NEWS RELEASE
Embargoed until 11.15pm, Friday, 01 July 2011
Dame Margaret Bazley receives Blake Medal for leadership
New Zealand’s premiere leadership honour, The Blake Medal, was tonight presented to Dame Margaret Bazley at the Sir
Peter Blake Leadership Awards by Governor General, Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand at Government House in Wellington.
Dame Margaret is the Chair of both Environment Canterbury and the New Zealand Fire Service Commission and is a member of
the Waitangi Tribunal. Tonight she became the sixth recipient of The Blake Medal, the supreme accolade of the Sir Peter
Blake Leadership Awards.
Dame Margaret joins a stellar cast of New Zealand leaders on the Blake Medallist honour roll: Sir Ray Avery (2010); Dr
John Hood (2009); Sir Murray Halberg (2008); Professor Paul Callaghan (2007); Sir Stephen Tindall (2006); and Sir John
Anderson (2005).
Chair of the selection panel, Sir Ron Carter, says Dame Margaret’s successful leadership of a number of important and
national committees, working parties and commissions caps her significant contribution to New Zealand in the realms of
health, transport, state services and social welfare.
“Dame Margaret’s leadership has transformed public policy and administration in New Zealand. She is seen to be people
focused, someone who listens to others, has determination to do the right thing and does not shy away from tough calls.”
As well as honouring one outstanding leader, the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards recognise six Emerging Leaders
demonstrating considerable potential.
This year there was a Special Leadership Award presented to Sam Johnson, the founder and leader of the Canterbury
Student Volunteer Army, which was organised following the earthquake on September 4, 2010.
The 2011 Emerging Leaders are (in alphabetical order by surname):
Name Title Pursuit Age Region
1 Raelene Castle CEO Netball New Zealand 40 Auckland
2 Dr Andrew Coy CEO Magritek 43 Wellington
3 Rebecca Elvin Lawyer Currently completing Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution at King’s College in London
27 Tauranga
4 Derek Handley Founder The Hyperfactory 33
5 Tawera Nikau CEO Aotearoa Construction. Former rugby league player; contribution to Huntly community and
wider New Zealand 44 Huntly
6 Heather Skipworth Founder IronMaori 40 Hastings
Chief Executive of the Sir Peter Blake Trust, Shelley Campbell, says the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Awards provide
an opportunity to recognise leadership excellence across a range of fields.
“The Sir Peter Blake Trust encourages the Emerging Leaders to continue to develop their leadership qualities for the
good of the nation. This year’s recipients are an outstanding example of how we can all develop our leadership skills in
our chosen field and aim to reach our full potential to make a greater contribution to our communities.”
The Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards were established in 2005 to inspire and celebrate great leadership. The Awards are
open to all New Zealanders and selection includes a rigorous process reviewing nominations for leaders from all sectors
of society.
The selection panel for this year’s awards is made up of a group of New Zealand leaders in their own right: Sir Ron
Carter (Chair), Mick Brown, Sir Eion Edgar, Dr Lester Levy, Hon Fran Wilde, Sir John Anderson, Jane Huria and Alison
Paterson.
The Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards officially launch New Zealand Leadership Week (1-8 July), which aims to raise
awareness of the importance of great leadership and showcase the work that is being done to develop leadership
capability throughout the country. More than 150 events are being held across 14 regions.
For more information visit www.sirpeterblaketrust.org/leadership/leadershipweek
Ends