Winners across all fields
A woman instrumental in the fight against a culture of sexual harassment within the legal profession is the 2018 Wellingtonian Of The Year.
Steph Dyhrberg was crowned the supreme winner at the 2018 Dominion Post ‘‘Welly’’ awards held at Te Papa last night.
Dyhrberg, a leading Wellington employment lawyer, also won the community service category.
She has been vocal in condemning law firm culture following sexual misconduct complaints by law students, and hasn’t shied away from criticising the ‘‘absent’’ New Zealand Law Society on the matter.
As Wellington Women Lawyers’ Association convener, she called the Russell McVeagh independent review a cop-out, saying the root cause of the behaviour was sexism throughout the legal profession.
Previous ‘‘Welly’’ winners include philanthropist and property investor Mark Dunajtschik, Sir Richard Taylor, Suzanne Snively and Dane Coles.
Dominion Post editor Eric Janssen said Dyhrberg was a standout winner amid a very strong lineup.
‘‘Her voice and actions have already had a huge effect, and will give women and interns the confidence that they will be treated fairly and respectfully at law firms – the way it should have been in the first place.’’
Category winners included film-maker Gaylene Preston for arts, Rawinia Higgins for education, and Children’s Commissioner Andrew Becroft for public service.
There was also a World Class Welly award for London-based chef, author and TV personality, Monica Galetti.
Judges convener John Dow said Dyhrberg ‘‘demonstrated a strong sense of challenging entrenched negative attitudes and behaviour by people in positions of power and authority’’.