Some of farming’s key businesses are up for awards in this year’s Co-operative NZ Business Awards.
This year’s finalists are:
• Co-operative/Mutual of the Year
This award seeks to highlight an outstanding business who is making waves within the sector.
Farmers’ Mutual Group and SBS Bank will both be in the running for this award in 2023.
• Leader of the Year
This award is presented to an individual who has shown outstanding leadership, vision and passion within their co-operative or the sector in general over the past year.
Peter Hendry (CEO, MG Group), Bindi Norwell (group chief executive, ProCare), and Mark Wynne (CEO, Ballance Agri-Nutrients) have been named finalists for this award in 2023.
• Lifetime Achievement Award
This category is judged slightly differently to the other awards. If a nominee meets the criteria and provides an above bar nomination, they will automatically be named a “finalist”.
Danny Hailes (general manager Livestock & Shareholder Services, Alliance), Murray King (chair, LIC), Dr Ants Roberts (chief scientist, Ravensdown), and Mark Wynne (CEO, Ballance Agri-Nutrients) all met this criteria.
• Emerging Business of the Year
This award recognises those who have been in operation for under five years, walking and talking the co-operative principles.
Recently established co-operatives Combined Building Supplies, NZ Cleaning Coop, and Truestock are in the running for this award.
• Emerging Leader of the Year
This award is presented to an individual under the age of 35 who is making their mark on the co-operative community.
Harriet Bell (head of key accounts & sales experience, Farmlands), Kate Higgins (senior agri manager, Ravensdown), Lincoln Roper (senior adviser, KPMG / shareholder, Roper and Sons Ltd), and Ruby Sealey-Lawson (GIS analyst, geospatial, Ballance Agri-Nutrients) have been named finalists in this category.
• Enduring Service Awards
Full members who have reached a milestone of 25, 50, 75 or 100 years operation as a co-operative or mutual are awarded an Enduring Service Award in this non-judged award category. Reaching these milestones is testament to the longevity and sustainability of the co-operative model.
This year Cooperative Business NZ will be recognising MG Group (100 Years), Alliance (75 Years), Silver Fern Farms (75 Years), BCI (25 Years), and Appliance Connexion (25 Years).
“It’s fantastic to have such a high calibre line-up of finalists to showcase our member owned business community. Congratulations to all entrants and finalists,” Cooperative Business NZ CEO Roz Henry said.
“This business community is filled with successful, enduring businesses and leaders and it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to celebrate their achievements”.
The winners will be revealed at the Awards Cocktail Evening hosted in Wellington this October.
