Seven of New Zealand’s leading entrepreneurs and innovators – people dedicated to enhancing the country’s reputation on the world stage – have been honoured in this year’s World Class New Zealand Awards.

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

Nominees 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: 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.

The Supreme Award, which is selected from outside the list of category winners, will be revealed at a gala dinner at The Langham Hotel in Auckland on April 6.

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

The World Class New Zealand Awards have been running for eight years and are judged by Sir Stephen Tindall (Chair, Kea New Zealand), Jon Mayson (Chair, NZTE), Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, Jane Hunter, Bridget Liddell and John Stace.

Sir Stephen says the award recipients are people committed to making a real difference to New Zealand across a range of industries and endeavours.

“The breadth and depth of the winners illustrates the number of talented Kiwis operating at home and offshore at a world class level.”

ENDS

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