Blues Awards celebrate University of Auckland business and social innovation 

A parade of students from different disciplines crossed the stage at the 2024 University of Auckland Blues Awards to have their extraordinary achievements in a wide range of fields recognised.

Rooted in a tradition that began at Oxford and Cambridge, the Blues Awards originally highlighted sporting excellence. Over time, the awards have evolved, and at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, they now encompass not only Arts and Culture, but also Service and Leadership, and Business and Innovation. Each award category is rigorously assessed by a panel of judges, with excellence determined through evidence such as international awards or endorsements from industry leaders. The University of Auckland Blues Awards was a spectacular celebration hosted by Hilary Barry, with musical performances by university students.

This year, 21 students received Business and Innovation Blues. Winner of the Most Meritorious Innovation (Business and Innovation) was Jean-Luc Ellis, co-founder of WasteXpert, which won the Velocity $100k Challenge, delivered by the University of Auckland Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). WasteXpert is now a leading company in the waste reduction space, collaborating with major organisations like Auckland Council, The Warehouse Group and PlaceMakers with plans for international expansion by 2026.

Dr Drew Franklin, Business School Associate Dean External Engagement says, “The accomplishments of this year’s Business and Innovation Blues recipients reflect the remarkable opportunities available at the University, from the chance to compete internationally at Case competitions managed by the Business School, to support for launching start-ups. These awards demonstrate how co-curricular experiences can greatly enhance core academic study.”

CIE participants were also well represented in the Service and Leadership category, making up three-quarters of the awardees. These included founders of social enterprises such as Youth Climate Collective and Little Labs, a rural STEM education charity.

Among the Blues Awards recipients was Rebecca Clapp, founder of CycleMate, a social enterprise committed to improving access to sanitary care for menstruating workers in the construction industry. CycleMate’s impact was recently recognised internationally when it secured a prize at the RISE (Real Impact on Society and Environment) competition. Rebecca, who also participated in a CIE Silicon Valley study tour earlier this year, was honoured with a Business and Innovation Blues Award and was a finalist for the Major Pasifika Award. Reflecting on her recognition, she says “I’m honoured to have my recent efforts acknowledged with this award. I’m also very thankful for the University for making the Blues Awards possible and to CIE for the invaluable opportunities I’ve been involved in for my professional and personal development.”

See the full list of Blues Awards winners