2013

Dr Sean Simpson is Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of LanzaTech, a company on the threshold of solving some of the biggest problems confronting the sustainable fuels industry today.

From start-up to a multinational company, Lanzatech has received numerous awards for its patented technology and recently attracted investments from Vinod Khosla, one of the world’s leading clean technology investors. In 2016, it made a breakthrough in aviation biofuel with its partner airline Virgin Atlantic. Dr Sean has encouraged the collaboration between biologists, fermentation specialists and engineers to develop the technology and consequently, the company has become a global leader in gas fermentation.

In 2011, Dr Sean won Young Biotechnologist of the Year Award was named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year category winner. In addition, he received the US Environmental Protection Agency Presidential Green Chemistry Award in 2015 and the Sanitarium NZ Innovator of the Year Award 2014. Dr Sean is on the board of The ICEHOUSE business incubator.

Hon Sir Donald McKinnon was the Commonwealth Secretary General from 2000 to 2008. Prior to this, he served 21 years in politics, including presiding as Deputy Prime Minister from 1990 to 1996, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 1999, and Leader of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 1996.

Among his many awards and accolades, Sir Donald was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order in 2009 for services to the Commonwealth. The New Zealand Government also awarded him its highest honour, Order of New Zealand in 2007.

Sir Donald was named New Zealander of the Year in 2003 by The NZ Society in London.

He was also named Foreign Minister of the Year in 1998 by The World Economic Forum and he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work to peacefully resolve the war on Bougainville in Papua New Guinea.

Geraldine McBride has risen to key roles in SAP, one of the world’s largest business software companies. She was Managing Director and CEO of SAP Australia and New Zealand (2003-2007) followed by President and CEO of SAP Asia (2007-2010).

After a stint as VP and Global Head of Dell Application and BPO Services at Dell, Geraldine returned to SAP to take on the role of President for North America.

An acknowledged global expert in corporate evolution, Geraldine is now the Co-Founder and CEO of MyWave, a global next generation technology business.

A leader among IT giants, Geraldine has been invited to address the World Economic Forum and the European Union and has appeared on the cover of Chief Executive Magazine. 

Annabel Langbein is the New Zealand celebrity cook, food writer and publisher behind Annabel Langbein Media Limited, which provides food and lifestyle media services, including book publishing and TV and video production.

She has authored 18 cookbooks which are published in numerous languages and have been sold all around the world.

She has won countless awards including the 1999 NZ Guild of Foodwriters ‘Recipe Book of the Year’ Award, ‘Best Photography in the World’ Award at the World Cookbook Awards in Périgueux, France as well as a Ladle at the 2001 World Food Media Awards.

Annabel The Free Range Cook was also named New Zealand’s best celebrity cookbook in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2010 and she most recently received the Best Home Chef Award at the prestigious Taste Awards in the US – following in the footsteps of Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver.

Australian-born, Andrew Holden became the Head of Communications of Cricket Australia in 2016 after more than 35 years working as a journalist.

During his years as a journalist, Andrew was Editor-in-Chief at The Age Melbourne (2012-2016), and Editor of The Press in Christchurch (2007-2012). This included covering the Canterbury earthquakes in 2010-2011.

His Award recognises his leadership through this challenging time in New Zealand history. 

Judith Hanratty is the Chair of the Commonwealth Education Trust, which invests in the education, training and development of primary and secondary school teachers in Commonwealth countries.

Prior to this, she was oil giant BP’s company secretary, a role she held for 10 years. Judith is also a Non-Executive Director of the England Golf Union.

In recognition of her long and successful career filled with countless accomplishments, Judith was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to the oil and gas industry in 2002 and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for services to Commonwealth Education in 2007.