NEWSROOM
University of Auckland alumni shine at NZ Hi-Tech Awards
7 April 2022
University of Auckland alumni have crowded this year’s NZ Hi-Tech Awards finalists list, with alumni present in every category. The NZ Hi-Tech Awards celebrate New Zealand’s most successful hi-tech companies and highest achieving individuals.
David Downs, Chair of the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, says the standard of entries continues to grow every year as does the overall interest in the awards. “This year’s finalists span the full spectrum of the hi-tech sector and the country – the level of innovative tech products and solutions continues to astound us all. It’s awesome to not only see the quality of the entries but also the diversity amongst the entrants, particularly in a year which again has been so challenging.”
Director of the University of Auckland Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Darsel Keane says she is thrilled to see so many alumni represented in the finalists list. “Many of the finalists have been through CIE programmes such as Velocity, and we are so proud of our graduates both for their personal achievements and for what this means to New Zealand.”
Downs says “Despite the continued impact of COVID and ongoing challenges around the skills shortage, the tech sector continues to lead the way in putting New Zealand well and truly on the global map. It has proven its resilience and is at the forefront of our export economy both in terms of the jobs being created and in regard to the revenues it’s generating for the country.”
Keane says that she looks forward to seeing even more alumni represented in future years. “At CIE we strive to help develop the potential in those who will lead New Zealand to better social and economic prosperity. We have a second location, a Technology Hub, currently being built with support from Vodafone, that will open later this year. This will give us plenty more opportunities to develop future generations of innovators.”
Winners will be announced at the 2022 NZ Hi-Tech Awards Gala Dinner, taking place on Friday 5 August 2022 at TSB Arena in Wellington.
Congratulations to our University of Auckland alumni
PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year finalists
Kami – Co-founders Bob Drummond, Alliv Samson, Jordan Thoms and Hengjie Wang
PushPay – Co-founder Chris Heaslip
Seequent – CFO Philip Keith
Wellington Drive Technologies – CTO Dave Howell, Non Executive Director Keith Oliver
Pacific Edge Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Auror – Technical Co-founder James Corbett
NanoLayr – CEO Ray Connor
Punakiki Fund Hi-Tech Startup Company of the Year
Halter – Co-founders Max Olson and Craig Piggott, COO Mark MacLeod-Smith
Hectre – Founder Matty Blomfield
Seen Safety – Director Carl Steward
IBM Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual
Pieta Brown
Graham Le Gros
Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year
Height Project Management – Co-founder Warner Cowin
Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution
M2X – General Manager James Turner
Parkable – Co-founder Brody Nelson, COO Mara Fisher
Wellington Drive Technologies – CTO Dave Howell, Non Executive Director Keith Oliver
Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service
First AML – Co-founders Bion Behdin, Chris Caigou and Milan Cooper
Reveal – Managing Director David Corrick
Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product
Alimetry – CEO Greg O’Grady and CSO Stefan Calder
StretchSense – Founder Ben O’Brien
The Insides Company – Director and COO John Davidson, Founder Greg O’Grady
Halo Consulting Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector
Microsoft – Diversity and Inclusion Chief of Staff Lohit Batra and Global Co-Chair of Indigenous ERG Dan Walker
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Most Innovative Hi-Tech Argritech Solution
Cropsy Technologies – Co-founders Rory Buchanan, Leila Deljkovic and Winston Su
Hectre – Founder Matty Blomfield
Smart Machine – CTO Reuben Finch
Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever
Imche Fourie
Soul Machines Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution
Alimetry – CEO Greg O’Grady and CSO Stefan Calder
Halter – Co-founders Max Olson and Craig Piggott, COO Mark MacLeod-Smith
Marama Labs – Director Maria Jose Alvarez
Auckland Unlimited Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution
Alimetry – CEO Greg O’Grady and CSO Stefan Calder
Imagr – CFO Nick Wilson, VP of Engineering Mark Weir
StretchSense – Founder Ben O’Brien
Visa Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good
Kara Technologies – Co-founders Farmehr Farhour, Sahar Izadi and Arash Tayebi
7 April 2022
University of Auckland alumni have crowded this year’s NZ Hi-Tech Awards finalists list, with alumni present in every category. The NZ Hi-Tech Awards celebrate New Zealand’s most successful hi-tech companies and highest achieving individuals.
David Downs, Chair of the NZ Hi-Tech Trust, says the standard of entries continues to grow every year as does the overall interest in the awards. “This year’s finalists span the full spectrum of the hi-tech sector and the country – the level of innovative tech products and solutions continues to astound us all. It’s awesome to not only see the quality of the entries but also the diversity amongst the entrants, particularly in a year which again has been so challenging.”
Director of the University of Auckland Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Darsel Keane says she is thrilled to see so many alumni represented in the finalists list. “Many of the finalists have been through CIE programmes such as Velocity, and we are so proud of our graduates both for their personal achievements and for what this means to New Zealand.”
Downs says “Despite the continued impact of COVID and ongoing challenges around the skills shortage, the tech sector continues to lead the way in putting New Zealand well and truly on the global map. It has proven its resilience and is at the forefront of our export economy both in terms of the jobs being created and in regard to the revenues it’s generating for the country.”
Keane says that she looks forward to seeing even more alumni represented in future years. “At CIE we strive to help develop the potential in those who will lead New Zealand to better social and economic prosperity. We have a second location, a Technology Hub, currently being built with support from Vodafone, that will open later this year. This will give us plenty more opportunities to develop future generations of innovators.”
Winners will be announced at the 2022 NZ Hi-Tech Awards Gala Dinner, taking place on Friday 5 August 2022 at TSB Arena in Wellington.
Congratulations to our University of Auckland alumni
PwC Hi-Tech Company of the Year finalists
Kami – Co-founders Bob Drummond, Alliv Samson, Jordan Thoms and Hengjie Wang
PushPay – Co-founder Chris Heaslip
Seequent – CFO Philip Keith
Wellington Drive Technologies – CTO Dave Howell, Non Executive Director Keith Oliver
Pacific Edge Hi-Tech Emerging Company of the Year
Auror – Technical Co-founder James Corbett
NanoLayr – CEO Ray Connor
Punakiki Fund Hi-Tech Startup Company of the Year
Halter – Co-founders Max Olson and Craig Piggott, COO Mark MacLeod-Smith
Hectre – Founder Matty Blomfield
Seen Safety – Director Carl Steward
IBM Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual
Pieta Brown
Graham Le Gros
Callaghan Innovation Hi-Tech Kamupene Māori o te Tau – Māori Company of the Year
Height Project Management – Co-founder Warner Cowin
Duncan Cotterill Most Innovative Hi-Tech Software Solution
M2X – General Manager James Turner
Parkable – Co-founder Brody Nelson, COO Mara Fisher
Wellington Drive Technologies – CTO Dave Howell, Non Executive Director Keith Oliver
Kiwibank Most Innovative Hi-Tech Service
First AML – Co-founders Bion Behdin, Chris Caigou and Milan Cooper
Reveal – Managing Director David Corrick
Endace Most Innovative Hi-Tech Hardware Product
Alimetry – CEO Greg O’Grady and CSO Stefan Calder
StretchSense – Founder Ben O’Brien
The Insides Company – Director and COO John Davidson, Founder Greg O’Grady
Halo Consulting Best Contribution to the NZ Tech Sector
Microsoft – Diversity and Inclusion Chief of Staff Lohit Batra and Global Co-Chair of Indigenous ERG Dan Walker
New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Most Innovative Hi-Tech Argritech Solution
Cropsy Technologies – Co-founders Rory Buchanan, Leila Deljkovic and Winston Su
Hectre – Founder Matty Blomfield
Smart Machine – CTO Reuben Finch
Xero Hi-Tech Young Achiever
Imche Fourie
Soul Machines Most Innovative Deep Tech Solution
Alimetry – CEO Greg O’Grady and CSO Stefan Calder
Halter – Co-founders Max Olson and Craig Piggott, COO Mark MacLeod-Smith
Marama Labs – Director Maria Jose Alvarez
Auckland Unlimited Most Innovative Hi-Tech Creative Technology Solution
Alimetry – CEO Greg O’Grady and CSO Stefan Calder
Imagr – CFO Nick Wilson, VP of Engineering Mark Weir
StretchSense – Founder Ben O’Brien
Visa Best Hi-Tech Solution for the Public Good
Kara Technologies – Co-founders Farmehr Farhour, Sahar Izadi and Arash Tayebi
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PRIVATE BAG 92019, AUCKLAND
