New Zealand Women of Influence Awards


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. In 2016, Stuff NZ became a joint sponsor.
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. In 2021 the awards dinner was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
WWW womenofinfluence.co.nz

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.
The category Innovation and Science was titled Science, Health and Innovation until 2019. In 2021 it was renamed Innovation, Science and Health. 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.
The category Social Enterprise has been awarded once, in 2014. The category Local and Regional has been awarded twice, in 2013 and in 2014.
In 2021, the category Global was not awarded, a category Environment was added and the category Rural was re-named Primary Industries.

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. In 2021 Francene Wineti replaced Sir John Kirwan on the panel.

Recipients

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2021Supreme Woman of InfluenceBronwyn Hayward, expert on sustainability, climate change and youth
2021Lifetime AchievementDame Silvia Cartwright, New Zealand’s first female High Court judge and second female Governor-General
2021Board and ManagementCassandra Crowley, CEO of Te Arawa Management Limited
2021Business EnterpriseJessie Wong, director of Yu Mei
2021Innovation, Science and HealthBev Lawton, founder and director of Centre for Women’s Health Research – Te Tātai Hauora o Hine
2021Young LeaderKate Gatfield-Jeffries, co-founder of Young Women in Business and Law mentoring groups
2021Arts and CultureQiane Matata-Sipu, founder and creator of NUKU
2021Public PolicyMelanie Mark-Shadbolt, Deputy Secretary Māori Rights and Interests, Ministry for the Environment
2021DiversityDana Youngman, television executive
2021Community HeroBernadette Pinnell, founder of Compass Housing Services
2021Primary IndustriesTia Potae, Whānau Ora navigator at Tokomairiro Waiora
2021EnvironmentBronwyn Hayward

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2019Supreme Woman of InfluenceDame Jane Harding, medical researcher
2019Board and ManagementAbbie Reynolds, sustainable business leader
2019Business EnterpriseBrianne West, sustainable beauty entrepreneur and founder of Ethique
2019Innovation and ScienceDame Jane Harding
2019Young LeaderAnnika Andresen, marine conservationist
2019Arts and CultureJennifer Ward-Lealand, actress
2019Public PolicyDebbie Sorensen, public health leader
2019Community and Not-for-ProfitSwanie Nelson, community organiser
2019DiversityTapu Misa, journalist
2019GlobalAnne-Marie Brady, political scientist
2019RuralGina Mohi, environmental planner

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2018Supreme Woman of InfluenceJackie Clark, of The Aunties, a charity working with domestic violence survivors in South Auckland
2018Lifetime AchievementTheresa Gattung, businesswoman and former chief executive of Telecom New Zealand
2018Board and ManagementFarah Palmer, former captain of New Zealand's women's rugby union team, the Black Ferns
2018Business EnterpriseAngie Judge, technology entrepreneur
2018Science, Health and InnovationWendy Larner, president of the Royal Society Te Apārangi
2018Young LeaderMaddison McQueen-Davies, founder of Share a Pair NZ
2018Arts and CultureMiranda Harcourt, actress
2018Public PolicyCharlotte Korte, for creating Mesh Down Under
2018Community and Not-for-ProfitJackie Clark
2018DiversitySarah Lang, founder of Women's Infrastructure Network
2018GlobalSarah Vrede
2018RuralRebecca Keoghan

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2017Supreme Woman of InfluenceCecilia Robinson, founder of My Food Bag
2017Lifetime AchievementHelen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand
2017Board and ManagementAnne-Maree O'Connor, investment banker
2017Business EnterpriseCecilia Robinson
2017Science, Health and InnovationHinemoa Elder, youth forensic psychiatrist
2017Young LeaderSharnay Cocup, founder of the Taupiri Youth Group Trust
2017Arts and CultureDenise L'Estrange-Corbet, fashion designer
2017Public PolicyRebecca Kitteridge, director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
2017Community and Not-for-ProfitLisa King, founder of school lunch provider Eat My Lunch
2017DiversityMinnie Baragwanath, founder of Be. Accessible, a social change agency focusing on changing how New Zealanders view accessibility
2017GlobalSiân Simpson
2017RuralNicola Shadbolt, agricultural businesswoman

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2016Supreme Woman of InfluenceHelen Robinson, businesswoman
2016Lifetime AchievementDame Rosanne Meo, businesswoman
2016Board and ManagementHelen Robinson
2016Business EnterpriseLisa King, founder of school lunch provider Eat My Lunch
2016Science, Health and InnovationMichelle Dickinson, nanotechnologist and science educator
2016Young LeaderAlexia Hilbertidou, founder of GirlBoss NZ
2016Arts and CultureGaylene Preston, filmwriter, director and producer
2016Public PolicyNaomi Ferguson, Commissioner of Inland Revenue
2016Community and Not-for-ProfitCatriona Williams, founder of Catwalk Trust
2016DiversitySue Kedgley, Wellington politician
2016GlobalLyn Provost, Auditor-General of New Zealand
2016RuralMavis Mullins

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2015Supreme Woman of InfluenceJoan Withers, for her work campaigning for more women on boards and in business
2015Board and ManagementJoan Withers
2015Business EnterpriseLinda Jenkinson, entrepreneur
2015Science, Health and InnovationFrances Valintine, education futurist
2015Young LeaderParris Goebel, choreographer and dancer
2015Arts and CultureVictoria Spackman, creative director and business executive
2015Public PolicyVicky Robertson, Chief Executive of the Ministry for the Environment and Secretary for the Environment
2015Community and NStacey Shortall, volunteer lawyer in women's prisons
2015DiversityColonel Karyn Thompson, the most senior woman in the New Zealand Defence Force
2015GlobalDame Judith Mayhew Jonas, lawyer
2015RuralKatie Milne, first woman president of Federated Farmers

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2014Supreme Woman of InfluenceLesley Elliott, for her work at the Sophie Elliott Foundation, which educates New Zealanders on healthy relationships
2014Board and ManagementTraci Houpapa, company director
2014Business EnterpriseDame Wendy Pye, publisher
2014Science, Health and InnovationDame Margaret Brimble, chemist
2014Emerging LeaderParris Goebel, choreographer and dancer
2014ArtsShona McCullagh, choreographer and founding director of the New Zealand Dance Company
2014CommunityLesley Elliott
2014Local and RegionalKerry Prendergast, Wellington politician
2014Social EnterpriseJo-anne Wilkinson and Anne Miles

YearCategoryRecipientNotes
2013Supreme Woman of InfluenceDame Therese Walsh, chief operating officer for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2013Board and ManagementDame Therese Walsh
2013Business EnterpriseMai Chen, constitutional and administrative lawyer
2013Science, Health and InnovationMarilyn Waring, public policy scholar
2013Emerging LeaderMahsa Mohaghegh, founder of women's networking group She Sharp
2013ArtsVictoria Spackman, creative director and business executive
2013Community and SocialEmeline Afeaki-Mafile'o, community leader
2013Local and RegionalFran Wilde, Wellington politician