The awards — the southern region’s premier celebration of business excellence — were presented at a black-tie dinner at the Dunedin Town Hall last night.
United Machinists won the excellence in manufacturing award before going on to be named supreme winner, fitting recognition for owners Alex and Sarah Ramsay and the wider United team.
The couple, who bought the family business from Mr Ramsay’s parents Doug and Lesley in 2016, have transformed it into a global mission-critical component supplier — shifting from 34% of their business being from Otago and surrounds, to now only 1.7% and more than doubling in revenue overall, much of their growth coming from the Australian market.
United Machinists produces more than 10,000 components for space and advanced aviation each year, 50,000 prosthetic and surgical instruments, and another 30,000 complex parts for mission-critical industries.
Mrs Ramsay, who is chief executive, is a passionate advocate for advanced manufacturing and Dunedin, flying the flag for both wherever she goes.
Sir Ian Taylor, founder of technology and animation company Animation Research Ltd, which is known for its work in computer-generated imagery and virtual reality applications, received the excellence in entrepreneurship award.
Earlier this year, Sir Ian was awarded the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers’ (SMPTE) global progress medal for his decades-long leadership and technological innovation in animation and sports production. Walt Disney was a previous winner of the medal.
Sir Ian has also been a vocal supporter of Dunedin, saying he did not think he could have done what he had anywhere else.
Fashion doyenne Margarita (Margi) Robertson, who started label NOM*d with husband Chris Robertson, received the distinguished leader award.
A force in fashion design and retail since the 1970s, she has played a key role in shaping the New Zealand fashion industry and Dunedin’s fashion design culture.
