2021 Winners

    Meet your 2021 winners.
    It is with great pleasure that we announce the winners for the HeadFit Awards 2021. The competition was incredibly tough, so a huge congratulations to all finalists and winners! Thank you to everyone who entered the awards - your work is making a real difference for Kiwi workers and workplaces 🧠❤️🚀👍😊

    All About People | Specialist of the Year Award

    Recognising an individual in a formal HR, Health & Safety, Wellbeing or Diversity & Inclusion role who has demonstrated excellence and leadership in workplace mental health.

    Winner: Ross Larsen Flight Centre New Zealand

    Finalists:

    • Sarah Bulkeley, Simpson Grierson
    • Ross Larsen, Flight Centre New Zealand
    • Nicky Primrose, Mitre 10

    ANZCO Foods | Employee of the Year Award

    Recognising an individual staff member or manager who has gone above and beyond to help improve mental health within the workplace.

    Winner: Darren Evans Air New Zealand

    Finalists:

    • Saphal Acharya, Giesen Group
    • Darren Evans, Air New Zealand

    PwC New Zealand | Lived Experience Leadership Award

    Recognising an individual with lived experience of neurodiversity, mental illness or mental distress, who has demonstrated leadership by role modelling, reducing stigma and driving positive mental health conversations.

    Winner: Michelle Ortega Fonterra
    Highly Commended: Hannah Young

    Finalists:

    • Jason Haitana, Northland District Health Board
    • Michelle Ortega, Fonterra
    • Hannah Young, Parallaxx

    Russell McVeagh | Leader of the Year Award

    Recognising a senior leader (eg. director, CEO, direct report of CEO) who has demonstrated leadership in improving mental health within their workplace.

    Winner: Craig Hudson Xero

    Finalists:

    • Craig Hudson, Xero
    • Mark Lewis, Lane Neave
    • Dr Tony Smith, St John
    • Heidi Walker, Flight Centre New Zealand

    AIA Vitality | Legend Award for Lifetime Achievement

    This lifetime achievement award recognises an individual who has devoted much of their working life to improving workplace mental health in New Zealand.

    Winner: Sir John Kirwan

    nib New Zealand | Best Emerging Programme Award

    Recognising a new workplace mental health programme that is showing significant potential to improve mental health within the workplace.

    Winner: Cook Brothers Construction

    Finalists:

    • Cook Brothers Construction
    • Parallaxx
    • Refining NZ

    The Warehouse Group | Best Targeted Programme Award

    Recognising a workplace mental health programme demonstrating significant positive mental health impacts for a targeted group of staff.

    Winner: 2degrees

    Finalists:

    • 2degrees
    • nib New Zealand
    • St John

    Xero | Technology & Innovation Excellence Award

    Recognising the outstanding use of technology or innovation to improve workplace mental health outcomes and culture.

    Winner: Air New Zealand

    EMA | Learning & Development Excellence Award

    Recognising excellence in the design and delivery of learning resources and programmes aimed at improving mental health awareness and capability.

    Winner: Simpson Grierson
    Highly Commended: Leighs Construction

    Finalists:

    • Beca
    • Leighs Construction
    • Simpson Grierson

    Benestar | Engagement & Communication Excellence Award

    Recognising excellence in engaging and communicating with staff in relation to mental health within the workplace.

    Winner: Aurecon

    Finalists:

    • Aurecon
    • Northpower
    • Zespri

    Ember Innovations | Provider of the Year Award

    Recognising an external provider of workplace EAP services, technology solutions, consulting or training services that has demonstrated innovation, leadership and positive impact in improving mental health within New Zealand workplaces.

    Winner: Surfing for Farmers

    Finalists:

    • Blueprint for Learning
    • MATES in Construction
    • Surfing for Farmers

    Spark | Small Workplace of the Year Award

    Recognising an employer with up to 200 employees that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and impact in improving mental health within its workplace.

    Winner: G.J. Gardner Homes, Manukau Major Projects

    Finalists:

    • Lane Neave
    • Juno Legal
    • G.J. Gardner Homes, Manukau Major Projects

    Ministry of Health | Large Workplace of the Year Award

    Recognising an employer with over 200 employees that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and impact in improving mental health within its workplace.

    Winner: Beca

    Finalists:

    • Air New Zealand
    • Beca
    • Flight Centre New Zealand
    • Z Energy

    Woo Wellbeing | Public Sector Workplace of the Year Award

    Recognising a public sector workplace that has demonstrated leadership, innovation and impact in improving mental health within its workplace:

    Winner: Waka Kotahi NZTA

    Finalists:

    • New Zealand Land Search & Rescue
    • Waka Kotahi NZTA
    • Wintec

    WorkSafe | Supreme Award

    Recognising the organisation that the judges consider has demonstrated the greatest degree of leadership, excellence and positive impact relating to mental health within the workplace.

    Entries are not directly submitted for this award category. The winner will be selected from the winners of the Programme and Excellence Awards and Workplace Awards.

    Winner: Air New Zealand
    Principal Sponsor
    WorkSafe
    Charity Partner
    Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
    Sponsors
    All About PeopleBusiness Leaders' Health & Safety Forum
    Groov
    HSE Global
    nib New ZealandSpark
    Top Drawer Consultants
    Whittaker'sWoo Wellbeing
    Xero

    Selected sponsorship packages are still available. Please call 021343121 or submit an enquiry form to request a sponsorship prospectus and talk through the available options.

    Event Support Partners
    Awards Trophy & Engraving ExpertsCreative Eye
    Dave Simpson PhotographyMatley Chartered Accountants
    Mitre 10Outspoken
    Our 2022 winners have been announced!
    Check out the media release and photos from the night!
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