World Class Kiwis

World-class Kiwis receive awards
02 Mar 2006
Awards celebrate world-class Kiwis
Seven high-achieving Kiwis were honoured at a gala dinner in Auckland Wednesday for their individual achievements and for their global impact on New Zealand’s reputation and economy.
"The winners tonight prove that talented Kiwis can and do contribute to the country from wherever they are," Prime Minister Helen Clark told the audience of 400 at the Auckland Town Hall.
Each winner was presented a bronze 'Tall Poppy' award designed by Richard Taylor and made in the Weta workshop in Wellington. The award depicts a stem-like human figure reaching up to carry the weight of a blossoming poppy.
Now in their third year, the World Class New Zealand Awards are one of New Zealand's most important accolades for individuals who make major contributions to New Zealand's success in the world. The awards are presented by Kea, New Zealand’s Global Talent Community, and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
"By widening the Awards to include a number of different categories this year, Kea is helping highlight the economic and commercial success of a wider range of outstanding New Zealanders," Miss Clark said.
The seven World Class New Zealand winners are:
Supreme Award: Professor Alan MacDiarmid, University of Pennsylvania. New Zealand’s only living Nobel Prize laureate and a leading researcher in the electrical conductivity of plastics, a key enabler of the information age; author or co-author of 600 research papers and 20 patents; maintains strong professional and personal ties with New Zealand; member of the Order of New Zealand and winner of the Rutherford Medal.Sponsored by HSBC Bank.
Information & Communications Technology Award: Dr Mark Billinghurst, New Zealand Director, Human Interface Technology Lab (HIT Lab NZ), a leading virtually-reality research organisation based in Christchurch and at the University of Washington; inventor of the ‘Magic Book’ virtual-reality education tool; member of the New Zealand Government's Growth and Innovation Advisory Board.Sponsored by APN News & Media.
Creative Industries Award: Brent Hansen, former Chief Executive Officer, MTV Networks Europe, providing entertainment in 120 million homes; backed New Zealand musical and artistic talent in the UK; guest presenter at New Zealand’s 'Resonate' music-industry seminar. Sponsored by Absolutely Positive Wellington.
Biotechnology Award: Dr Simon Moroney, CEO, MorphoSys AG, a company based in Germany that specialises in human antibodies; first foreign national to win the German Cross of the Order of Merit; actively seeks to collaborate with, advise and promote New Zealand businesses in Europe.Sponsored by NZBio.
Manufacturing Award: Ken Stevens, CEO, Glidepath, a baggage and cargo handling and security firm with 426 projects in 31 countries; from Auckland, runs a global operation with offices in Sydney, Santiago, Toronto and Beijing, and with a manufacturing unit in Dallas, Texas. Sponsored by Enterprising Manukau.
Research, Science, Technology & Academia Award: Professor Peter Gluckman, Founding Director, the Liggins Institute, and a leading researcher on brain injury, nutrition in the womb, and applying evolutionary theory to human medicine; leading adviser on national and international health policy; winner of the Rutherford Medal; former Dean of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland.Sponsored by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.
Finance, Investment & Business Services Award: Chris Liddell, Chief Financial Officer, Microsoft, the world's leading software company; formerly with senior positions in Carter Holt Harvey, CS First Boston NZ Ltd, Project Crimson, New Zealand Sports Foundation and the New Zealand Rugby Union.Sponsored by Goldman Sachs JBWere.
Stephen Tindall, a Founding Director of Kea New Zealand, noted that the World Class New Zealand event is a significant milestone for Kea, New Zealand’s Global Talent Community.
"Tonight, the commitment of our expat community to New Zealand’s success is reflected in the fact that four of our extremely busy and highly-successful winners have flown half-way round the world to be with us. None of our winners turned down the opportunity to be here," Mr Tindall said.
"As a country of only four million people, it's important that we work together to make best possible use of our limited resources - including our talented people all over the world.
"Kea links New Zealand's offshore community as an effective, collaborative talent network that benefits the entire country," Mr Tindall said.
Apart from the sponsors of the individual Tall Poppy awards, supporters of the World Class New Zealand event included Air New Zealand and Auckland City. The ceremony was hosted by TV3's John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld, and Kiwi singer Dave Dobbyn provided live entertainment.