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 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-GeneralBoard and Management Cassandra Crowley , CEO of Te Arawa Management LimitedBusiness 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 HineYoung 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 NUKUPublic 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 directorBusiness Enterprise Sonya Williams and Brooke Roberts , co-founders of SharesiesInnovation and Science Siouxsie Wiles Young Leader Aigagalefili Fepulea'i Tapua'i , climate change and social equality campaignerArts and Culture Parris Goebel , choreographer and dancerPublic Policy Una Jagose , New Zealand Solicitor-GeneralCommunity and Not-for-Profit Ranjna Patel , domestic violence campaignerDiversity Tupe Solomon-Tanoa'i, diplomat Global Jane Kelsey , lawyer and political scientistRural 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 leaderBusiness 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 , actressPublic Policy Debbie Sorensen, public health leader Community and Not-for-Profit Swanie Nelson, community organiser Diversity Tapu Misa , journalistGlobal Anne-Marie Brady , political scientistRural 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 , actressPublic 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 ZealandBoard and Management Anne-Maree O'Connor , investment bankerBusiness Enterprise Cecilia Robinson [18] Science, Health and Innovation Hinemoa Elder , youth forensic psychiatristYoung Leader Sharnay Cocup, founder of the Taupiri Youth Group Trust Arts and Culture Denise L'Estrange-Corbet , fashion designerPublic 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 accessibilityGlobal 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 , businesswomanBoard 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 educatorYoung Leader Alexia Hilbertidou , founder of GirlBoss NZArts and Culture Gaylene Preston , filmwriter, director and producerPublic Policy Naomi Ferguson , Commissioner of Inland RevenueCommunity and Not-for-Profit Catriona Williams, founder of Catwalk Trust Diversity Sue Kedgley , Wellington politicianGlobal Lyn Provost , Auditor-General of New ZealandRural 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 futuristYoung Leader Parris Goebel , choreographer and dancerArts and Culture Victoria Spackman , creative director and business executivePublic 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 prisonsDiversity Colonel Karyn Thompson, the most senior woman in the New Zealand Defence Force Global Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas , lawyerRural Katie Milne , first woman president of Federated Farmers [5] [19]
Mai Chen, winner of the 2013 Business Enterprise Award See also References