Emily Blythe
New Zealand Innovator of the Year
2023
Spark
New Zealand Innovator of the Year
Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau
These game changers in their field have used their insight and their passion to make a significant impact. In the spirit of Kiwi inventiveness and resourcefulness, they have created a better future for Aotearoa.
Nominees of this Award must:
- Be an individual who conceptualised and developed an innovation involving a product, service, technology, idea/theory or process across any industry sector including (but not limited to) health, science, technology, robotics, business, education, environmental, sustainability, agriculture, disadvantaged communities, and non-profits.
- Have had significant impact over the last 12 months.
- Be a role model for New Zealanders and highlight a brighter future for New Zealanders.
- Meet Awards Conditions of Entry.
Judges will review each nominee using the following criteria:
- 10 points: INNOVATION:
Describe the innovation of your nominee and the thoughtful, creative, and innovative approach it takes to resolve a challenge. - 10 points: NEED:
What problem does the innovation solve? And how is it unique to the market? - 10 points: COMMITMENT:
Describe the commitment of time, risks, and challenges overcome to develop the innovation to this point (this may still be ongoing). - 10 points: PROVEN-IMPACT:
How has the innovation clearly demonstrated a positive impact on the targeted community (particularly over the last 12-months)? How has this been measured? - 10 points: POTENTIAL:
Describe the opportunity the innovation has to generate economic, social, and/or environmental benefits for a local industry sector, the nation, and or globally. - 10 points: LONG-TERM IMPACT:
How is the nominee planning to enhance, grow, and/or adapt the innovation in the future to best meet the changing needs of the targeted population? How would winning this award impact this person and the work that they are doing?
Emily Blythe
A good idea to solve a multi-billion problem: Pyper Vision is an aerospace start-up that uses an intelligent dispersal system to bring fog to the ground, clearing the skies for take off. Founded by entrepreneur, educator and student pilot Emily Blythe, Pyper Vision takes a 10-minute operation to create over 5km of visibility for beyond 2 hours. It′s game-changing technology, and in 2022 the team received Government backing to keep the project moving forwards. Next steps include more testing at airports throughout New Zealand, with the hopes of later marketing the technology internationally. As the founder and CEO of the company, Blythe is making waves across the aerospace sector from her home in Ōtautahi Christchurch − praised by Megan Wood, Minister for Research, Science and Innovation, for her “classic innovation and entrepreneurship.”
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Championing
New Zealand Innovator of the Year
Jolie Hodson
Spark New Zealand CEO
“This Award celebrates the New Zealanders who disrupt the status quo, whose inventions and ambitions are building towards a better tomorrow. As Aotearoa’s largest digital services and telecommunications company innovation is at the heart of everything we do, so we’re proud to be supporting the kaupapa behind the 2023 Spark New Zealand Innovator of the Year Award.”
