Our winners

Read the Nest post to find out the winners and view photos from the awards event.

Our finalists

Contribution to Unitec and the Community

1. Category 1 team of Debra Robertson-Welsh, Chris King, Simon Tries, Julie Hall and Cathy Tyler: The team has worked long hours to drive EER preparation throughout Unitec, supporting a wide range of teams and assisting with responses to panel questions and enquiries.  They have embodied excellence in collaboration and their commitment to the task has been admirable; always presenting a positive and friendly face.
2. Dila Beisembayeva, Lecturer and Academic Leader, Computer Science: Dila is a collaborative leader, seeking out and taking up opportunities to grow her Pathway.  She engages new industry partners and leverages current partnerships to bring new opportunities and technology into the classrooms of many young people, across our schools and kura.
3. Pacific Centre team of Falaniko Tominiko, Peter Jefferies, Pava Saifoloi, Lani Max Mikaio, Daisy Bentley-Grey, Venusi Taumoepeau, Sophie Martin-Welsh, Murray Conroy and Tu Nu’ualiitia: The team has had an amazing year filled with successful Unitec events, dedicated academic support and collaborative projects that truly demonstrates their commitment to our Pasifika staff and students.  Examples include celebrating Pacific Language Weeks at Te Puna and Waitakere campuses, Pacific Scholarships, Fanau/Whanau day, Pacific Graduation evenings, and celebrating 15 years of partnership on the Pre-Police course at Unitec.
4. Study Link Support Team of Helena Finau, Jo-Anne Hammond, Daisy Wadia, Amy Brockbank and Ashutosh Basnyat: Through their own initiative, the team went beyond their day-to-day roles to offer additional support to students with Study Link applications this year, ensuring they started their study at Unitec without the concern of fees and living costs.  They carved out special drop-in times in their already busy days, attracting nearly 120 students in the first four weeks of Semester 2 and helping save hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees.
5. Unitec Pathways College team of Andrea Thumath, Michael Freeman, Hohepa Renata, Anaru Parangi, Robyn Gandell, Renee Peeni, Sarah Sommerville, Debbie Loots, Blair Sorensen, Beth Fitzgerald, Angus Robertson, Vithange (Sela) Perera and Vanessa Robertson: The UPC team has redefined and significantly improved our relationships with secondary schools and kura kaupapa/kura whanau, increasing our straight-from-school enrolments by 47%.

Innovation and Enterprise

1. Aroha Lewin, Principle Continuous Improvement Lead, Operations: Aroha has offered insightful solutions to process improvement and has created robust documentation throughout the Student Acquisition and Retention (SAR) Project. She has a positive outlook and inspires others to contribute their best.
2. Maja Zidov, Sustainability Manager, Health and Safety: Maja has developed and implemented the Wellness Connect Programme on a very low budget, encouraging new ideas and collaboration with both staff and students across Unitec.  She works closely with the Student Council to deliver support services for students, including clothing swaps and the family day at Waitakere.  She was presented with an award from Auckland Transport for the car pooling app that she supported students in creating.
3. MFAT Tender team of Kimberley Holden, Sophie Martin-Welsh, Juressa Lee, Annette Pitovao and Dan Brady: The MFAT tender panel were impressed with the innovative aspects of our tender, including the development of an app for international students to record cultural experiences while in New Zealand. These innovations contributed to Unitec being chosen by MFAT to host scholarship students from Asia/Pacific.
4. Record of Works App team of Leni Fifita, Kamuka Pati and Daniel Fuemana: The new Record of Works app has improved the process for carpentry apprentices to document, share and monitor onsite learning while gathering their portfolio of evidence. The app has gained national recognition and is being used by four ITPs, with two others to follow.
5. Vehicle Systems and Materials/Volkswagen partnership team of Heather Stonyer, Mark McNeill, Lee Baglow and Steven McAfee: The team secured a long-term commitment from Volkswagen, whereby the Volkswagen technicians are trained using our world-class technology and our staff benefit from access to the latest technical information from one of the world’s best engineering companies.

Excellence in Support

1. Anand Sajwan, Student Enrolment Manager, Enrolment Processing; Training Co-ordinator, Building Construction and Services: Anand is passionate about student success. He brings an inspired approach to guiding applicants through the admission process from initial contact to orientation, ensuring no application falls through the cracks.
2. Angela Hunt, Business Administrator, Computer Science: Angela is an unsung hero who supports lecturers and the wider team and is a fast, smart operator who makes working at Unitec a positive experience for her team. She quietly gets on with doing an exceptional job of dealing with whatever comes her way and makes an invaluable contribution to our work environment.
3. Dipti Vora, Knowledge Specialist, Learning and Achievement: Dipti is passionate about her role and works tirelessly to provide excellence in all that she does. She championed the acquisition of the Clinical Key database so students have access to the best texts, which has served as a successful recruitment hook.  She has supported teachers to embed information literacy into courses so students can learn to independently find what they need.
4. Lynda Toki, Kai Awhina, Maia Maori Centre: Whaea Lynda’s is one of the first voices heard when staff, students and community members arrive at Unitec. She maintains the marae’s cultural practices, systems and processes and lives the values of Te Noho Kotahitanga. Lynda provides unconditional aroha and manaaki to all students.
5. Tracy Chapman, Operations Manager – Enrolment Setup: Tracy’s tenacious and innovative approach has led to clarity for students around the application process, improving our compliance in enrolments, leading the management of the enrolment protal, and improving communication.

Te Noho Kotahitanga Team Award

1. Marae team of Lynda Toki, Jessica Aranui and Hohepa Renata: The marae team’s shared wisdom and expertise is world-class. They are our living embodiment of rangatiratanga, wakaritenga, kaitiakitanga, mahi kotahitanga and Ngākau Mahaki, supporting our pathways and welcoming manuhiri and whanau onto our marae
2. Infrastructure Moves team of Clint Hill, Malcolm Yurak, Noel Deo, Colin Holt, Glenn Huggard, Amos Sander, Deen Solimow, Mark Eagles, Lisiate Lovo, Ivan Shalley, George Borich, Rata Jeremia, Untaka Cai, Anthony Lowen, Lupe Garcia, Shar Lewin, John Harris, Andy Brien, Jim McCracken, Shazneen Saeed, Mani Vajje, Thushara Fernando, Andrew Powdrell, Brad Kruger, Glenn Nummy, Hung Ngo, Louise Coburn, Fiona Pond, Erin Hughes, Bill Dobbin, Margaret Ghio, Frank Webb, Andrew Happy and Kevin Vitali: The team pulled together and carried out many tasks which normally would have been assigned to contractors, resulting in significantly reduced costs to design and implement the new layout, and coordinate the seamless transition of hundreds of staff from all over the campus to B110
3. Sport Community Development Pathway: Sue Emerson, Anne Mckay, Rob Gambolati, Kylie Thompson, Trevor Meiklejohn, John MacFarlane, Wesley Verhoeff, Micalla Williden, Andrew Hewetson, Sue Crosson, Angela Dean, Anja Zoellner, Dannica Mauga, John Russell, Dan Stamp, Vera Williams and Helen Luka: The team values their responsibility to build on the partnership between Māori and Pakeha, consistently seeking to be led by Pou Huritao and Te Noho Kotahitanga staff to ensure students are learning according to Māori protocol, the concepts and theory pertaining to Matauranga Māori.  The team has a heart for each other, their students and the entire Unitec whanau and this has guided their actions in the face of challenge, opportunity and celebration
4. Unitec Pathways College team of Andrea Thumath, Michael Freeman, Hohepa Renata, Anaru Parangi, Robyn Gandell, Renee Peeni, Sarah Sommerville, Debbie Loots, Blair Sorensen, Beth Fitzgerald, Angus Robertson, Vithange (Sela) Perera and Vanessa Robertson: The whole team exudes excellence and lives the Te Noho Kotahitanga values every day. They fully support Unitec through Te Noho Kotahitanga values, demonstrating Mahi Kotahitanga and Kaitiakitanga in their relationships with local secondary schools, and their collaborative approach to Wakaritenga and Ngakau Mahaki has seen them stand out as rangatira at te noho kotahitanga marae

Unitec Champion

1. Falaniko Tominiko, Director – Pacific Success, Pacific Centre: Niko teaches, researches, supervises postgrad students, attends community events, sits on committees and even attends assignment retreats on weekends to help students with their study. He works extremely hard all year, taking on multiple roles and maintaining strong relationaships with all those he works with; never forgetting his main focus of working towards a better future for the Pacific community.
2. Nick Sheppard, Dean, Bridgepoint: In the past five years, Nick has led the achievement and success of Unitec’s new strategy across two academic faculties for over 4,000 students, 125 staff, and 124 Auckland-wide Secondary Schools. But perhaps most importantly, he is one of Unitec’s most exemplary leaders of people, culture and values. He leads with transparency and conviction and always has the best possible outcomes for Unitec and all of its people at the heart of everything he does.
3. Sue Emerson, Assistant Dean and Academic Leader, Community Development: Sue brings glitter to Unitec. She celebrates individuality and builds people up. She is a team player and outstanding mentor and is visionary and outcome-focused. Sue has recently led the development and launch of the new Level 5 Diploma in Sport, Exercise, and Recreation, secured a professional development partnership with Auckland Council Sport and Rec, launched a leadership programme for youth, championed Unitec’s renewal process for the network, taught, graduated with a Masters, and assisted in leading the network.

Teaching categories:

Excellence in Teaching

1. Bridging Education – L3 and 4 teams: Anja Zoellner, Anne Kayes, Arihia Waenga, Avian McManus, Bill Peacock, Carly van Winkel, Cheryl Henderson, Clare Goodwin, Cordelia Lockett, Debbie Loveridge, Diana Hill, Elaine Whitworth, German Hernandez, Hohepa Renata, Jackie Tims, Karen Petana-Ioka, Katheren Leitner, Linda Jin, Lindy Carter, Manu’a Poloai, Michael Freeman, Meritiana Spandow, Rae Trewartha, Richard Segedin, Ronnie Nicolson, Saleshni Nand, Sarah Hangartner, Sue Tulett, Susan Watene, Susie Powell, Trisha Hanifin and Tui Matelau: Bridging Education’s kaupapa is to build ‘successful, supported learning pathways for our students’, underpinned by the values of Te Noho Kotahitanga. Their work has resulted in strong student achievement, positive feedback from the EER panel and very high progression rates compared to other ITPs.
2. Renata Jadresin-Milic: Renata is a trusted and respected Academic Leader, who models enthusiastic engagement to get her team on board. She’s committed to our students, continually searching for ways to enhance their learning and takes a pro-active approach towards her own professional development.
3. Supported Learning team of Pat Ball, Carron Boswell, Sue van Rossum, Lynn Solomon, Mary Perich, Dave Hicks and Carol Syron: This is a highly experienced team of dedicated teachers delivering programmes to tauira who require specialised support with their learning. The team builds strong, collaborative relationships with destination partners across Unitec, as well as industry, transition and sector partners, whānau, community groups and our secondary schools.
   

Excellence in Teaching (Kaupapa Māori)

1. Hohepa Renata: Taurahere Marae Lecturer Hohepa has made a significant impact across Unitec. He is consistent, knowledgeable, professional and well-respected by both staff and students. He is direct and honest. He embodies all five principles of Te Noho Kotahitanga and is an exceptional role model.
2. Yo Heta-Lensen: Yo has committed to mātauranga Māori in every dimension of her life and her pedagogy. Her nomination describes her teaching as a treat of sounds of waiata and student engagement drifting down the corridors. Yo’s practice is student-centred as she positively guides and empowers our students to develop their use of te reo Māori me ona tikanga Māori.
   

Emerging Excellence in Teaching

1. Rebecca Webster: Rebecca is an asset to Unitec and has developed an amazing rapport with students and colleagues alike. She uses a variety of teaching technology including live simulation and video technology to assess students’ in the most immersive way possible, and has reduced the teacher marking load.
2. Samantha Heath: Samantha has created and curated a fantastic Moodle page for her students, embraced new and unfamiliar technology with aplomb, modelled best-practice use of Echo360 and engaged her students in active learning. Her student evaluations are glowing, and she’s done all this while preparing her Doctoral thesis. 
   

Excellence in Teaching (Pacific Endorsement)

1. Kamuka Pati: Kamuka has helped many Pacific students with issues ranging from enrolment to grades, to counselling. He always makes time to help and frequently refers ‘at risk’ students to the Pacific Centre for further support. Kamuka attends Pacific Fonos and is a true Pacific champion at Unitec. 

Excellence in Research

1. Bachelor of Health and Social Development teaching team of Lian Wu, Jacqui Hampton, Jayne Mercier, Karen Hicks, Nikki Hurst, Louise Bourchier, Catherine Powell, Erin Hanlon, Daniel Stamp and Katie Bruffy: In 2016 an almost entirely new team joined the degree, most directly from industry. These new researchers formed a series of research teams and through this collaborative effort have achieved a set of jointly-produced research outputs that quickly lifted their degree’s research performance.
2. Geoff Bridgman: Geoff is currently research leader for the community-partnered and ACC funded project, ‘Jade Speaks Up’, which aims to reduce violence in the lives of Auckland school children and has garnered over $450k in funding. Over the years Geoff has led research teams in a range of significantly externally-funded community/industry projects, all of which have had real impact. 
3. Dr Linda Kestle: Linda’s strength areas include research leadership and her ability to forge industry and community partnerships. Currently an associate professor, she actively promotes and supports people’s research, and acts as a research mentor for emerging and developing researchers in the pathway.
4. Terri-Ann Berry: Terri-Ann has developed a significant research portfolio involving national and international collaborations, industry and community engaged research, and has secured extensive external research funding, including a $94k grant for an indoor air quality research project.

News & resources

Updated information for the 2019 awards coming soon!

Awards categories and criteria

Read the full list of categories and award criteria.

News

>Winners were announced at the awards event on Thursday

> Nominations are now closed. Thank you – we received 159 nominations!

> Merran’s email reminding people to nominate: 7.11.18

> Merran’s email announcing nominations open: 23.10.18.

Prizes

This year, winners will receive beautiful locally handcrafted awards. Monetary prizes will not be available this year due to the current financial situation.