Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Helen Clark wins Kea World Class New Zealand Award

Helen Clark wins Kea World Class New Zealand Award


Helen Clark has added to her lengthy list of accolades by winning the Supreme Award at Kea’s 2015 World Class New Zealand Awards.

The former Prime Minister was awarded the top honour at a black tie VIP awards ceremony held at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre on Auckland’s waterfront.

Clark made history in 1999 by becoming the first woman ever elected Prime Minister of New Zealand, leading the country through three Parliamentary terms until 2008.

Following her 28-year career in Parliament Clark moved to New York to take up the role of Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, one of the highest-ranked positions at the UN.

Kea CEO Craig Donaldson says the World Class New Zealand Award winners are world leaders in their respective fields and are tremendous assets to New Zealand, wherever they live in the world.

“Helen Clark is a remarkable and inspiring Kiwi who is making her mark on the global stage yet maintains close links with New Zealand,” he says.

“Kea’s global network has a community of over half a million, including expats, returned Kiwis and friends of New Zealand. This network holds huge value for all New Zealanders, especially when it comes to promoting New Zealand internationally and building global connections for businesses.”

The World Class New Zealand awards are presented by Kea New Zealand and recognise New Zealand’s tallest poppies.

Each World Class New Zealand Award winner receives a Tall Poppy statuette designed by Weta Workshop co-founder and 2009 Supreme Award winner Sir Richard Taylor.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

As well as the supreme award winner, the ceremony also awarded four World Class New Zealand Award winners and one Friend of New Zealand Award winner.

The other World Class New Zealand Award winners were businesswoman and philanthropist Audette Exel, tech entrepreneur Victoria Ransom, renowned plastic surgeon and medical research Dr Swee Tan and former Olympian Beatrice Faumuina.

Exel is the founder of Adara Group, which uses the profits from its business activities to fund its charitable programmes combating poverty in places like Nepal.

Ransom is best known for creating the social media platform Wildfire, which she sold to Google in 2012. She now works for Google.

Faumuina, the first New Zealander of Pacific Island heritage to win a World Class New Zealand Award, was a world champion discus thrower and has become a business and community leader.

She is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, was the founding CEO of the BEST Pasifika Leadership Academy and Charitable Foundation and is now Head of Talent and People Strategy for ASB Bank.

Malaysian-born Kiwi Dr Swee Tan is a renowned plastic surgeon and is the Executive Director of the not-for-profit Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, making breakthroughs in the treatment of birthmarks that have excited the scientific community.

The event also saw Malaysian businessman Tan Sri Halim Saad honoured with the Friend of New Zealand Award for his services to New Zealand and his work building the connection to Malaysia.

A graduate of Victoria University, he founded the Saad Foundation that sponsors the annual Saad Lecture that aims to promote greater awareness and understanding of Malaysia and its people in New Zealand.

The 2015 winners are:

NameAwardAccomplishmentsResides
Helen ClarkSupreme Winner, presented by AUTAdministrator of the UN Development Programme

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand

New York,

USA

Audette ExelWCNZ Award winner, presented by Prestige ConsultingFounder of social enterprise-based investment company Adara Group

Numerous awards for charity work in Nepal and Uganda

Australia
Beatrice FaumuinaWCNZ Award winner, presented by Air New ZealandOlympian

United Nations Goodwill Ambassador

Champion of Pasifika leadership and business

Auckland, New Zealand
Victoria RansomWCNZ Award winner, presented by Spark DigitalUS-based serial entrepreneur, founder of social media tool Wildfire, senior Google execCalifornia,

USA

Dr Swee TanWCNZ Award winner, presented by AJ ParkWorld-leading plastic and cranio-maxillofacial surgeon

Executive Director of Gillies McIndoe Research Institute

Wellington,

New Zealand

Tan Sri Halim SaadFriend of New Zealand winner, presented by ANZLeading Malaysian businessman

Helped forge closer business and educational ties between New Zealand and Malaysia

Malaysia

This year’s judging panel featured:

• Margaret Brimble CNZM

• Peri Drysdale MBE

• Andrew Ferrier

• Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas DBE

• Craig Nevill-Manning

• Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM, QSO, KStJ

• Dame Kiri Te Kanawa ONZ, DBE, AC

• Phil Veal (Chairman of panel)

Kea’s Global Chairman Phil Veal, who chaired the judging panel, says the World Class New Zealand Awards showcase the best talent New Zealand has to offer. “The Kea network has created a borderless nation that enables New Zealand to benefit from all the amazing things Kiwis are doing around the world. It also keeps us in touch with Friends of New Zealand who have a strong connection to our country,” he says.

“The World Class New Zealand network gives access to the experience and knowledge of some of the highest-achieving Kiwis around the world. Making the most of the connection to these talented people is good for New Zealand’s economy and society.”

The awards are judged using a rigorous selection process. Nominees are evaluated against five main criteria with a strong focus on promoting New Zealand internationally, building global connections with New Zealand and facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge and skills from and about New Zealand.

Ends


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.