Neuroscientist’s brain gains tall poppy award   7 Apr 2010

Kea New Zealand

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The annual awards, presented by Kea New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, are an important celebration of New Zealand innovators and entrepreneurs who have made significant contributions to the country’s growth and development.

Professor Faull is recognised internationally as a leading expert on neurodegenerative diseases of the human brain.

His research spans 35 years and encompasses all major regions of the brain and spinal cord, the science of the diseased human brain in Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and epilepsy.

His research provided the first evidence the diseased human brain can repair itself by the generation of new brain cells.

Professor Faull is based at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at The University of Auckland, where he is Director of the Centre for Brain Research and founded the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand Human Brain Bank – an internationally-recognised resource providing tissue for leading research programmes on Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Kea co-founder and chair of judges Sir Stephen Tindall says Richard Faull’s achievements are ground-breaking and he is a wonderful example of a New Zealander whose success and talent places them amongst the best in their field.

“With outstanding accomplishments that have far reaching implications, Richard is a true champion of New Zealand.”

Professor Faull was celebrated as the Supreme Winner alongside eight category winners in a range of industries ranging from biotechnology to finance. These included: Orion Health founder Ian McCrae, engineer Sir Ron Carter, neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman and the New York-based president of Time Warner Global Media Group, Mark D’Arcy.

This year’s event saw the inaugural ‘Friend of New Zealand’ award presented to New York-based investor and philanthropist Julian Robertson. This award is intended for a non-Kiwi and was introduced this year to recognise a wider community of people working to build global connections with New Zealand and helping to support Kiwi businesses internationally.

All awards were presented at The Langham Hotel in Auckland on March 24, where winners received the World Class New Zealand tall poppy statuette, designed by Richard Taylor of Weta Workshop – 2009 Supreme winner.

The World Class New Zealand Awards have been running for seven years and Sir Stephen Tindall says the dinner has become a highly anticipated event – often serving to promote the great achievements that are beyond the radar of many Kiwis.

“It’s important we recognise and celebrate successful New Zealanders. It’s exciting to see the awards continuing to grow and we’ve only just touched on the number of talented New Zealanders out there.”

The judging panel for the 2010 World Class New Zealand Awards includes:

* Sir Stephen Tindall: Chair of judging panel, Founder and chair of The Warehouse Group, Kea chair

* Jon Mayson: NZTE chair, former chair of Ports of Tauranga

* John Stace: Former deputy chair Lloyds of London, Kea board member and professional director

* Jane Hunter: Hunter’s Wines, 2009 WCNZ Manufacturing Award winner

* Rod Drury: Chief executive, Xero, 2008 WCNZ ICT Award winner

* Professor Sir Peter Gluckman: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Science, Research and Technology and 2006 WCNZ Research, Science, Technology & Academia winner.

Nominees are evaluated against five main criteria, with a focus on promoting New Zealand internationally, building global connections and facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge and skills from and about the country.

Full list of the Winners - 2010 World Class New Zealand Awards

Supreme: Professor Richard Faull

Friend of New Zealand: Julian Robertson

Information & Communications Technology: Ian McCrae

Creative Industries: Mark D'Arcy

Biotechnology: Dr Jilly Evans

Manufacturing: Bill Gallagher

Research, Science, Technology & Academia: Professor Ian Witten

Finance, Investment & Business Services: Sir Ron Carter

New Thinking: Dr Kerry Spackman

Supreme: Professor Richard Faull

Neuroscientist Professor Richard Faull is recognised internationally as a leading expert on neurodegenerative diseases of the human brain. His research spans 35 years and encompasses all major regions of the brain and spinal cord, the science of the diseased human brain in Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as epilepsy and schizophrenia. Professor Faull is based at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at The University of Auckland, where he founded the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand Human Brain Bank – an internationally-recognised resource providing tissue for leading research programmes on Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. In 2007 Professor Faull was awarded New Zealand’s highest scientific award, the Rutherford Medal, by the Royal Society of New Zealand for exceptional contributions to science. [Sponsored by Industrial Research Ltd]

Friend of New Zealand: Julian Robertson

Leading New York investor Julian Robertson enjoys several business pursuits in New Zealand including two world-class golf resorts, Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers, and the Dry River and Te Awa wineries. Julian actively promotes the many economic and cultural dimensions of New Zealand among his international business and personal networks. He is a staunch supporter of the New Zealand wine industry and is determined to increase the profile of our exports in the US market. In 2009, Julian and his wife, Josie, gifted 15 major artworks to the Auckland Art Gallery. The works include significant paintings by Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin and Piet Mondrian dating from the late 19th to mid 20th century. Valued at between $200 and $250 million, this is the most significant collection gifted to any New Zealand public gallery. [Sponsored by Westpac New Zealand Ltd]

Information & Communications Technology: Ian McCrae

Ian McCrae is Founder and Chief Executive of Orion Health, an exporter of health integration software that provides the healthcare sector with clever IT solutions to improve patient care in hospitals. The company operates across four continents, employs 320 people and has more than 1000 customers worldwide including hospitals, veterinary clinics and universities. Its flagship software products include healthcare records portal Concerto, records integration system Rhapsody and a messaging and mapping tool, Symphonia. Ninety per cent of sales revenue is from deals outside New Zealand, making Orion Health the largest New Zealand-owned software exporter. Last year, the company ranked 63rd in the top 100 healthcare IT companies in the US. [Sponsored by MetService]

Creative Industries: Mark D'Arcy

As President & Chief Creative Officer, Time Warner Global Media Group and Senior Vice President, Time Warner, Mark D’Arcy partners with industry-leading advertisers to create ideas that leverage the assets of Time Warner. Prior to joining the Global Media Group, Mark worked for more than 15 years as a writer and creative director in a number of advertising agencies worldwide, working for many top brands including: Sony, Virgin Atlantic, Nissan, Qantas, M&Ms, Revlon, American Express and General Motors. He has won numerous creative awards and accolades for his work in the US and internationally, with two of his commercials being named in Ad Week’s Top 50 commercials of the year in 2001 and 2002. He is Vice president of the US branch of Friends of AUT University, a member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Science and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the City of New York. [Sponsored by Wellington City Council]

Biotechnology: Dr Jilly Evans

Dr Jilly Evans is Co-founder, Vice-president and lead biologist of US-based biopharmaceutical company, Amira Pharmaceuticals. With more than 30 years' experience conducting biochemistry research, Jilly is a world authority in the eicosanoid field (molecules that control inflammation and immunity) with her research resulting in more than 100 published papers. Since its establishment in 2005, Amira has rapidly developed small molecule compounds for clinical assessment in inflammatory diseases. Previously, Jilly played key roles in the teams that developed the anti-asthmatic drug Singulair and arthritis drug, Vioxx. When not working, Jilly champions other causes including the promotion of women in science-based careers, alleviating childhood poverty and lending her expertise to help New Zealand find a good working model and niche for commercialising biotechnology research. [Sponsored by Ernst & Young]

Manufacturing: Bill Gallagher

Renowned as one of New Zealand’s most astute businessmen, Bill Gallagher is Chair and Chief Executive of Gallagher Group, the highly successful Hamilton-based exporter of animal management, fencing and security systems. Under Bill's leadership, the company has grown into one of the largest and most successful private companies in the Waikato, employing 650 people in New Zealand, another 400 overseas and annual sales of US$160 million. Bill has made significant contributions to many charitable and sporting organisations through the Gallagher Group Trust. He regularly visits customers in some of the 130 countries the company sells products to, holding seminars, training sessions and field days. In 2008 Bill received an honorary doctorate from University of Waikato. [Sponsored by Glidepath Group].

Research, Science, Technology & Academia: Professor Ian Witten

Professor Ian Witten's work at the University of Waikato has established New Zealand as an international leader in the provision of digital library software. As head of the University’s New Zealand Digital Library Research Group, Ian oversaw development of Greenstone Digital Library software, now used by the BBC, New York Botanical Gardens and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Greenstone provides ways to organise information and make it available over the internet or on CD with each CD holding about 340kg of books. Now adopted in more than 60 countries, Greenstone has been used to collate information for disaster relief operations in Latin America, for combating AIDS in Africa and for development work in French sub-Saharan Africa. [Sponsored by the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology]

Finance, Investment & Business Services: Sir Ron Carter

Company Director Sir Ron Carter is the former Chair and Managing Director of Beca Group engineering consultants, the company behind some of New Zealand's most significant infrastructure projects including the: Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill, Motonui Gas Plant, Comalco aluminium smelter, Mangere sewage treatment plant and simulator design for the Anzac frigate project. Under Sir Ron's leadership, Beca Group established offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Australia and when he stepped down as Chair in 2000, had 1250 staff with building projects completed in 83 countries. He continues to be involved with the company as a strategic advisor. As a professional company director, Sir Ron is currently on the boards of Trustpower, Rugby World Cup 2011 and Rural Equities. He was knighted in 1998 for services to engineering and business. [Sponsored by BDO]

New Thinking: Dr Kerry Spackman

Neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has become a world leader in the field of sports coaching, where the difference between winning and losing is often attitude and mental skills. Success working with Formula One drivers, elite athletes and business people has seen demand for his services grow worldwide and Kerry's successful tools and techniques are now recorded in his book The Winner’s Bible. William Morris Enterprises has signed Kerry to promote him and turn The Winner’s Bible into a global brand, planning a television series to screen in the USA and UK based around the ideas in the book. The New Zealand Government agency SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand) has contracted Kerry to develop programmes to give New Zealand Olympic athletes a competitive advantage for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He also works with the All Blacks, Silver Ferns and Black Caps. [Sponsored by Gen-i]

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