celebrating outstanding success and leadership
Cooperative Business NZ annual awards 2025
The Cooperative Business NZ Annual Awards recognise outstanding leadership and success within the co-operative and mutual business sector.
Annual awards and cocktail evening
What is it?
One of the most popular events on the Cooperative Business NZ calendar, the Annual Awards evening is a night of celebration and networking.
Across a number of categories, organisations and individuals can be nominated for an award which is then judged by an independent panel.
The nominations and judging take place between August and October and culminate in the Annual Awards cocktail evening. The night features canapés and drinks, an awards ceremony, supper and ample networking time.
Anyone can attend, regardless of whether you or your organisation is up for an award. It’s a great opportunity to connect with your fellow business peers and catch up with old and new faces from across the cooperative community.
Cooperative & mutual resilience
Enduring Service Awards
The Awards Evening also provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the longevity and resilience of the cooperative and mutual models.
Full members who have reached a milestone of 25, 50, 75, 100 or over 100 years operation as a cooperative or mutual are awarded an Enduring Service Award in this non-judged award category.
Reaching these milestones is a testament to the longevity and sustainability of the cooperative model.
awards overview
How it works
Across various categories, organisations and individuals can be nominated for an award, which is then judged by an independent panel.
The Award categories are:
- Cooperative/Mutual of the Year
- Leader of the Year
- Emerging Leader of the Year
- Cooperation Innovation Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
meet the judges
our independent judging panel
Ross Smith
Ross Smith served as Chief Executive Officer of SBS Bank (formerly Southland Building Society) for over two decades, after joining the board in 1992 and becoming CEO that year.
Under his leadership, SBS transitioned in October 2008 from a building society to become officially registered as SBS Bank—the first such transformation in New Zealand, making it the world’s first building society to gain full bank registration while retaining its mutual structure.
A recognised leader in New Zealand’s mutual sector, Ross brought deep expertise in cooperative and member‑owned financial institutions. He continues this commitment today by serving as a judge for the Cooperative Business NZ Annual Awards, helping celebrate excellence in the mutual space.
Rupert Rouch
Rupert Rouch is a Partner at Buddle Findlay, based in Wellington, where he specialises in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, joint ventures, and advising incorporated societies and cooperative companies .
A corporate and commercial lawyer with deep expertise in cooperative structures, he regularly helps mutuals with governance, constitutional compliance under the Companies Act, capital structuring, and major transactions.
Buddle Findlay is renowned as one of New Zealand’s leading advisory firms for cooperatives and mutuals—a legacy forged over decades.
Rupert joins the judging panel for the Cooperative Business NZ Annual Awards, bringing a strong grounding in legal and regulatory support for member‑owned organisations.
Jeffrey Stangl
Dr Jeffrey Stangl is Associate Dean, International and Executive Education at Massey University’s Business School, where he has served for over two decades in senior academic and leadership roles.
His work focuses on building strategic global partnerships, advancing executive education, and fostering international engagement for New Zealand’s tertiary sector.
A respected advocate for professional and business education, Jeffrey also served as President of the CFA Society of New Zealand and has held various board positions.
He has been a judge for the Cooperative Business New Zealand Annual Awards since 2022, bringing extensive experience in governance, education, and international collaboration.
Andrew Kempson
Andrew Kempson is General Manager of Global Climate Policy at Fonterra Co-operative, where he leads strategy and advocacy on emissions reduction, public policy, and international climate engagement.
With over a decade at Fonterra in sustainability and farmer-focused roles, he brings a deep understanding of cooperative values in action.
Andrew plays a key role in leading Fonterra’s sustainability strategy and was a driving force behind the establishment of the AgriZeroNZ public-private partnership.
He joins the Cooperative Business NZ Annual Awards judging panel with strong credentials in co-op sector leadership and member engagement know-how.