Annah Stretton, a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist, has spent the past 33 years building a formidable fashion empire, the Stretton Group, while concurrently championing for the overlooked and underprivileged. Recently, her RAW Beauty photographic exhibition gained international recognition, leading her to a plenary presentation at the European Prison Education Association Conference in Macedonia. This achievement, coupled with her return to university in her late 50s to secure three master’s degrees, underlines her relentless commitment to learning, growth, and impact.

Over the years, Annah’s work transcends the fashion industry, significantly influencing the lives of many, particularly incarcerated wāhine. Through her charity RAW and her chairing of the Waikato Women’s Refuge, she has created innovative models and pathways for social reintegration. Additionally, her leadership with Hopefish and support for charities like True Colours demonstrate her unwavering dedication to service, championing initiatives that foster dignity, potential, and lasting change.

Dame Julie Chapman DNZM is a beacon of hope in Aotearoa, tirelessly driving two nationally significant charities—KidsCan and Pet Refuge—that offer both hope and practical support to vulnerable children and families. Over the past year, her unwavering dedication was recognised with an appointment as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (New Year Honours 2025) for her exceptional services to children and the community. This honour reflects her visionary leadership, integrity, and her determination to turn compassion into concrete action.

From founding KidsCan in her garage in 2005 to its current standing as a vital support network for over 60,000 children across 1,100+ schools, Dame Julie’s impact is profound. Establishing Pet Refuge, New Zealand’s first purpose-built shelter for pets involved in domestic violence situations, she has provided life-saving pathways for families in crisis. As she plans for growth and sustainability, Dame Julie continues to inspire all New Zealanders with her transformative work.

Dame Catriona Williams, founder of the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust, has been a beacon of hope and transformation for individuals living with spinal cord injuries across New Zealand. Motivated by her personal experience, Catriona established CatWalk, an organisation that has become nationally recognised for providing practical support, advocacy, and resources, enabling those affected to regain independence, confidence, and dignity. Over the past year, Catriona has tirelessly expanded CatWalk’s services, including mobility equipment provision, mentoring, social connection programmes, and rehabilitation support.

Catriona’s dedication extends far beyond immediate relief, fostering long-term empowerment and quality of life for those affected by spinal injuries. Her compassionate leadership has played a pivotal role in influencing policy, improving accessibility, and creating a more inclusive society for all New Zealanders. Catriona’s profound commitment to her kaupapa and her vision for a more inclusive future continues to inspire her community and transform lives.

Sonja Cooper, the principal and founder of Cooper Legal, has forged a path of justice for survivors of abuse in state care, consistently holding the Crown to account over the years. Sonja’s relentless pursuit for justice has amplified in the last year, with her instrumental involvement in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. Her relentless advocacy resulted in the Crown recognising for the first time in July 2024 that torture had occurred in state care, leading to an official apology and the announcement of an expanded redress scheme in Budget 2025.

Sonja’s work, though often met with resistance and carried out at low pay rates, has reshaped New Zealand’s understanding of itself as a nation. Her tireless efforts have illuminated the systemic abuse suffered by mostly Māori, mostly poor children, in state care, and its enduring effects on their adult lives. Sonja’s work continues to be crucial in the ongoing fight for justice and for a more fair and trauma-informed response to survivors.

Professor Parry Guilford, a groundbreaking figure in cancer genetics, is the director of the Centre for Translational Cancer Research at the University of Otago. His most remarkable achievement in the past year includes earning the 2023 Prime Minister’s Science Prize for his discovery of the CDH1 gene mutation causing Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC). This discovery, made in partnership with the McLeod whānau and clinicians from Tauranga Hospital, led to a life-saving genetic test, transforming the prognosis for HDGC-affected families globally.

Beyond his work on HDGC, Professor Guilford’s ongoing commitment to cutting-edge cancer research is evident in his co-founding of Pacific Edge Ltd and development of Cxbladder, a non-invasive bladder cancer test. Currently, he is pioneering a new method for early colorectal cancer detection using circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). His contributions to science have been recognised widely, with awards including the University of Otago Distinguished Research Medal and the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Sir Charles Hercus Medal.

A world-renowned yachtsman, leader, and visionary, Grant Dalton has been the driving force behind New Zealand’s global sailing dominance for over four decades. Dalton’s recent achievements include the revitalisation of Team New Zealand following its 2003 America’s Cup loss, reclaiming the Cup in 2017, and successfully defending it in 2021. His unwavering commitment to excellence, coupled with his formidable leadership as CEO, has propelled the team to success and set the stage for the 2024 challenge.

Dalton’s impact stretches beyond sailing; he has generated significant economic value for New Zealand through sponsorship, international investment, and job creation. Championing inclusivity, he has spearheaded youth and women’s America’s Cup events, while also honouring Māori culture by naming all Team New Zealand boats in te reo Māori. Moreover, his leadership in times of scrutiny has demonstrated unwavering integrity and transparency, reinforcing his resonance with the Kiwi spirit.

Rod Drury is a luminary entrepreneur whose visionary leadership has indelibly shaped Aotearoa New Zealand’s technology landscape and resonated on a global scale. Over the past year, Drury has continued to champion innovation, launching Radar Ventures, a deep-tech investment fund specialising in biotechnology, defence, and food science. This move reaffirms his commitment to bolstering New Zealand’s standing in groundbreaking industries. Simultaneously, he has actively mentored emerging tech leaders and advocated for sector reforms, emphasising the need for a national vision and sustainable progress.

Drury’s enduring legacy extends far beyond his role as the founder of Xero, a small startup transformed into a leading global small business accounting platform. His accolades, including EY New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year and Business Leader of the Year, attest to his influence. However, it is his philanthropy and mentorship, nurturing the next generation of Kiwi innovators, that truly exemplifies his impact.

Rob McCallum, fondly known as ‘the Hillary of the Deep’, has made significant strides in the field of deep ocean exploration and philanthropic ocean science over the past 25 years. A globally respected leader, Rob is renowned for his Kiwi tenacity, integrity, innovation, and kindness. In an unparalleled feat, he has reached the deepest part of the world’s ocean, the Challenger Deep, and has led world-record descents to the deepest points of all five oceans. His leadership in exploring the Hadal Zone, the least known part of the planet, has resulted in major advances in various scientific and engineering domains, contributing to open access knowledge for humankind.

Continuing his legacy, Rob’s expeditions have mapped over 4 million square kilometres of ocean, contributing significantly to the International Hydrographic Organization’s Seabed 2030 project. His discovery of the deepest fish, jellyfish, octopus and shrimp ever recorded, and the collection of over 100,000 samples, heralds a new era in oceanic exploration. Rob’s commitment to diversity is demonstrated by the inclusion of the first woman, Pacific Islander, Asian, and African-American woman in his expeditions. As the Vice-Chair of the Nekton Foundation and the Founder of EYOS Expeditions, Rob continues to lead groundbreaking marine operations, contributing to the discovery of new ecosystems and the protection of vast oceanic areas.