Founder of the Wairarapa Women in Business Group Nikki King. PHOTO/JOHN LAZO-RON
JOHN LAZO-RON
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As the countdown begins toward Wairarapa’s Remarkable Women in Business Expo, nominations for the associating inaugural Remarkable Women Awards have been made public.
More than 50 Wairarapa women have been nominated across nine categories, with the winners to be announced at a glittering dinner at Wairarapa’s Solway Showgrounds on June 18-19.
Initially there were eight awards, with the ‘Contribution to Wairarapa’s Community’ award now added to the showpiece.
The awards were part of the Remarkable Women in Business Expo running for the first time this year.
The general public nominated the finalists, and a panel of judges pick the winners based on the information about the nominee.
Wairarapa Women in Business Group founder and co-host of the event Nikki King said there were 120 seats for the awards and 41 tickets has sold within 24 hours of announcing the finalists.
“Everything is tracking really well,” she said.
“The quantity and quality of nominations we’ve received for this inaugural event have been quite incredible.
“Our independent judges have a very tough task ahead of them to pick winners from such a diverse and exceptional group of women.
“We’re all looking forward to hearing their stories because each one of them has achieved so much, often in the face of enormous challenges.”
King said all nominees thoroughly deserved to be considered for their considerable contribution to the region.
“What was really nice was hearing of the excitement of the ladies who got nominated.
“It’s nice for these women to be recognised for what they do. It makes them feel special, and they are special for what they do.”
King, expecting a full house for the awards, said she was overwhelmed by the response to the upcoming event in general, which outgrew her initial expectations.
“I didn’t think it would grow so big, but it has grown so huge,” she said.
“I think every time we make a step further with this, it gets more exciting.
“Women here have really embraced this. I think they’ve been waiting for it, to be honest.”
The expo aims to showcase, celebrate, and inspire people by the diverse range of successful woman who make up Wairarapa’s business community.
King said they would have decision-makers and influencers from across Wairarapa on display with more than 26 indoor stalls during the two-day event, while having some outdoor stalls also.
She said the expo would have more than just corporate stalls with a tattoo artist also coming in to showcase her skills, giving people a chance to get a tattoo.
“We have a wide range of different businesses, so there’s a good spread of different women’s businesses we have got.”
King said there was a little misunderstanding with some people believing the expo was solely for women, but she encouraged men to come along.
“It’s called Remarkable Women, but men can come in and see what our women are doing. We positively want men to support these women.”
- Tickets to the Remarkable Women Awards were strictly limited and could be bought online at remarkablebusinesswomen.co.nz
The awards nominees
Innovation
Becky Bateman
Daria Borshcheva
Heidi Ward-McGrath
Jane Cooper and Lesley Reidy
Marie-Claire Andrews
Sara Orsborn
Sarah Percy and Sarah Donaldson
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Anna Nielsen
Jeanette Southey
Olivia Trilford
Phillipa Osborne
Robin Corbett
Sharon Garrett
Significant Contribution to Conservation and Environmental Protection
Ceara Lile
Claire Wells
Emily Court
Joanna Hehir
Rachael Dell
Young Businesswoman to Watch
Bridie Manson and Jenny Afentakis
Danielle Burkhart
Ella Hayes
Emily Ireland
Eva Wintle
Monique Kloeg
Sarah Tredray
Exceptional Marketing
Anna Beetham
Dudley-Ann Hill
Erica Kinder
Hilary Wilke
Jenni Hall
Jo Kempton
Kiri Elworthy and Jenny Bargh
Masterton District Council Award for Outstanding Wisdom and Guidance
Jude Clark
Mena Antonio
Nickie Sheehan
Toni Kennerley
Tracey Higgins
Tracey Lindsay
Wendy Morrison
Promotion of Tikanga Maori
Amber Craig
Andrea Rutene
Cimone Grayson
Jamie Marurai
Lauren Spicer
Te Ataahia Castorina
More FM Remarkable Inspiration Award
Carissa Fairbrother
Dot Bissett
Esther Bunning
Jeanette Hall
Lucinda Maunsell
Prue Hamill
Toni Devenny
Contribution to Wairarapa’s Community
Karen Williams
Kim Register
Prue Smith
Suzie Adamson
Trish Wilkinson
