Inspiring women honoured

From farmers to fund managers and fashionistas, this year’s 90 Women of Influence Award nominees have come from diverse fields around the country.

Fairfax Media and Westpac announced the finalists last night.

Now in its fifth year, the awards celebrate women who have built on personal and professional success to help and inspire others.

The 10 categories are: arts and culture, board and management, business enterprise, community/ not for profit, diversity, global, innovation and science, public policy, rural, and young leader.

Previous Supreme Award winners include Helen Robinson, Joan Withers, Lesley Elliott and Dame Therese Walsh.

Robinson, who was last year’s supreme winner, is the chief executive of social enterprise Organic Initiative and a former chief executive of Microsoft New Zealand. ‘‘We have so many incredible women in New Zealand, so I was taken aback when it was announced,’’ she said.

Awards judge and Fairfax Media group executive editor Sinead Boucher said the breadth in backgrounds of this year’s finalists highlighted the significant contribution women were making towards New Zealand’s growth and development.

‘‘Every one of the finalists has a wonderful story to tell and the Women of Influence Awards provide a perfect opportunity to recognise our country’s outstanding women on a national stage.’’

Some of the household-name nominees include Maramena Roderick, the head of news and current affairs for Maori Television; Denise L’estrange-corbet, the founder of fashion brand World; and life insurance industry leader Naomi Ballantyne.

Some are the women behind well-known enterprises and firms, such as Anna Curzon of Xero and Pip Greenwood of Russell Mcveagh, while others play a part in solving nationwide problems such as Housing New Zealand manager Leonie Freeman.

Westpac New Zealand’s consumer bank and wealth general manager, Simon Power, said the awards were an opportunity to recognise and thank the nominated women for what they do to make New Zealand a better place.

‘‘As much as we hope their achievements inspire the next generation, these awards are also an opportunity for an incredible group of people to get together and draw inspiration from each other.’’

●➤ The winners will be announced on September 7 at the awards dinner at Skycity in Auckland. Tickets can be purchased online at womenofinfluence.co.nz.