The Awards were hosted tonight by Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, with many other members of parliament in attendance, as well as guests representing a diverse range of organisations from across the tertiary sector. Ako Aotearoa – the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence - administers the awards and manages the event on behalf of the Minister.
In addition to the Supreme Award, 10 Sustained Excellence awards were presented tonight; two under the Kaupapa Māori category and a further eight under the General category. All Sustained Excellence winners receive $20,000. The Supreme Award winner, selected from one of the ten finalists, takes home an additional $10,000.
The 2018 award winners are:
Kaupapa Māori category
Associate Professor Mānuka Hēnare
Business School, The University of Auckland
Professor Michelle Thompson-Fawcett
Department of Geography, University of Otago
General Category
Dr Rebecca Bird
Department of Anatomy, University of Otago
Dr Donella Cobb
Faculty of Education, Te Hononga Curriculum and Pedagogy, The University of Waikato
Dr Kathryn Hay
School of Social Work, Massey University
Professor Andrew Martin
School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University
Associate Professor Sheila Skeaff
Department Human Nutrition, University of Otago
Faumuina Associate Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga
Also Endorsement for Excellence in Supporting Pacific Learners and Prime Minister’s Supreme Award
Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago
Listen to Fa'afetai Sopoaga talks to Radio NZ (14 September 2018)
Associate Professor Ekant Veer
Department of Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship, University of Canterbury
Associate Professor Christine Woods
Business School, The University of Auckland