MEET OUR STAGE TWO JUDGES
Excellence in Strategy & Planning, Excellence in Innovation and Employer of the Year – Richard Briggs, Launch Global Consulting
As a high-impact transformational Chief Executive, Richard is driven to deliver ambitious outcomes for diverse stakeholder communities. He possesses a rare talent for building high-performing individuals, teams, and organisations, regardless of size or location. His ability to connect internal and external stakeholders to an organisation’s strategic vision has resulted in outstanding results, unlocking untapped potential, and driving success. He is committed to building enduring cultures that value individual contributions and reject the limitations of hierarchy and silos. His passion for developing executable, empowering strategies creates a clear purpose and empowers all stakeholders to achieve their strategic objectives. He has twenty years of executive leadership experience across complex, diverse organisations – commercial, government, and multi-national. He has experience in 20+ international jurisdictions and large organisations (27+ varied operations, over NZD$5b asset base, and 1,200+ employees). He is a strategic influencer on a national stage with a proven ability to build and sustain high-performing organisations that deliver on vision, mission, and purpose.
Excellence in Marketing, Excellence in Community Contribution and Best Emerging Business – Josie Spillane, Highlands, Hampton Downs and Taupō Motorsport Parks
Josie is a highly experienced & successful leader with experience in not for profit, business development, operations, event management, senior leadership, health and safety, marketing, PR, tourism, motorsport, fundraising, sales and hospitality. She is CEO and leads the teams at Highlands, Hampton Downs, Taupo International Motorsport Park, Game Over QT, Game Over Auckland & Game Over Christchurch. In 2022, Josie was announced as Leader of the Year and won the Excellence in Leadership at the Otago Business Awards. Highlands were also finalists for Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality and Innovation award.
Excellence in Sustainability – Harvey Brookes, Waikato Wellbeing Project
Harvey Brookes is Executive Director at the Waikato Wellbeing Project, and has over 30 years’ experience in public policy, environmental management, infrastructure, economic development and community wellbeing. He has worked at local, regional and central government levels, in private consultancy and in academia. Harvey has led and advised regional economic development programmes across New Zealand, including Auckland, where he led the development of the region’s first economic development strategy and the Waikato, where he designed and implemented the region’s first regional economic development agency. He has taught at the Schools of Geography, Architecture and Planning, University of Auckland. Harvey earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Auckland. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors. Harvey is a co-founder of the Aotearoa SDG Alliance.
Meet our Stage one Judges
Excellence in Strategy & Planning and Excellence in Marketing – Toi Ohomai Business Faculty
A panel of business studies tutors from Toi Ohomai lead by Leisel van der Mescht an experienced Management and Business professional and is an Academic Leader in Business at Toi Ohomai.
Excellence in Innovation and Excellence in Community Contribution – Anne Pankhurst, Tauranga Chamber of Commerce
Anne Pankhurst currently works at the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce, is a business mentor, and loves working with businesses to realise their potential. Anne has organised the Tauranga Business Awards for over 20 years, which has a strong focus on celebrating excellence. Anne has a strong interest in Economic Development in the region, and was a member of SmartGrowth Strategic Partners, chair of Population Aging Technical Advisory Group. She has a business background in the hospitality sector and has opened and owned several well-known restaurant businesses. Anne is chair of Tarnished Frocks and Divas.
Excellence in Sustainability – Joy Moir, Sustainable Business Solutions
Joy Moir is an experienced sustainability consultant and change-maker, both in NZ and the UK with a significant energy and sustainable business background stretching over 2 decades. Since arriving in NZ Joy has supported SME’s, public sector, non-for profit and start-up’s working within the engineering, construction, environmental, horticulture and metals industries. Joy enjoys enabling and empowering organisations to become more responsible and sustainable, through her ability to develop realistic strategic and implementation plans utilising system change thinking. Alongside a strong operational and people management background, she understands the unique and complex issues organisations must overcome when making significant business changes.
Best Emerging Business and Employer of the Year – Sean Bell, 2degrees
Sean has 10 years sales experience in the Telecommunications market in New Zealand. He has held numerous roles in both Account Management and Business Development over this time. In his current role at 2degrees Sean manages relationships with strategic partners in the business division including the National Chamber of Commerce network and Farmsource. Sean is passionate about New Zealand Business and delivering technology solutions that drive positive outcomes.
