Recognition for business achievements
Fashion dame tops list of leaders and entrepreneurs, writes Chris Hutching.
Fashion leader Denise L’EstrangeCorbet heads a list of business leaders recognised for their achievements in fields as diverse as artificial intelligence, workplace safety, publishing and trucking.
L’Estrange-Corbet adds her new title – Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit – to her 2002 appointment as a Member of the order.
She was co-founder of fashion brand World, mentors young designers, judges events, and supports mental and physical health initiatives.
Meanwhile, Frances Valintine ‘‘flabbergasted’’ to be made a Companion of the Order, adding to the brace of business awards showered upon her over the past two years.
Valentine has established education organisations and become a prominent spokeswoman and mentor in the technology sector.
She co-led the tertiary training provider Media Design School, founded public-private partnership The Mind Lab in Auckland in 2013, and launched the Tech Futures Lab in 2016.
Valintine is on the boards of Callaghan Innovation, Kea (World Class New Zealanders Network), Talentnomics based in Washington, DC, and the Artificial Intelligence Forum New Zealand.
Another Companion of the Order, venture capitalist Bill Birnie is recognised for his contributions to non-profit organisations. He was among New Zealand’s wealthiest businessmen until the fallout from the 2008 financial crash. was
Birnie said he had put those events behind him and was ‘‘delighted’’ to receive the honour.
He was a government appointee on High Performance Sport New Zealand, deputy chairman of the New Zealand Film Commission, and served on the Hillary Commission.
Birnie led the development of BlackGold, which connects philanthropic investors with sports, is a trustee of the Pet Refuge New Zealand Charitable Trust, and recently joined the New Zealand Racing Board. He is also a board member of KidsCan, which supports lowdecile schools.
On the business front Birnie is on the board of Enztec, a company founded under a consortium established by Birnie Capital in 2005.
Graeme Wheeler, who was governor of the Reserve Bank from 2012 to 2017, becomes a Companion of the Order for services to the state.
Helen Robinson, a recent Women of Influence award winner, has been made an Officer of the Order for her 30 years’ experience in leading tech companies, business mentoring and directorships.
Robinson is executive director of the Organic Initiative, launched in 2015 to produce affordable and biodegradable organic cotton hygiene and sanitary products. She is also a director of Auckland Tourism, and a trustee of Aktive Auckland Sport and Recreation.
Her earlier experience included time as Microsoft New Zealand’s managing director.
Canterbury businessman Mark Stewart’s contributions to his community led to him being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).
‘‘It’s a nice honour and not just for me but for all the people who have been involved in the local initiatives that led to the award,’’ he said.
Stewart is manager of the Stewart family fortune. He is the son of Lady Adrienne and the late Sir Robertson who owned the Christchurch-based manufacturing company PDL until its sale to overseas interests in 2001.
After the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes Stewart helped establish a number of initiatives in the town of Hororata. These included the Hororata Community Trust and the Hororata Highland Games, and he is also helping develop a new community centre.
Officers of the Order of Merit
Rob Jager, workplace safety: Jager chaired the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety following the Pike River Mine disaster.
His efforts contributed to the establishment of WorkSafe New Zealand and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. He is chairman of the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association NZ and has driven behavioural change in the industry.
Rachel Brown, sustainable business: Brown, a pioneer of sustainable business development, was instrumental in setting up the 500-member Sustainable Business Network in 2002 and has been its chief executive since then.
Nicola Legat, publisher: Legat is a long-serving writer, publisher and editor who has held senior governance roles in the arts sector. She is currently publisher of Massey University Press, chairwoman of the New Zealand Book Awards Trust, trustee of the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival Trust, and is on the Publishers Association Council.
Margarita Robertson, fashion: Robertson is the creative director of fashion label NOM*d, which she established in Dunedin in 1986, and some of her work is included in the Te Papa Tongarewa collection.
Bill Speedy, seafarer: Speedy is the founder and managing director of North Shore-based Oceanbridge Shipping, established in 1981 and employing more than 100 people. Oceanbridge Shipping donates to charities annually, and gave logistics support for Emirates Team New Zealand at the America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017.
Members of the Order of Merit
Pic Picot, entrepreneur: Nelson-based Bruce (Pic) Picot established Pic’s Peanut Butter in his garage. The multimillion-dollar business now employs more than 35 staff in two factories and its products are exported.
Calven Bonney, trucking: Bonney has been an advocate for the trucking industry in New Zealand for more than 40 years, growing his own business from three trucks to more than 100.
He has served as director and president of the National Road Carriers Association, and director of the Road Transport Forum. Bonney has also had an enduring association with motorsport, as a driver and as an instigator of truck racing in New Zealand.
John Guthrie, academic: Guthrie established the University of Otago Business Case Competitions in 2004, having been employed in the university’s department of marketing since 1988. He has been chairman of the Transition to Work Trust since 2007, and Otago area commissioner for Scouting New Zealand, among other posts.
Cam Moore, manufacturers’ representative: Moore has been a member of the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association Council since 1986 and serves on several industry and church-related boards.
Sue Stanaway, real estate: Stanaway is a real estate businesswoman who has been involved in local community philanthropy through the annual AIMES Awards.
Stanaway has also been general manager of The Bayleys Foundation and has assisted other charities.