New inductees into women's hall of fame

Three women, credited with the creation of hundreds of jobs and contributing millions to the country’s economy, have been inducted into entrepreneurial organisation Co. of Women’s Hall of Fame this week.

Health service management veteran Lee Mathias, television producer Julie Christie and internet tycoon and NBR Rich Lister Annette Presley have had their entrepreneurial success recognised.

The women were judged on their business success, impact on their industry and their level of involvement with initiatives supporting women’s success.

Dr Mathias has had a long-serving career in healthcare, which started with founding Birthcare in 1995 and co-founding Labtests a decade later. She is now focused on directing Pictor, a diagnostics company rolling out in third-world countries.

She is also the chairwoman of Counties Manukau District Health Board, Unitec and the Health Promotion Industry Agency and the deputy chairwoman of the Auckland District Health Board.

Ms Christie established reality television production company Touchdown Productions in 1991, pioneering the development of new programme formats and intellectual property for the international market. She sold the business to Eyeworks in 2006 but stayed on as director.

She won the 2008 Veuve Clicquot New Zealand Businesswoman of the Year award and is now a director of Mediaworks and a member of the Flag Consideration Panel.

Ms Presley is the co-founder of telecommunications company CallPlus, comprising subsidiaries CallPlus Business, Slingshot, Orcon, Flip and 2talk. She sold the business in April to Australia’s M2 for $250 million, launching her back on to this year’s NBR Rich List.

She is also a philanthropist, active in local charities such as the Sensible Sentencing Trust, Shine and the teenage girl’s school programme Have a Dream. She has recently forayed into the fashion world.

Ms Christie, Ms Presley and Dr Mathias will join previous laureates such as Dame Trelise Cooper, Diane Foreman, Sharon Hunter and Anne Norman in the hall of fame.