Rotorua Business Awards: Judges announced

A high-calibre judging panel has been announced for this year's Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards.

Twelve of Rotorua's best business minds make up the panel that will determine the category winners and the supreme winner for 2013.

Convenor of judges Linda Macpherson said she was delighted to announce the judging panel, whose combined contribution and role was critical to the credibility of the awards.

"This year all entrants will be critiqued and the winners will be recognised, by an impressive line-up of some of Rotorua's top business minds from a diverse range of industries".

Agrodome took out the supreme award last year and its director Warren Harford has this year joined the judging panel.

"The Westpac Rotorua Business Excellence Awards is hugely important to the Rotorua business community. The awards give recognition to those in Rotorua making a true commitment to their business, which is great for employment and the region's development. Having won it last year, I am pleased to be able to give something back by committing my time and expertise to the judging process."

Talent ID Recruitment director Kellie Hamlett, a previous category winner and judge of the employee of the year distinction award, said she was delighted to be part of the judging panel.

"For me, it's exciting to see the showcase of business talent that we have on offer in our region, it's both invigorating and motivating to see the diversity and creativeness. I'm really looking forward to the processes beginning, with a strong line-up of judges and a rigorous process, I am sure that we will be in for a challenge this year."

First-time judge Barry Murphy, chief financial officer of forestry company PF Olsen, agreed.

"The business awards is an exciting, positive well-run process that I think will be great to be part of - for contestants and judges. They represent a good opportunity for businesses to receive an impartial review, constructive feedback and publicity, especially if a winner or finalist. All this at no cost!

"The positive benefits the awards have on businesses has to be good for Rotorua too."

The judges will be paired up, with each pair allocated a Business Excellence Award category. They will review all entries for their category then visit each entrant for one to two hours to gain a better understanding of the business. The full judging panel then meets to decide the finalists for each category. After plenty of debate and deliberations, the winners of each category are chosen by the panel after finalists give a 30 minute presentation.

In addition to the Business Excellence Awards, there are six Awards of Distinction, which are judged by the sponsors of each award. Entries for the Business Excellence Awards close on June 14 and the Awards of Distinction close on June 28. A gala dinner at the Energy Events Centre will be held in October to announce the winners.

THE 2013 JUDGES

LINDA MACPHERSON: Convenor of judges. Director, Shout Marketing.

WARREN HARFORD: Director of Agrodome, Supreme Winner 2012.

BARRY MURPHY: Chief financial officer, PF Olsen.

MEREPEKA RAUKAWA-TAIT: Councillor, Rotorua District Council and director, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait Consulting Group.

DR CLARKE RAYMOND: Director of research, Waiariki Institute of Technology.

TIM WILD: Director, Bright Wild Thomas Chartered Accountants.

HILDA DUFTY: Director, Salon St Bruno, Supreme Winner 2011.

LLOYD UPSTON: Senior business manager, Westpac Rotorua.

LOUIS SYLVESTER: Aquatic and leisure manager, Rotorua District Council.

KELLIE HAMLETT: Director, Talent ID Recruitment.

ADAM MILLS: Wood supply manager, Carter Holt Harvey Pulp & Paper.

CRAIG KILMISTER: Chartered accountant, Peter Spurdle & Associates.

TERRY WHEELER: Director, Colour Concepts.