Debra Hall receives Distinguished Supporter Award

Long-time Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) volunteer Debra Hall has been recognised with a 2025 University of Auckland Business School Distinguished Supporter Award, celebrating her exceptional contribution to innovation and entrepreneurship education at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

Debra has volunteered with CIE since 2017, generously giving her time as a judge, speaker and mentor across an extraordinary breadth of programmes. From early-stage ideation through to venture acceleration, she has supported students and founders in initiatives including Summer Lab, Venture Lab, the Velocity $100k Challenge and the Velocity Ideas Challenge. Her sustained commitment over multiple years has helped shape the learning journeys of hundreds of aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs.

An experienced early-stage company director, entrepreneur and investor, Debra brings more than 15 years of experience in the innovation sector. With a background in engineering, she is known for her straight-talking, outcomes-focused approach and her ability to cut through complexity to help teams focus on what really matters. Her guidance has been especially valuable for students’ navigating uncertainty, first customers and early capital-raising decisions.

Debra’s influence extends well beyond CIE. Working at the earliest stages of the science-based innovation system, she supports founders, boards and investors to deliver technologies that create real-world impact for Aotearoa New Zealand. Her service to the angel investor community was recognised nationally in 2017 with the Arch Angel Award, honouring her leadership in developing governance capability and supporting entrepreneurs through their first fundraising experiences.

CIE Director Darsel Keane says Debra’s contribution is defined not just by what she does, but by how she shows up for others.

“Debra brings an uncommon mix of entrepreneurial experience, investment insight and straight-talking wisdom, delivered with warmth and humour. What stands out most is her generosity with her time, her expertise, and her belief in the potential of our students. She gives because she genuinely cares about seeing innovation thrive in Aotearoa.”