Kea Founders and Humble Humanitarian Honoured

On Kea New Zealand’s tenth anniversary, its founders Sir Stephen Tindall and Dr David Teece were honoured at the World Class New Zealand Awards 2011 held last week in Auckland (click here to listen to Sir Stephen’s thoughts on the night).

An audience of over 600 international business people, senior Ministers and officials paid tribute to the founding directors, whose vision was vital to the successful establishment of Kea.

The annual black-tie event honoured nine Award recipients including seven of New Zealand’s leading entrepreneurs and innovators who have excelled at the highest levels in their chosen field, and also the Supreme and Friend of NZ Awardees. This year’s Supreme award was presented to Ophthalmologist Dr Howard Harper.

Dr Harper has dedicated his life to restoring sight to tens of thousands of people in some of the most hostile countries in the world and is one of New Zealand’s greatest, yet least known humanitarians (click here to read more about Dr. Harper’s achievements).

For only the second time, a ‘Friend of New Zealand’ award was presented to a non-New Zealander who is working to build global connections and support New Zealand businesses internationally.

The Rt Hon Lord Denman has quietly contributed to New Zealand in the most effective and meaningful ways for more than 40 years. He has worked behind the scenes opening doors for some of our biggest and most successful companies, sharing his networks and expertise in the Middle East and the United Kingdom (click here to listen to Lord Denman’s thoughts on receiving this accolade).

Selected photos from the night can be viewed here and interviews with each of the award winners can be viewed in video format here.

World Class New Zealand 2011 Presentation Days

The awards were the key event of World Class New Zealand Inspire Week, which also included two presentation days in Wellington and Auckland.

The Presentations Days were an opportunity for entrepreneurs, students, corporates, managers and business owners to hear inspirational World Class New Zealanders, offer valuable thought leadership, business insights and inspiration as New Zealand’s leading global business thinkers.

Videos of the 2011 Presentations can be found here.

World Class New Zealand Awards 2011

The awards, which are presented by Kea New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, aim to recognise extraordinary New Zealanders who have made significant contributions to the country’s growth and development.

Nominees for the awards are evaluated against five main criteria, with the focus on promoting New Zealand internationally, building global connections, and facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge and skills from and about the country.

The category winners of the 2011 World Class New Zealand Awards are:

Creative: Dr Michael Stedman, a television pioneer who has built Natural History New Zealand into a world-leading documentary maker.

Information & Communications: Michael Boustridge, head of BT Global Services, a $US9 billion business in 176 countries.

Finance & Investment: Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas, lawyer and powerbroker in the upper echelons of the British establishment.

Life Sciences: Professor Bob Elliott, a world leader in the treatment of type-1 diabetes.

Manufacturing, Design & Innovation: Sir George Fistonich, the founder of Villa Maria Estate winery and leading force in the country’s wine industry.

New Thinking: Sam Morgan, founder of Trade Me, co-founder of Pacific Fibre, active software investor and philanthropist.

Science, Technology & Academia: Dame Professor Anne Salmond, historian and writer who has helped define and shape our historical understanding of New Zealand.