New Zealanders’ self-effacing character trait is endearing but there’s a risk sometimes that we’re “too humble for our own good,” Emma Boase reckons.
“We don’t tend to highlight our wins enough, nor do we talk about our mistakes. And if we keep doing that, we won’t be able to share and learn from each other, and extend our networks so we can all move forward together.”
It’s time to celebrate the innovators and the achievers in the food and fibre sector. Federated Farmers is hosting the fourth annual Primary Industries New Zealand Awards in Auckland on 6 July. The deadline for nominations is 12 April.
Emma, who took out the Emerging Leader title at the 2021 Primary Industries NZ Awards, will be joining the judging panel for the 2022 Awards.
Emma was nominated as an Emerging Leader by her mentor for her efforts to attract new talent into the horticulture sector. Now working for PwC as a consultant in the company’s food and fibre team, she said her experience of the PINZ Awards was very positive.
“It was a great opportunity, both through the judging process and meeting the other finalists, to see what everybody else is doing, and to connect with the judges, who were all great leaders in the sector in their own way.”
There’s a written entry form, and finalists are interviewed by the judges.
Was it gruelling? “I found it exciting and invigorating,” Emma says. “You’re surrounded by really cool people, all talking about stuff that we are all passionate about.”
Emma recommends entering the awards as a great chance to benchmark yourself against others, and reassess where you’re heading.
“If we don’t have mechanisms like the Primary Industries Awards, it’s hard to pick yourself up and decide, you know, maybe I could try a little harder, challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone.”
As a judge this year, Emma says she’s looking forward to getting a feel for the hot topics and success stories of 2022. “It’s awesome just to be able to contribute to the conversation on who should be highlighted.”
Get your entries in now…
Federated Farmers CEO Terry Copeland said the awards are about shining a spotlight on those who help move New Zealand’s reputation for producing high quality foods and fibres to even greater heights.
“The individuals and teams who go the extra mile deserve recognition and by promoting our primary sector role models, we can stimulate greater involvement and interest in primary industries from graduates, investors, politicians and the media.”
Award categories, with a Champion Award for our supreme achiever, are:
- Outstanding Contribution to Primary Industries in NZ
- Emerging Leader
- Producer
- Innovation & Collaboration Project
- Science & Research
- Team
- Guardianship and Conservation (Kaitiakitanga)
Find full details on how to enter at www.primaryindustries.co.nz