University of Auckland alumni shine at NZ Hi-Tech Awards

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.

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

Learn more about NZ Hi-Tech Awards.