Ākina Foundation recognised at 2017 AUT Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards
Hot on the heels from hosting the hugely successful Social Enterprise World Forum in Christchurch, The Ākina Foundation won the Non for Profit award at the 2017 AUT Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards.
A 600-strong audience from the New Zealand government and business sector joined the staff, students and academics from
AUT in honouring the AUT Business School Excellence in Business Support Award winners at a gala dinner at the Langham
Hotel, Auckland on 4 October.
Now in its 12th year, the Excellence in Business Support Awards is the only national performance measure for business
support organisations.
It recognises and celebrates organisations and individuals that deliver quality products and services to help small,
medium and large businesses maximise their endeavours.
The Ākina Foundation was one of 11 category winners, with the Supreme Award going to KiwiRail. A full list of 2017 winners is below.
Louise Aitken, Ākina GM, proudly accepted the award on behalf of the entire Ākina team, and took the opportunity to not
only thank AUT, but also challenge the 600-strong audience from the New Zealand government and business sector to
continue to contribute to the growth of the social enterprise sector. Louise pointed out that “New Zealand businesses
spent $535 billion in expenditure during FY 15/16 and that if even a portion of this went to social enterprises, we
would go a long way to address some of the social and environmental issues in our communities.
Louise also took the opportunity to recognise David Walsh and the NZ Post team, a fellow finalist, who announced NZ
Post’s commitment to supporting social enterprise through social procurement. “As a partner to the Social Enterprise
World Forum, it is fantastic to see NZ Post take a leadership role in enabling social and environmental impact through
money that is being spent anyway” Louise shared with the audience.
Professor Kate Kearins, Dean of AUT Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, says the organisations that support
successful businesses are the unsung heroes of New Zealand’s business community, often going unrecognised by
end-consumers.
“We would like to congratulate all the finalists and winners across the AUT Business School Excellence in Business
Support awards. Without your innovation, enthusiasm, judgement and backing New Zealand businesses, big and small, would
fail to reach their full potential,” says Kearins.
The 2017 awards were sponsored by ICG, Fuji Xerox, Idealog, CPA Australia, Colab, New Zealand Business Excellence
Foundation, and Advanced Security Group.
2017 AUT Business School Excellence in Business Support Awards WINNERS
ICG Business < $5M T/O
Connect Global
ICG Business < $5M T/O Sales & Marketing
EBOSS
Idealog Business $5M - $20M T/O
Chancellor Construction
Fuji Xerox Large Business
Christchurch International Airport
Idealog Sustainability Support
Reclaim
CPA Australia Financial Services Support
NZI
Colab Design and Creative Technology Support
ellen
New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation Not for Profit
Ākina Foundation
Advanced Security Group Government
KiwiRail
AUT International Business Export Support
KiwiRail
Fuji Xerox Leadership
Candace Kinser
AUT Business School Supreme Winner - KiwiRail
ENDS