The Global Women community was well represented at this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, with three inspiring Global Women members and a Breakthrough Leaders programme participant recognised for their services to New Zealand.
Candis Craven
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to ballet and business
As Chair of the Royal New Zealand Ballet from 2011 to 2016, Candis Craven steered the RNZB Board through a period of significant activity and change including the RNZB’s 60th birthday and critically acclaimed international tours.
Over this period she was instrumental in increasing the RNZB’s non-government sponsorship and philanthropic revenue, and developing other collaborations including the formal relationship with the New Zealand School of Dance as the RNZB’s official school.
Candis has a 30-year involvement with the New Zealand Family Planning Association, and is a member of the Board of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. She is Chair of the Cognition Education Trust and Director of Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board, and has held a range of previous directorships. Read Candis Craven’s full citation
Read Candis Craven’s full citation
Lyn Provost
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to the State
Lyn Provost was New Zealand’s Controller and Auditor-General from October 2009 until 2017, where she lead the Office of the Auditor-General to receive their highest score in Transparency International New Zealand’s 2013 National Integrity Systems Assessment.
During her time as Auditor-General, Lyn increased the visibility and understanding of the role through developing and reporting on annual themes of issues facing the public sector. She has improved New Zealand’s accounting and auditing reputation internationally and was instrumental in improving the standard of auditing and government accounting in developing nations, especially in the Pacific.
From 2001 to 2009 she was the first female and civilian Deputy Commissioner of New Zealand Police (Resource Management), responsible for six police districts as well as leading human resources, finance, information technology and strategy and policy in New Zealand Police. Lyn was previously acting Chief Executive at Archives New Zealand and was involved in the establishment of that organisation.
Read Lyn Provost’s full citation
Maxine Simmons
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to science, particularly biotechnology
A leader in scientific research and innovation for more than 35 years, Maxine Simmons co-founded Immuno-Chemical Products (ICPBio) Ltd in 1983 and was CEO until 2003. One of New Zealand’s first biotechnology companies, ICPBio produced antibodies and veterinary products, growing to export to more than 45 countries.
In 2005 she founded BioCatalyst Ltd, a specialist consultancy providing capital raising and management advice to start-up biotechnology and life science companies, where she continues as Managing Director.
She is a member of the governing board of the Maurice Wilkins Centre for BioDiscovery, the advisory board of the MedTech CoRE, and was a member of the Industrial Research Ltd Board. She was an inaugural member of the Industry New Zealand Board and was one of New Zealand’s three representatives to the APEC Business Advisory Council from 2010 to 2014.
Read Maxine Simmon’s full citation
Rebecca Keoghan
Breakthrough Leaders Programme participant
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to business, particularly the dairy industry
Rebecca Keoghan has contributed to the Westland region for the past 10 years. In addition to her role as co-director of a 250 cow, 300 hectare farm Rebecca was Operations Manager of Westport’s Holcim Cement Ltd, controlling the quality production of 500,000 tonnes of clinker and 550,000 tonnes of cement per annum and leading the growth of a ‘zero harm’ culture for her staff.
Currently, as Business Manager of Landcorp Farming Ltd, she is responsible for the strategic development and management of five large dairy farms in the region, as well as a dairy support farm and a machinery syndicate spanning the Cape Foulwind and Grey Valley areas.
Rebecca is a director of Westland Milk Products Ltd and of Buller Holdings, which has responsibility for Buller District Council’s commercial assets. She is also a judge for the Dairy Manager of the Year Award programme for the Dairy Industry Awards.