MEDIA RELEASE
PM’s Business Scholarship for NZ Tax Refunds founder
CHRISTCHURCH, 3 September 2013 – Award winning serial entrepreneur Cilla Hegarty, the Founder and Chief Executive of NZ Tax Refunds, has been awarded
a Prime Minister’s Business Scholarship. Ten of New Zealand’s brightest business minds have been given the opportunity
to study at top international institutions through the 2013 scholarship round.
Prime Minister John Key says the scholarships will enable the recipients to increase their business knowledge and gain
invaluable skills which will have many positive flow-on effects for New Zealand businesses.
Mrs. Hegarty says, “It’s a real honour to be awarded a scholarship alongside such a talented group of business people.
It will allow me to take on new business knowledge and gain skills that will help the company grow faster, stronger and
be more competitive.”
The scholarships, which were launched in 2010, allow the recipients to study at prestigious international institutions
including Stanford Business School, London Business School and the INSEAD Business School. Mrs. Hegarty plans to attend
the London Business School undertaking courses on leadership and innovation.
Mrs. Hegarty founded NZ Tax Refunds (www.nztaxrefunds.co.nz) in 2008 to help get paying clients their share of the $700
million in overpaid taxes held by the IRD. The company, the market leader in online tax refunds in New Zealand, has
helped thousands of clients in New Zealand and is now gearing up to expand.
The scholarship is very timely according to Mrs. Hegarty, “The management expertise I gain through the London Business
School will be invaluable as we continue to grow rapidly.”
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce said the calibre of this year’s applicants was extremely high.
For the full list of 2013 Business Scholarships recipients see
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm%E2%80%99s-business-scholarships-announced-1
ENDS