Te Whare Whakahōnore i ngā Rakahinonga Wāhine o Aotearoa

The New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs

The Hall of Fame celebrates the significant impact of women whose brilliance has changed the way things are done and whose generosity has impacted our world for the better.

Nominations are welcomed from all women.

Register to attend

What is the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs?

Created in 2012, the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs celebrates the success of women entrepreneurs in Aotearoa. These are women who are breaking down barriers, chasing their goals, creating change and a lasting impact on the world.

Each year we take the time to honour and celebrate these women, inducting 3 wāhine into the esteemed ranks of the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs.

By celebrating the accomplishments of these women, we applaud their hard work and efforts, as well as create accessible examples for women to come.

Te Ao Māori

Co.OfWomen holds a deep respect for Te Ao Māori and from the very start, we began to reflect this in the ceremony. We are deeply thankful and have aroha nui for Kiri Nathan, Kim Muriwai, Miriama Kamo and all the wāhine Maori within our community who continue to guide us. We are also grateful to engage with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei who take part in the annual ceremonies and provide oversight and direction on the use of Te Ao Māori.

Te reo

Kim Muriwai led the development for the te reo translation, consulting with other reo experts as there was no specific word for women entrepreneurs.

2023 nominations open to Feb 28

Do you know women entrepreneur who deserves to be recognised for her achievements? If she meets the criteria below, we'd love to hear from you.

Nomination Criteria

Nominations are open to all women entrepreneurs, members and non-members who meet the nomination criteria. Please email all nominations to marketing@coofwomen.biz

1. Business Success
Have achieved significant national or global success, the business is mature of exited.

2. Industry Impact
Their work has had a significant, tangible impact on their industry.

3. Supporting Women
Involved with initiatives dedicated to championing women success.

4. Making a difference
Applying their resources/profits for the good of others in philanthropic endeavours.

Nominate

Tara Lorigan MNZM

Co.Of Women founder

Dr Lee Mathias ONZM

Induction Panel Chair
Inducted 2015

Sharon Hunter

Ex Board Member
Inducted 2012

Sophie Gilmour

Co.Of Women Board Chair

Ranjna Patel ONZM

Ex Board Member
Inducted 2014

2012-2022

Our New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs Inductees

**Maxine Simmons CNZM | Bio Tech Pioneer | 2022**

Maxine is an entrepreneur, investor, and champion of the early-stage biotech industry in Aotearoa. She has over 30 years of commercial experience in start-up and expansion stage private company development. Maxine co-founded one of New Zealand's first biotechnology companies and was awarded a Distinguished New Zealand Biotechnologist Award in recognition for growing a significant biotechnology export business. Subsequently, Maxine established a biotechnology consulting company, BioCatalyst which has provided business advisory services to many early-stage biotechnology ventures. Maxine holds a Master of Science (Hons) degree in biological science from the University of Auckland and is a chartered member of the NZ Institute of Directors. She was a founding director of Industry New Zealand (now New Zealand Trade and Enterprise), a director of NZ's Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, Industrial Research Ltd, and Chair of the NZ biotechnology Industry organization, NZBIO. Maxine currently serves on the board of several New Zealand private companies and is a General Partner of Healthtech venture fund, CaraMed Capital.

**Frances Valentina CNZM | Tech Futurist | 2022**

Frances Valintine is an entrepreneur, educator and technologist who is focused on the future of work, skills and technologies. For over 20 years she has been dedicated to shifting education and business practice to develop the capabilities needed to respond to the future. She founded both her current organisations The Mind Lab and Tech Futures Lab as Aotearoa’s first private graduate schools for professionals focused on developing their confidence in technologies, transformation change, organisational resilience and new forms of leadership. These institutes have grown significantly over the past nine years to become leading institutes in Australasia. Frances sits on the board of Watercare, is a Director at the University of Silicon Valley and a Director of On Being Bold, an organisation developed to support and encourage emerging women leaders. Frances is a mentor to many young women both in New Zealand and in India, and for many years she has given her time to support, guide and encourage other women entrepreneurs. This mentoring has been through formal programmes including the First Foundation and Talentnomics, a women's empowerment programme in Washington DC.

**Rhonda Kite MNZM | Indigenous Language Translation Trailblazer | 2022**

Rhonda Kite is a true entrepreneur who has focused her career on the future of creative labour, skills, and technologies. Her three-decade-long voyage of exploration into the realm of creative production in sound and screen got its start with Kiwa Digital. Kiwa is a mixed media creative technology company founded by Rhonda with the intention of producing technologies that would contribute to the revitalisation and retention of indigenous languages. She is a Life Member of the Maori Women's Welfare League and served for three years on the foundation Board of Co.OfWomen, Aotearoa’s premier women's success organisation, where she has also been a member since 2013. A member of the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, Rhonda also sits on the board of her Iwi, Te Aupouri, and is the Chair of Te Hiku Iwi Development Trust. This trust is tasked with making systemic changes in government policy in order to improve the quality of life for Māori whanau, hapu, and Iwi of the far north. In addition, she serves as a Co-Chair of Toi Mai Workforce Development Council in regard to the Reformation of Vocational Education.

**Dame Suzie Moncrieff | Arts Innovator | 2021**

Dame Suzie Moncrieff is the creator and founder of the internationally renowned brand, World of WearableArt. Over the last 30 years, Suzie grew WOW into the brand it is today. It started as a small local event outside a rural cottage near Nelson and has grown into a spectacular stage phenomenon, attracting entries from over 40 countries and an audience of around 60,000 each year. World of WearableArt is now a multi-faceted creative company that encompasses the world’s leading wearable art competition, producing the annual Awards Show and exhibition activity both locally and internationally. Suzie has received several awards for her achievements and contribution to the arts.
She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998 and a Dame in 2011 when she was also awarded Wellingtonian of the Year for her contribution to the arts. In 2014 Suzie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Massey University for her contribution to art and design. In 2015 Suzie was named New Zealand’s Deloitte Top 200 Visionary Leader for the Year.

**Theresa Gattung CNZM | Feminist Philanthropist | 2021**
Theresa Gattung is a renowned New Zealand business leader. She is an advocate, author, philanthropist, and investo. Theresa has long been a trailblazer for women leaders and is perhaps best known for her role as CEO of Telecom New Zealand. Since leaving Telecom, she has divided her time between professional governance, entrepreneurial pursuits, and philanthropic work. Theresa has held multiple governance positions including, Chair at AIA Australia and New Zealand, Telco Technology Services, Co.OfWomen, Wellington Board of the SPCA and the Royal New Zealand SPCA National Board. In addition, she is a member of the National Advisory Board on Women's Employment as well as the board of Global Women.
Theresa is involved in numerous not-for-profit and philanthropic efforts, including being on the Global Board of World Pulse, being co-founder of the World Women Charitable Trust and Patron of the Cambodia Charitable Trust. In addition, she is a supporter of The Pūriri Education Charitable Trust, Kootuitui ki Papakura, Gandhi Nivas, the Aunties and Amnesty International. In the 2015 New Year's Honours List, Theresa was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to business and philanthropy. She was also inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame at the 2015 TVNZ Marketing Awards. In 2017, she was named the inaugural winner of the NEXT Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award.

**Christine Sharma | Fashion Dynasty Doyenne | 2021**

Christine’s career in the fashion industry has spanned more than 45 years. She started her working life as a kindergarten teacher. While training for that qualification, she worked as a retail assistant and it was during this time that Christine found an unequivocal interest in the industry. Over the last 14 years, Christine has led RUBY as its Managing Director to become a household name in Aotearoa's fashion industry. It has become a brand best known and loved for the mutually nourishing relationship with its community. To date, RUBY has had over 700 employees, of which 98% have been women.
RUBY currently has seven retail stores across New Zealand, interacts with over one million customers every year and has amassed a large, loyal online following over 120,000 people. Throughout Christine's career, she's worked to support The Women's Refugee, Auckland City Mission and Dress for Success. She initially set up the collection for the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre when it first opened. For her work at the Refugee Resettlement Centre, she garnered a Rotary Award.

**Kiri Nathan MNZM | Te ao Māori Champion | 2021**

Kiri Nathan of Tai Tokerau and Waikato descent is the co-founder of the fashion brand KIRI NATHAN. The brand is renowned for the inspiration it derives from Aotearoa and Te Ao Māori. She is the first New Zealander to be invited by the British Council to the London Fashion Week International Showcase. She was also the first New Zealand Fashion designer to work with Walt Disney for the world premiere of MOANA. One of Kiri’s lifelong commitments and contributions has been to support other women. She is a member of Co.OfWomen and has advocated for and mentored women and girls for over 20 years. She is a member of the Wāhine Toa roopu that identifies prominent wāhine Māori leaders. One of Kiri’s focuses has been advocating for more Wāhine Māori presence in groups and spaces predominantly identified as non-Māori. Kiri is a founding board member of the I have a Dream charitable trust. In her philanthropic work, she supports the education of over 1,500 decile one children. Kiri also sits on the New Zealand China Council and Mindful Fashion boards. In the 2020 Queens Birthday honours, Kiri was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the fashion industry.

**Cecilia Robinson | Serial Entrepreneur | 2020**

Cecilia Robinson is most recognised as the founder and former CEO of My Food Bag, but the experienced entrepreneur founded her first business Au Pair Link in 2007, aged 21, and most recently she is the Founder and Co-CEO of Tend, all alongside her husband James Robinson. Touted as a serial entrepreneur and one of New Zealand’s most successful businesswomen, she is also the mother of two young children, Tom and Leila, and a passionate advocate for women and mothers, while still CEO of My Food Bag Cecilia launched one of the most generous private company schemes in NZ with provision for 18 weeks paid parental leave. Over the past decade, she has been a mentor to women in business and the community. She is currently providing mentoring and business strategy to two start-ups and established businesswomen challenged by the post-COVID lockdown economy. Cecilia is the founding Trustee of Princes Trust in New Zealand focussing on Youth Entrepreneurship and the Environment and supports multiple NZ charities and social enterprises.

**Dame Hinewehi Mohi DNZM | Te reo Māori Champion | 2020**

Dame Hinewehi Mohi, DNZM has tribal affiliations with Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāi Tūhoe. She made history in 1999 when she was asked to sing the New Zealand national anthem at the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham. She chose to sing the anthem only in Māori, sparking controversy and significant media attention. As a result, the government announced a directive that the national anthem should be sung bilingually at all important events and fixtures. Her contribution to NZ society began in broadcasting, and she is still involved with it over 30 years later. She has worked as a presenter and director, and as the first woman producer of TVNZ’s Marae programme she has inspired many others in the sector. Through her own production company, Hinewehi has produced over 300 hours of TV and digital content adding to and reinforcing the importance of Māori language and culture in Aotearoa. Hinewehi is well known for her passion for music and her belief in its therapeutic power. After her daughter Hineraukatauri was born with cerebral palsy, Hinewehi co-founded the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, helping children and adults with a wide range of special needs including Down Syndrome, Autism, and Dementia. 16 years on, the Centre provides music therapy for over 520 people each week, in its three facilities in Whangārei, Auckland, and Hawkes Bay.

**Marisa Fong | Recruitment Industry Disruptor | 2020**
Hinewehi Mohi, MNZM has tribal affiliations with Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāi Tūhoe. She made history in 1999 when she was asked to sing the New Zealand national anthem at the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham. She chose to sing the anthem only in Māori, sparking controversy and significant media attention. As a result, the government announced a directive that the national anthem should be sung bilingually at all important events and fixtures. Her contribution to NZ society began in broadcasting, and she is still involved with it over 30 years later. She has worked as a presenter and director, and as the first woman producer of TVNZ’s Marae programme she has inspired many others in the sector. Through her own production company, Hinewehi has produced over 300 hours of TV and digital content adding to and reinforcing the importance of Māori language and culture in Aotearoa. Hinewehi is well known for her passion for music and her belief in its therapeutic power. After her daughter Hineraukatauri was born with cerebral palsy, Hinewehi co-founded the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, helping children and adults with a wide range of special needs including Down Syndrome, Autism, and Dementia. 16 years on, the Centre provides music therapy for over 520 people each week, in its three facilities in Whangārei, Auckland, and Hawkes Bay.

**Dame Bronwen Holdsworth | Global Engineering Innovator | 2019**
Dame Bronwen is finance director and chairman of the Holdsworth Group whose flagship company, Pultron Composites Ltd, is internationally regarded with world-class manufacturing facilities in NZ and Dubai. Pultron is a leader in the research, development and manufacturing of high-performance glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) pultrusions and has a track record of rapid innovation and R&D achievement, successfully developing more than 45 new specialist structural products used internationally in various civil/infrastructure structures. Over the years, Dame Bronwen has been involved with a range of activities, both locally and nationally, in the areas of the arts, education and business, such as the East Coast Business Development Board, Gisborne Opera Festival, Prime Minister’s Enterprise Council, TVNZ board and many others. She was the establishing chairman of First Light Tourism and is the current trustee of various trusts such as the Gisborne War Memorial Theatre Trust and acting director of the NZSO. Dame Bronwen’s many accomplishments include Business Woman of the Year in 1988; NZ Commemoration Medal in 1990; Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 1997; a Gisborne Millennium Medal in 2000; and was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in June 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

**Josephine Gagan | Healthcare Champion | 2019**
Josephine is a third-generation nurse who believed strong women role models sowed the seeds for her career in the health profession. After 15 years of experience in clinical nursing and health management in the UK, Jo was one of the first students to complete her Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Health Services) at The University of Auckland. Jo founded Geneva Healthcare in 1996, now one of the country’s largest and most respected providers of Home and Community Services. In May 2018, Jo was appointed as Chief Executive of New Zealand Health Group Limited, to become the largest community healthcare company in the country. The New Zealand Health Group provides services to 30,000 New Zealanders by employing over 12,000 staff and has a combined turnover of $600 million a year. Over the last two decades, through Jo’s leadership, Geneva has revolutionised the way carers were trained by developing leading-edge online platforms to deliver training anywhere, anytime. Jo also serves as the Chairperson of the Minds for Minds Charitable Trust, who raise funds to support research focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To date, Jo is the longest-serving women CEO amongst lead service providers in the New Zealand healthcare industry.

**Wynnis Armour | Recruitment Industry Disruptor | 2019**
After forays to secondary school teaching and Adult Education provision, Wynnis held senior management positions in both the public and private sectors. She was appointed by the then Dept. of Internal Affairs and the Dept. of Women’s Affairs to the three-person Video Labelling Body (a government body set up to provide guidance to consumers of the age group appropriateness of video content in a previously unregulated market). In 1990, Wynnis received a Commemorative medal for her work by the Minister of Women’s Affairs. And In 1994, worked for one of the largest recruitment conglomerates and quickly rose to become the company’s highest biller and a member of the Executive Leadership team. Wynnis then co-founded The Madison Group - one of New Zealand’s largest nationwide, staffing solutions companies and the recipient of many industry awards for innovation and excellence. To date, she sits on the Board of the publicly listed staffing company, making her one of the (all too few) women presently serving on an NZ listed company’s board.

**Peri Drysdale MBE | Sustainability Vanguard | 2018**
Peri Drysdale founded Snowy Peak Ltd in 1981, designing and producing high-quality, innovative luxury fibre blend knitwear which she subsequently exported globally. After pioneering the development of possum fibre and wool, knitwear brand Merinomink™ (fine merino and possum) was launched in 1996. Concerned with the long-term sustainability of the planet, Peri decided to found the lifestyle fashion brand Untouched World™ in 1998. In 2000 the Untouched World Charitable Trust was set up, funded by profits from sales from Untouched World clothing, products and services. Under Peri’s leadership, the company has won many awards in design, business excellence, exporting, retail, sustainability and ethical governance. In 1992 Peri was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to New Zealand (Manufacturing and Export). She has received the South Island Business Woman of the Year award 2002, and she was North and South Magazine's New Zealander of the Year for 2006. In May 2007 Peri was invited to present alongside 11 other companies from across the world at a UNESCO workshop in Bonn, Germany, on Corporate Education for Sustainable Development. Subsequently, Untouched World became the only fashion company in the world to carry the United Nations certification (UN DESD logo) on its garments for its ground-breaking programmes offered to young adults in leadership for a sustainable future. Untouched World continues to assist UNESCO on Education for Sustainable Development Strategy; and is listed one of three global exemplars in youth ESD on the UN GAP website. In 2018 the UWCT is partnering with the Mahatma Ghandi Institute to broaden the reach of these programmes beyond New Zealand.

**Mavis Mullins MNZM | Agricultural Innovator | 2018**
Mavis has a wealth of governance experience and, is an intuitive entrepreneur. Alongside her husband Koro and daughter Aria, Mavis is a Director of Paewai Mullins Shearing Ltd. This company was the first globally in this sector to achieve ISO 9002 certification. She also sits as a director on several public, private, whanau, and NGO businesses, including Chair of Atihau Whanganui Incorporation, a multiple-owned Maori entity, farming sheep beef, dairy, and forestry agribusiness, Chair of Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, which provides learning and skills for the primary sector, Chair of Rangitane Tu Mai Ra, a Treaty settlement entity where a settlement has been achieved and now building the platform for economic and social health and wealth. She is also the Patron and Chair of AgriWomens Development Trust (AWDT), where rural women are empowered to be the leaders they aspire to be for their communities and the primary sector. Her other current board positions include Hawkes Bay Rugby Union director, Poutama Trust immediate past chair and board member, Wool Industry Research Ltd (WIRL) board member, Accelerate 25 Lead Team member, and Nga Whenua Rahui. Mavis has received numerous accolades including the 2017 Inductee into the NZ Business Hall of Fame, 2017 Massey University Distinguished Alumni Award, 2017 Auckland University Outstanding Maori Business Leader of the Year, 2016 Westpac Rural Woman of Influence, 2014 Auckland University Maori Woman Business Leader of the Year, 2002 MNZM, Queen’s Birthday Honour for service to the wool industry. Mavis also diligently is a free mentor to many young, not so young, hungry, competitive, ambitious, diligent, and focused women entrepreneurs.

**Dame Pieter Stewarr | Fashion Industry Doyenne | 2018**
Pieter is the founder of New Zealand Fashion Week, the leading creative industry event in the country. After establishing Pieter’s Model Agency in Christchurch in 1979, Pieter was appointed the associate editor of New Zealand’s premier fashion magazine, Fashion Quarterly. NZFW has consistently worked with new talent - from graduates to new designers and volunteers across many different production team genres - and it continues to inspire and assist them to form very successful careers. In 1988, Pieter formed a public relations and promotions company which became the umbrella business for her work in television productions and promotions, as well as the development of NZ Fashion Week. For six years, Pieter was the coordinator of the Corbans Fashion Collections followed by the Wella Fashion Collections and Wella Fashion Report television programmes and events, running the business operations and organising everything from sponsorship to producing the events and television programmes for TVNZ. Pieter has always been highly active in charity work beginning with local Plunket and School committees to Child Cancer Foundation and Going for Goals. She has been a director and chairman on many boards in the education and health sectors, including Chairing St Margaret’s College Board for ten years and Deputy Chairman of the national Independent Schools Council. In 2012 Pieter was recognised for her exceptional services to fashion and community and was made a Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Audette Exel AO| Social Justice Champion | 2017

Audette is the founder of the Adara Group – proof that the power of business can be used to improve the lives of people in poverty. The Adara Group is made up of two Australian corporate advisory businesses, Adara Advisors and Adara Partners, whose sole purpose is to support its non-profit development organisation, Adara Development. Adara Development focuses on improving health and education for women, children, and communities living in poverty, through best practice service delivery, conducting world-class research, and sharing knowledge globally. Audette is a lawyer by profession specialising in international finance. She was formerly Managing Director of one of Bermuda’s three banks and acted as chair of the Bermuda stock exchange. She is one of the youngest women in the world to run a publicly traded bank. In 2015, Audette was a recipient of a World Class New Zealander Award and in 2016, was named Australia’s 2016 Leading Philanthropist by Philanthropy Australia.