Nominations are now open for the Cooperative Business New Zealand Annual Awards 2020.
The Annual Awards are a celebration of outstanding leadership and success within the New Zealand co-operative sector for the 2019 / 2020 year (1 June 2019 to 31 May 2020).
Nominations across all four award categories are open until Monday 28 September 2020 with the Annual Award ceremony being held in Christchurch. We are anticipating hosting the event on Thursday 26 November 2020 however given the current environment, event details will be confirmed closer to the time.
The awards are also a chance to celebrate members that have reached significant milestones and this year Electricity Ashburton is marking 25 years in business.
Cooperative Business New Zealand Chief Executive Roz Henry says: “This year has been challenging on so many fronts. We’d like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and recognise the significant contribution made by so many of our members’ staff, management and governors in serving their co-operative businesses, organisations, local communities and the economy.”
“There is much to celebrate, so please make sure you nominate your business, or a colleague, in one or more of the categories.”
“This year we have reviewed the categories and we are delighted to introduce a new award – the Emerging Leader Award. This aims to recognise the work and contribution that the next generation of leaders are making; both within an established co-operative or in establishing new co-operatives.”
Award categories
Nominations are invited for the following award categories:
1. Co-operative Business of the Year
This award will be presented to a Cooperative Business NZ Full member (organisation) that has made a significant and positive impact within the co-operative community during the 2019 / 20 year.
The award is about celebrating the success of the co-operative business model, and the winner will have clearly demonstrated the value of the model in returning benefits to members, and in addition, possibly to local communities.
2. Co-operative Leader of the Year
This award will be presented to an individual who has shown significant co-operative leadership either within a members’ co-operative or the co-operative sector generally over the 2019 / 20 year.
The nominee must have clearly demonstrated:
- Co-operative leadership
- Vision and courage for the co-operative model
- Successful initiative(s) that have benefited their co-operative or the co-operative sector
- Commitment and support of well-recognised and accepted co-operative principles.
This award is open to Individual members and individuals working within an organisation that is a Full member of Cooperative Business NZ.
3. Outstanding Co-operative Contribution
This award is to recognise an individual that over the long term (10 plus years) has contributed significantly to the success of the co-operative model for a Cooperative Business NZ member organisation, or to the wider co-operative sector here in New Zealand.
This award is not intended to just recognise long service, it is to recognise significant contributions made to developing a member’s co-operative business model and/or to the broader co-operative sector here in New Zealand.
This award is open to all members of Cooperative Business NZ, regardless of membership type.
4. Emerging Leader of the Year
A new category for 2020, this award will be presented to an individual (under 35) who is making their mark within their member organisation or an individual who has established a co-operative.
The award aims to recognise contribution through innovation, driving best practice, collaboration or co-operation.
This award is open to individuals working within an organisation that is a Full or Provisional member of Cooperative Business NZ.
Making a nomination
Nominations are now open until Monday 28 September 2020.
You can nominate yourself or you can nominate employees, managers or directors of any Cooperative Business NZ member (Full, Corporate Associate, Provisional, Individual Associate and Honorary) in the eligible categories.
All nominations will be considered by an Independent Review Panel that has been appointed by Cooperative Business NZ Board.
Cooperative Business NZ’s Board will have oversight of the nominations and provide input, however, the final decision will sit with our independent panelists. We are pleased to advise that our panel this year will once again be made up of Dr Lisa Callagher (University of Auckland), Alastair Hercus (Buddle Findlay) and Phil McKendry (Electricity Ashburton).
Nomination forms
Co-operative Business of the Year
Co-operative Leader of the Year
Outstanding Co-operative Contribution
Event details
Due to the ongoing uncertainty around possible future travel and gathering restrictions, we are planning on hosting a more informal celebration event this year. This will enable flexibility regarding the venue, and date if need be for guests.
To assist with planning, could you please advise of your intention to attend this event by the close of nominations on Monday 28 September. Please email us at info@nz.coop to confirm, letting us know how many in your organisation or group intend to attend.
Closer to the time, we will confirm event details including location, cost and details of any accommodation deals. Our intention is to make this a fun evening to enable our members to come together and catch up on the past year’s events. We will keep costs to a minimum to enable maximum attendance.
Co-operative Governance Accelerator Programme
The two-day Co-operative Governance Accelerator Programme will be held before the award ceremony in Christchurch on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November.
Presented by Westlake Governance, this advanced programme is specifically tailored to the co-operative model.
The programme has received excellent feedback from our members’ senior leaders who have attended in the past.
The programme covers topics including the co-operative difference, working with shareholders, succession, risk and boardroom dynamics.
