Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Bruce Sheppard

Sheppard founded the Shareholders’ Association which battled for the rights and interests of minority shareholders of companies listed on the New Zealand sharemarket, cutting a figure the business community had never seen the like of before.

It all began with Sheppard’s now famous ‘‘tin hat’’ protest at the Brierley annual general meeting in 1999, which taught him that flamboyance and humour could be used to get the ear of the media. This led to him donning a great many more hats at AGMS including a Viking helmet, a lumberjack’s cap and a clown hat to highlight management failures.

He dedicated around two days a week for a decade to the association, but said: ‘‘I enjoyed it, so don’t for a minute think it was a sacrifice. It was fun.’’

Sheppard was called to serve on the establishment board to set up the Financial Markets Authority, a new regulator to clean up the investment landscape after the finance company collapses of the 1990s and 2000s.

‘‘I’m pleased (to be honoured) because it is a recognition that you can be controversial, and outspoken, and survive, and be recognised for it, so perhaps it will be encouragement for others to speak their mind, which isn’t a bad thing,’’ he said.

Naomi Ballantyne

Insurance entrepreneur Ballantyne didn’t build just one nationally important business. She built three.

In 1988, at the age of 24, Ballantyne got her big break as the first employee of life insurer Sovereign, leading it to become the country’s largest life insurer.

In 2001 she set up Club Life, which is now called Onepath Life, and is owned by ANZ.

Then in 2011, she launched Partners Life, now the fastestgrowing life insurer in the country.

Around one in four New Zealanders has been covered by a policy sold by one of the three insurers she built. Even so, the honour was a surprise. ‘‘I have spent so long being the underdog, or the challenger on the receiving end of a lot of criticism from competitors, to actually have someone do the opposite is very surreal,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m absolutely humbled and gobsmacked. It’s lovely.’’

Sarah Trotman

Entrepreneur Trotman was recognised for services to business and the community, but it is the latter that means most to her.

She made her name with the creation of the Small Business Expo, a business bringing owners of small businesses together to network, share ideas and expertise, and feel less alone.

But, she said: ‘‘The thing I am most proud of is the support I have given to Lifewise, and their aim to end homelessness.’’

She’s participated in each of the last seven Big Sleep Outs in Auckland, and remains Lifewise’s biggest fundraiser.

Her work with Lifewise began after a friendship struck up with a man named Brendan, a tenant in a boarding house she was renovating, who showed her how much success or failure depends on luck, such as health or family circumstances.

Jennifer Gill

‘‘Mother of Philanthropy’’ Gill has been the chief executive of Foundation North, as the old ASB Community Trust is now known, since 2004.

The trust, endowed after the sale of the Auckland Savings Bank in 1989, has $1.2 billion worth of investments and uses the income to fund life-improving projects in Auckland and Northland.

Grants are allocated through pioneering ‘‘venture philanthropy’’ disciplines developed using business investment principles.

Gill has been dubbed the ‘‘mother of philanthropy’’ for helping set up Philanthropy New Zealand, which aims to persuade the rich to give back to the communities they thrived in.

‘‘It’s been an interesting year for me as I turned 65 and got my Gold Card, so it feels like a really good year for this to happen,’’ she said.

Vi Cottrell

Trade Aid’s Cottrell was recognised for harnessing the power of business to improve lives, though she said: ‘‘I don’t think of myself as a business person really.’’

Inspired by a stint in India working with Tibetan refugees, she and her husband Richard saw the potential for trade to improve the lives of the skilled poor overseas, and founded Trade Aid in 1973.

At 76 she’s still a board member of the organisation.

‘‘It was a difficult decision to accept the honour because while it is extremely flattering, I am a part of a larger organisation,’’ Cottrell said.

‘‘I have never been the manager, and its success is built on teamwork.

‘‘It’s awkward to be singled out. On the other hand, it’s nice that Trade Aid itself has been recognised.’’