Finalists announced for the 2019 Ignite Wanaka Business Awards

Finalists for the 2019 Ignite Wanaka Business Awards have been announced, with judges impressed by the diversity of business and strong financial performance among entrants.

The biennial business awards, sponsored by Milford Asset Management, are a highlight on the Wanaka business community calendar.
 
Finalists are:
 
Tourism with Lake Wanaka Tourism
Wanaka Helicopters, Challenge Wanaka, Wildwire 

Trades & Infrastructure with Findex
Roofing Hub, Mitre 10, Yello! 

Professional Services with Westpac 
OCULA, Blend Creative, Wanaka Helicopters, The Fit Collective  

Retail & Hospitality with Cardrona 
OCULA, Pembroke Patisserie, Erik’s Fish & Chips

Startup with Air New Zealand
Hook, LandEscape, Ruby Fresh Wetsuits 

Innovation with Aspiring Law 
The Wanaka App, Pembroke Patisserie, Roofing Hub, Erik’s Fish & Chips

Sustainability with Queenstown and Wanaka Airport 
Cardrona, Manage my House LandEscape  
 
Individual with Ray White
Ramash Swamy, Yello!
Monique Kelly, ONE New Zealand and Revology
Stef Zeestraten, Lavender Farm
 
Winners, including the Supreme Business Award (supported by Milford Asset Management), Outstanding Individual (supported by Ray White Wanaka) and the People’s Choice Award (supported by the Wanaka App), will be announced at a gala dinner at a secret location on November 29, 2019.
 
Convenor of judges Wayne Hudson says: “Once again the Ignite Wanaka Business Awards has attracted a number of high-quality entries from our vibrant and successful business community. We were very pleased with the standard of the finalists’ entries in every category and think that all of them will be worthy winners.”
 
Tickets to the awards gala dinner are on sale here. Tickets cost $135 per person or $1350+GST for a table of 10. Tickets include a drink and canapes on arrival, three-course meal and two bottles of Rippon wine on the table.
 
The Ignite Wanaka Business Awards are also sponsored by: Raspberry Creek, Yello!, Mt Maude wines, B.Effect, Rippon, Entertainment Solutions, Fantail Events, The Film Crew, The Messenger, Scope Media, Radio Wanaka and Wanaka App.
 
ENDS
 
For more information, please contact:
Wayne Hudson, Ignite Wanaka Business Awards convenor of judges
P: 64 21 688 192
E: wayne@whipit.co.nz
 
Imagery
Click here to download photos from the 2017 Ignite Wanaka Business Awards
About the judges
 
Wayne Hudson (Convenor of the Judging Panel)
Wayne Hudson has spent the last 30 years focusing on the technology sector, advising clients on commercialising intellectual property, buying and selling tech businesses, capital-raising and structuring start-ups.  He is a legal consultant through his company WHIPIT Ltd, which assists technology start-ups prepare for growth, investment and sale.  Wayne is also a trustee of Startup Queenstown Lakes and Alpine Community Development Trust, as well as being a mentor for several small business owners in Wanaka.
 
Anne Urlwin
Wanaka resident Anne Urlwin is a professional director with executive and governance experience across a range of sectors from energy, infrastructure, construction, IT, health and financial services.  Her current directorship roles include Tilt Renewables, Summerset Group Holdings, Steel & Tube Holdings and OnePath Life.  She is also Deputy Chairman of Southern Response Earthquake Services and the Independent Chairman of Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu’s Audit & Risk Committee.  She is a former chairman of national commercial construction group Naylor Love Construction and of the NZ Blood Service.
 
Mark Verbiest
Mark is an experienced company director, currently serving on the board of Freightways (Chairman), Meridian Energy (Chairman elect), ANZ Bank NZ, and PE fund Willis Bond Capital Partners (Chairman). Mark is also a member of the advisory board to NZ Treasury, a Trustee of the Festival of Colour and the Southern Alps Rescue Trust (fund which supports Wanaka search and rescue). Mark has a law degree and has previously been Chairman of Spark and a board member of the FMA.
 
Ann Lockhart
With 20 years’ experience in senior management roles across both the private and public sectors, Ann Lockhart has played a significant role in growing New Zealand businesses. Previously CEO for the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce, Ann is currently CEO for Great South, Southland’s newly established Regional Development Agency, a member of the board for Destination Queenstown, a trustee of the Wakatipu Community Trust and former Board member of the Otago Conservation Board.  Ann is a disputes resolution mediator and resides in Wanaka.