The late Sir Paul Callaghan headed a list of top business people and other high achievers at the 2012 World Class New Zealand Awards.
The late Sir Paul Callaghan headed a list of top business people and other high achievers at the 2012 World Class New Zealand Awards.
Sir Paul, who died of cancer in March, was declared “Supreme Winner” at the event in Auckland last night.
The awards celebrate “nine exceptional New Zealanders who have contributed meaningfully to New Zealand’s economic development, and/or our international standing and reputation”.
Last night’s award adds to a knighthood for his services to science in 2009, winning the Prime Minister’s Science Prize last year and being named the 2011 New Zealander of the Year.
Other Kiwis recognised:
*Tony Falkenstein was winner in the New Thinking category to recognise more than three decades of business achievement, including founding the Just Water business, nurturing Bartercard New Zealand to great success and getting the subject of business on the National Curriculum.
*Sir Graeme Douglas won the Life Sciences category, recognising his role in creating Douglas Pharmaceuticals, one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in Australasia. The business exports generic products to 35 countries and is now the largest employer in Waitakere/
*Dr Peter Watson won the Investment and Business award for a career that took him from Mt Eden to the White House, where he served under Presidents George HW Bush, Bill Clinton and George W Bush, with roles including being Director of Asian Affairs for the National Security Council during 1989-91. Now, he is president and chief executive of a Washington DC-based investment bank.
*Jeremy Moon took the Manufacturing, Design and Innovation category for creating the Icebreaker clothing company, which now sells 100% merino wool clothing into 3000 stores across 43 countries. He is also a leader of the sustainable business movement.
*Professor Malcolm Grant won the Science, Technology and Academia section, recognising his leadership roles in places such as the University of Cambridge and the University College of London. The Oamaru-born academic has recently being appointed to chair the commissioning board for England’s National Health Service, which aims to transform healthcare outcomes.
*David Kirk won the Information and Communications category, recognising the former All Black captain’s senior roles with Fletcher Challenge, being chief policy adviser to prime minister Jim Bolger, and over the Tasman becoming CEO of print and media company PMP, and then of Fairfax Media, where he bought Trade Me for $700 million.
*Ian Taylor won the Creative category for setting up three technology businesses in Dunedin, and work in computer animation and graphics. Hawke's Bay-born Mr Taylor is on the innovation board of the Ministry of Science and is a board member of Maori Television.
The awards, managed for NZTE by Kea, the Kiwi Ex-pats Association, also presented a special award to Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, declaring her an "iconic" New Zealander.
