‘World class’ Kiwis recognised with annual awards

February 19, 2007

Some of New Zealand’s most successful business and science leaders have been recognised with World Class New Zealand awards, with category winners announced today by expat association Kea and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).

The awards recognise successful New Zealanders who give their time, knowledge and skills to help New Zealand companies and industries succeed internationally. Now in their fourth year, the awards have become one of the country’s key accolades.

The World Class New Zealand supreme award winner will be kept under wraps until a black-tie event on Thursday, 15 March at the SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland.  The supreme award winner, together with the six category winners, will receive ‘Tall Poppy’ statuettes designed by Oscar-winning Weta Workshop’s Richard Taylor.

The category award winners for 2007 are:

• Dr John Bedbrook: Vice President Research and Development, DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition (biotechnology)
• Dr Paul Callaghan: Director MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (research, science, technology and academia)
• Ralph Norris: CEO, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (finance, investment and business services)
• Brian Peace: Founder Peace Software (information and communications technology)
• Kevin Roberts: CEO, Saatchi and Saatchi Global (creative industries)
• Geoff Ross: CEO, 42 Below Ltd (manufacturing).

“We’re extremely thrilled to have the opportunity to honour these six outstanding ‘World Class New Zealanders’. Their ongoing contribution to New Zealand both at home and internationally is enormous. Their individual successes should be seen as an example for young New Zealanders looking to pursue careers in business and academia offshore and here at home.

“It is especially heartening to see the degree to which all the winners have maintained their connections to New Zealand helping to support the growth and development of our country on the international stage,” says Mr Tindall.

NZTE Chief Executive Tim Gibson says, "The awards are an exciting opportunity to recognise people reflecting, and actively promoting, a world-class New Zealand to the world."

The World Class New Zealand Awards are being held during NZTE's newthinking week '07.  This is a key event in the Export Year 07 calendar, and is designed to bring together some of New Zealand’s leading organisations in enterprise and business development, and showcase New Zealand innovation in a range of sectors.

Click here to find out more about the category winners.

Notes to editors:

• The World Class New Zealand Awards dinner will be held on Thursday, 15 March 2007.
• All category winners, excluding Kevin Roberts, will be present at the awards dinner. 
• Biographical information about the category award winners follows this release – photos are also available of the winners.

For interviews with the category award winners, or for more information, contact:
Jane Cotty
Kea New Zealand 
Phone: 021 449 146 
Jane@keanewzealand.com

Distributed by Kate Porter, Communications Consultant, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.  Ph (09) 915 4224 or 027 211 2025.  Email: kate.porter@nzte.govt.nz