
Dana Youngman, television executive
Community Hero
Bernadette Pinnell, founder of Compass Housing Services
Primary Industries
Tia Potae, Whānau Ora navigator at Tokomairiro Waiora
Environment
Bronwyn Hayward
Year
Category
Recipient
Notes
2020
Supreme Woman of Influence
Siouxsie Wiles , microbiologist and leading Covid-19 commentator
[ 9]
Lifetime Achievement
Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban , New Zealand’s first female MP of Pacific Island descent
Board and Management
Dame Alison Paterson , businesswoman and company director
Business Enterprise
Sonya Williams and Brooke Roberts , co-founders of Sharesies
Innovation and Science
Siouxsie Wiles
Young Leader
Aigagalefili Fepulea'i Tapua'i , climate change and social equality campaigner
Arts and Culture
Parris Goebel , choreographer and dancer
Public Policy
Una Jagose , New Zealand Solicitor-General
Community and Not-for-Profit
Ranjna Patel , domestic violence campaigner
Diversity
Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'i , diplomat
Global
Jane Kelsey , lawyer and political scientist
Rural
Trish Fraser , soil scientist
Dame Jane Harding, winner of the 2019 Supreme Woman of Influence Award
Year
Category
Recipient
Notes
2019
Supreme Woman of Influence
Dame Jane Harding , medical researcher
[ 10] [ 11]
Board and Management
Abbie Reynolds , sustainable business leader
Business Enterprise
Brianne West , sustainable beauty entrepreneur and founder of Ethique
Innovation and Science
Dame Jane Harding
Young Leader
Annika Andresen, marine conservationist
Arts and Culture
Jennifer Ward-Lealand , actress
Public Policy
Debbie Sorensen, public health leader
Community and Not-for-Profit
Swanie Nelson, community organiser
Diversity
Tapu Misa , journalist
Global
Anne-Marie Brady , political scientist
Rural
Gina Mohi, environmental planner
Year
Category
Recipient
Notes
2018
Supreme Woman of Influence
Jackie Clark , of The Aunties , a charity working with domestic violence survivors in South Auckland
[ 12]
Lifetime Achievement
Theresa Gattung , businesswoman and former chief executive of Telecom New Zealand
Board and Management
Farah Palmer , former captain of New Zealand's women's rugby union team, the Black Ferns
Business Enterprise
Angie Judge, technology entrepreneur
[ 13]
Science, Health and Innovation
Wendy Larner , president of the Royal Society Te Apārangi
Young Leader
Maddison McQueen-Davies , founder of Share a Pair NZ
Arts and Culture
Miranda Harcourt , actress
Public Policy
Charlotte Korte , for creating Mesh Down Under
[ 12] [ 14]
Community and Not-for-Profit
Jackie Clark
Diversity
Sarah Lang, founder of Women's Infrastructure Network
[ 15]
Global
Sarah Vrede
Rural
Rebecca Keoghan
[ 16]
Hinemoa Elder, winner of the 2017 Science, Health and Innovation Award
Year
Category
Recipient
Notes
2017
Supreme Woman of Influence
Cecilia Robinson , founder of My Food Bag
[ 17]
Lifetime Achievement
Helen Clark , former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Board and Management
Anne-Maree O'Connor , investment banker
Business Enterprise
Cecilia Robinson
[ 18]
Science, Health and Innovation
Hinemoa Elder , youth forensic psychiatrist
Young Leader
Sharnay Cocup , founder of the Taupiri Youth Group Trust
Arts and Culture
Denise L'Estrange-Corbet , fashion designer
Public Policy
Rebecca Kitteridge , director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
Community and Not-for-Profit
Lisa King, founder of school lunch provider Eat My Lunch
Diversity
Minnie Baragwanath , founder of Be. Accessible, a social change agency focusing on changing how New Zealanders view accessibility
Global
Siân Simpson
Rural
Nicola Shadbolt , agricultural businesswoman
Mavis Mullins, winner of the 2016 Rural Award
Year
Category
Recipient
Notes
2016
Supreme Woman of Influence
Helen Robinson , businesswoman
[ 19]
Lifetime Achievement
Dame Rosanne Meo , businesswoman
Board and Management
Helen Robinson
Business Enterprise
Lisa King, founder of school lunch provider Eat My Lunch
Science, Health and Innovation
Michelle Dickinson , nanotechnologist and science educator
Young Leader
Alexia Hilbertidou , founder of GirlBoss NZ
Arts and Culture
Gaylene Preston , filmwriter, director and producer
Public Policy
Naomi Ferguson , Commissioner of Inland Revenue
Community and Not-for-Profit
Catriona Williams , founder of Catwalk Trust
Diversity
Sue Kedgley , Wellington politician
Global
Lyn Provost , Auditor-General of New Zealand
Rural
Mavis Mullins
Year
Category
Recipient
Notes
2015
Supreme Woman of Influence
Joan Withers , for her work campaigning for more women on boards and in business
[ 3]
Board and Management
Joan Withers
[ 20]
Business Enterprise
Linda Jenkinson, entrepreneur
Science, Health and Innovation
Frances Valintine , education futurist
Young Leader
Parris Goebel , choreographer and dancer
Arts and Culture
Victoria Spackman , creative director and business executive
Public Policy
Vicky Robertson , Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment and Secretary for the Environment
[ 5] [ 21]
Community and N
Stacey Shortall , volunteer lawyer in women's prisons
Diversity
Colonel Karyn Thompson , the most senior woman in the New Zealand Defence Force
Global
Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas , lawyer
Rural
Katie Milne , first woman president of Federated Farmers
[ 5] [ 19]
Mai Chen, winner of the 2013 Business Enterprise Award
See also
References