2015

Described as a modern day miracle worker, Dr Swee Tan ONZM is an internationally recognised plastic surgeon and research scientist. His dream is to find a way to treat cancer so that patients will no longer have to suffer the indignity of current treatments.

As the founder and executive director of the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, he is dedicated to researching the cause of disfiguring and life-threatening conditions such as birthmarks and cancer, and regenerative medicine.

Dr Swee and his team have received numerous prizes nationally and internationally for their work. In particular, Dr Swee is the recipient of the Wellingtonian of the Year Award for Science and Technology (2014), the New Zealand Value of Medicines Award (2014) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons’ Research Award (2011). 

Watch Dr Swee Tan accept his award here.

Tan Sri Dato Seri Halim Saad is one of Malaysia’s most successful businessmen and has all the while been a strong and proactive supporter of the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and New Zealand, particularly in the areas of trade and education.

Tan Sri Halim led Malaysia’s largest corporation, Renong / United Engineers Malaysia Berhad from 1985 to 2001. In 1994, Time Magazine’s Global 100 named Tan Sri Halim one of the upcoming leaders to define the coming age.

Tan Sri Halim has espoused a vision for cooperation between New Zealand and Malaysia with the view to opening significant new markets for agriculture and food. In 2012, he brought Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Corporation to New Zealand to advocate combining New Zealand agricultural expertise with funds from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to grow food in third world countries.

Tan Sri Halim is one of New Zealand’s principal Colombo Scholar success stories in Malaysia, and he remains a leading force propelling New Zealand’s relationship with Malaysia to new heights.

Watch Tan Sri Halim Saad accept his award here.

A natural serial entrepreneur, Victoria Ransom has developed three companies since her early twenties, including Wildfire Interactive, which Google acquired in 2012.

As founder and CEO, Victoria led the company to profitability in just one year and built up tens of thousands of customers, over 400 employees, and eight offices worldwide.  

In 2012, Victoria was #19 on Fortune Magazine’s 40 under 40 list and was named one of the Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs.

In 2015, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.  Victoria has an MBA from Harvard Business School and regularly mentors young Kiwi entrepreneurs and tech start-ups.

Watch Victoria Ransom accept her award here.

Beatrice Roini Liua Faumuina ONZM is an Olympian, Gold Medalist, UN Goodwill Ambassador, champion of Pasifika leadership and business, Sir Peter Blake Leader and one of New Zealand’s sporting heroes.

In 1997, she received the prestigious sporting Halberg Award and in 2002, her image was chosen for a Samoan stamp. For services to athletics, she was named Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005.

Since then Beatrice has been involved in a number of foundations and leadership initiatives. In particular, she was the founding CEO of the BEST Pasifika Leadership Academy, which brought together her passion for creating and growing leaders with her entrepreneurial spirit.

Today, Beatrice is the Trade Commissioner and Consul General in New York, leading NZTE’s team to help New Zealand businesses access East Coast markets.

Watch Beatrice Faumauina accept her award here.

Audette Exel AO is the Founder of the Adara Group, which consists of two Australian corporate advisory businesses, with the sole purpose to support the non-profit international development organisation, Adara Development.

Recognised by Forbes as a Hero of Philanthropy and named Australia’s Leading Philanthropist in 2016, Audette uses her specialist legal and finance background to improve lives and change the way people think about the role of business.

Previously, Audette was the Managing Director of Bermuda Commercial Bank and Chair of the Bermuda Stock Exchange. Today she is also the Vice Chair of the Board of Steamship Mutual and a Non-Executive Director of Suncorp Group.

Audette was elected Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in 1995. In 2012, she was named NSW Telstra Businesswoman of the Year as well as among The Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence and was awarded an honorary Order of Australia for services to humanity. 

Watch Audette Exel accept her award here.

Helen Clark ONZ SSI is the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand. She not only served three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008 but was also the first woman elected at a general election to be the Prime Minister and was the fifth longest serving person to hold that position.

Since 2009, Helen has been the third highest-ranking official of the United Nations and is currently ranked by Forbes as the 22nd most powerful woman in the world. In 2009, Helen was voted Greatest Living New Zealander in a poll run by the New Zealand Herald and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by the University of Auckland.

The government of the Solomon Islands awarded her the Star of the Solomon Islands in 2005 in recognition of New Zealand’s role in restoring law and order in the country, and in 2010 Helen was appointed to the Order of New Zealand for services to New Zealand.

In April 2016, Helen declared her candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Watch Rt Hon Helen Clark accept her award here.