Published on the 31/01/2018 | Written by Newsdesk
Bill Reichert, Dr Rosie Bosworth and Rebekah Campbell join international judging panel…
New Zealand’s premier awards for the technology industry has announced a stacked international judging panel for the 2018 edition of the event. The Hi-Tech Awards said in a statement that international expertise to help single out the winners includes Garage Technology Ventures managing director Bill Reichert, future food technologist and agritech specialist Dr Rosie Bosworth and Hey You founder Rebekah Campbell.
They join established international judges Claudia Batten, Katherine Corich, Pascal Finette, Pat Kenealy, Richard Keyse, Nick Lambert, Andy Lark, Richard Mander, Dr Catherine Mohr, Savannah Peterson and Rohit Shukla.
Familiar to most readers, the NZ Hi-Tech Awards recognise the achievers of the NZ Hi-Tech industry from the start-up and emerging categories through to the coveted PwC Company of the Year, which was won in 2017 by PushPay. The awards, run by the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, have grown in prominence along with the expanding contribution of information technology to the economy: tech is the country’s third largest export sector.
Jennifer Rutherford, Chair of the Hi-Tech Trust said the panel is the best line up of international judges ever assembled to evaluate the Hi-Tech Awards. “Any business awards, domestic or international, would be lucky to have such a line-up of global stars. We are delighted to have Bill, Rosie and Rebekah join our existing panel of international judges.”
In an earlier statement, Rutherford provided some insight into what the judges will be looking for: “For 2018 we’ve changed out a couple of the categories and revised the entry criteria to ensure we have a major focus on diversity and inclusion. Not only do we want companies to be conscious of where they are now from a diversity perspective but critically where are they heading in terms of promoting and encouraging diversity in their workplace. We also encourage people to nominate companies and individuals that they think are worthy entrants.”
The 2018 Awards will be judged by over 70 local and international judges; Rutherford added that the presence of top people is encouraging. “Their interest in New Zealand, our tech sector and the Awards is just amazing and a great reflection of the achievements of our tech companies on the global stage.”
She said the Hi-Tech Awards present an opportunity for New Zealand technology companies to gain recognition for their achievements, “and to get their company in front of a world-class group of local and international business leaders.”
The Awards are made in 13 categories:
- PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year
- Coretex Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the year
- NZVIF Hi-Tech Start-up Company of the year
- Callaghan Innovation Maori Innovation
- Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution
- NZTE Best Hi-Tech for the Agritech Sector
- Quick Circuit Best Contribution by an Internationally Headquartered Company
- Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service
- IBM Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual of the Year
- ATEED Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Creative Sector
- Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product
- Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever of the year
- Visa IT Best Technology Solution for the Public Good
Entries for the 2018 Awards close at 5pm on Monday, 5 March. Finalists will be announced at simultaneous events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on 28 March, and winners will be presented with their trophies at a gala dinner in Christchurch on 25 May.
