Best and brightest named as Technology Valley Award finalists

The finalists of the 2016 Technology Valley Awards have been selected from a pool of Hutt Valley science, technology, engineering, mathematics and manufacturing (STEMM) talent.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says, “We have such a wealth of talent in the STEMM sectors here in the Hutt Valley, and it’s really important to recognise that – it’s great for the people and businesses that are recognised and it’s inspiring for the rest of us.

“I understand it was a difficult task for our judges to select the finalists because the standard of all our nominees was high.

“This year our categories included recognition for our young STEMM talent too and I’m very pleased to announce we’ve selected deserving young winners.

“To see young people so passionate about science and technology is a fantastic signal that the future of the Hutt Valley is bright.

“We’ve announced these young winners early so they have an opportunity to present their winning work at the Technology Valley Awards dinner on 9 June which I’m sure is going to impress the audience.”

This is the second year of the Technology Valley Awards, which will be presented at a STEMM-themed awards dinner on 9 June during Lower Hutt’s STEMM Festival
(4 – 12 June).

Dinner organiser Carla Steed says “the awards dinner is set to be something special.”

“We’re bringing in performers to surprise and delight the audience and celebrate our winners in a unique way. Even the venue is different, we’re using the majestic Old Ford Factory at 43 Seaview Road, right in the hub of our industrial centre."

Tickets for the dinner are $130 and available now at technologyvalleyawards.co.nz

Technology Valley Award finalists:

Business of the Year

• AROTEC Diagnostics
• Petronic Industries
• Sanpro Industries

Emerging Business of the Year

• Avalia Immunotherapies
• UBCO

STEMM Project of the Year

• Acqui-S
• Sanpro Industries
• Open Polytechnic

Outstanding Individual

• Genevieve McLachlan – Adaptive Technology Solutions
• Jerome Leveneur – GNS Science

Emerging Individual

• Bede van Schaijik – AROTEC Diagnostics
• Jessie Bird – Acqui-S

Outstanding STEMM Educator

• Ailsa Webb – Wilford School
• Frank Cook – WelTec
• Karyne Rogers – GNS Science

Winner of the Young Science Achiever (primary and intermediate students):
Harvey Butler, Ethan Neru, Jemma Allwood and Joshua Herne from Wilford School.

Winner of the Young Science Achiever (secondary students):
Zavier Boyd from Naenae College