Emma Lewisham
New Zealand Innovator of the Year
2025
Spark
New Zealand Innovator of the Year
Te Pou Whakairo o te Tau
Emma Lewisham
Emma Lewisham is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Emma Lewisham, a skincare company established in New Zealand in 2019. Renowned for delivering evidence-based skincare, uniting luxurious, high-performance, and natural formulations while leading the industry in sustainability, Emma Lewisham is available globally including in NZ, Australia, UK, Europe and USA.
Under Emma’s leadership, Emma Lewisham has become the world’s first climate-positive, circular designed beauty brand and introduced an industry-first circular beauty model, significantly reducing landfill waste and cutting 100 tonnes of carbon emissions to date. Emma’s dedication to transparency and environmental accountability has earned her recognition as both a beauty innovator and a champion of ethical business practices, including a personal endorsement from Dr. Jane Goodall.
With a background that includes postgraduate studies in physiology and biochemistry at Harvard University, Emma has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of skincare science. In the brand’s unique formulation physiology-first approach and world-leading independent testing, they’ve validated that their reversed approach to formulation design has delivered products that have shown an ability to outperform leading brands. Emma Lewisham’s belief in being a force for good has driven the brand to let physiology take the lead – a core principle that uses science to unlock the intelligence of nature to redefine what skincare can achieve. The brand’s global success and impact stand as a testament to Emma’s vision – inspiring consumers and companies to embrace sustainable innovation.
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?
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