The AUT Business School has singled out the two finalists in the leadership category in this year’s Excellence in Business Support Awards as worthy of recognition.
International trade, government relations and economic development consultant Stephen Jacobi and New Zealand Venture Investment Fund CEO Franceska Banga demonstrate the importance of strong leadership in business support, the awards organisers say.
Jacobi’s recent successes have included helping to restore New Zealand’s trade relationship with the US and preparing and supporting New Zealand free trade negotiations with Japan (through the Trans Pacific Partnership) and Korea, they say.
Under Banga’s leadership the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund has invested around $145 million into 167 New Zealand companies since 2002, and to date those companies have earned $1.5 billion in revenues and $1.2 billion in export dollars.
“By acknowledging excellence in business support we aim to highlight the important role of business support, celebrate excellence, and raise the standard of business support across the board,” says AUT’s business and law dean, professor Geoff Perry.
Finalists for each of the 11 categories have until 11 July to submit their final applications, which will then be evaluated by academics from the AUT Business School’s management department. Evaluation of applications is overseen by the New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation.
The judges will focus on leadership and planning, customer and market focus, provision of business support, evaluation and improvement and results. Winners will named at an awards ceremony on 2 October.
The finalists are:
Image Print Business under $5 million turnover, management services
• Catapult
• Life Care Consultants
• HRtoolkit
Idealog Business over $5 million turnover, sales and marketing
• The Research Agency
• Terabyte Interactive
• Sublime Activation
Idealog Business under $5 million turnover, technology
• The Web Company
MOVIO
Terabyte Interactive
New Zealand Work Research Institute Business $5 million-$20 million
• Anthony Harper
• Potentia Limited
Auckland Centre for Financial Research Business $20 million-$100 million
Transaction Services Group
• AJ Park
• Orbit Corporate Travel Auckland
• Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
Fuji Xerox Large Business $100million+
Converga
Bank of New Zealand
• ASB Bank
New Zealand Business Excellence Foundation Not for Profit
Sustainable Business Network (SBN)
• The Marketing Association
• CAANZ
Drake New Zealand Government
The New Zealand Companies Office
• Auckland Tourism , Events and Economic Development (ATEED)
• Audit New Zealand
Kiwi Innovation Network
• Ministry of Education – Vocational Pathways
• The Food Bowl
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Export Support
• DHL Express (New Zealand) Ltd
• Ports of Auckland
• AJ Park
• Beef + Lamb New Zealand
• AmCham
Fuji Xerox Leadership
• Stephen Jacobi (Jacobi Consulting Ltd)
?• Franceska Banga(New Zealand Venture Investment Fund)
