Prizewinners at the annual Victoria Business School Excellence Awards gathered in the Memorial Theatre
Victoria Business School’s highest achievers were celebrated at the School’s fourth annual Excellence Awards in May.
The awards recognise Victoria Business School's top graduating students across each of its disciplines, as well as its best PhD and Master’s students. A number of special awards were also presented including the Victoria Business School and AVC (Pasifika) Scholarships.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Commerce Professor Bob Buckle says it was great to acknowledge the successes of Victoria Business School’s best and brightest ahead of graduation.
"These awards acknowledge the years of hard work and commitment our students have dedicated to their education and to being the very best they can be. This is a great achievement."
Guest speaker, Victoria Business School alumnus and Faculty Advisory Board Member Vanisa Dhiru, told the audience she was humbled to be in the company of such great achievers, and to never be disheartened when things don't go to plan.
"It's the people behind you—your family, whanau, community—who will help push you past those boundaries to follow your dreams."
Professor Buckle expressed his gratitude to sponsors who had partnered with Victoria Business School to provide named prizes.
"We are proud of the strong working relationships we enjoy with leading New Zealand businesses and government agencies.
"Their involvement in these awards not only demonstrates their ongoing support for Victoria Business School, but for the future leaders who received the awards."
Victoria Business School Award winners
Dean’s awards for doctoral achievement
- Dr Mary Ashby — Management
- Dr Edgar Pacheco Benavente — Information Systems
- Dr Argelia Larroa — Management
- Dr Judith Lawrence — Public Policy
- Dr Matthew Lewellen — Information Systems
- Dr Germana Nicklin — Public Policy
- Dr Mele Paea — Management
- Dr Farzana Tanima — Accounting
Top Master’s students
- Timothy Borren — Professional Economics
- Angela Cassidy — Public Policy
- Charlotte Beaglehole — Public Administration
- Rhiannon Beolens — Information Studies
- Annie De’Ath — Commerce (by coursework)
- Sophea E — e-Government
- Moses Fruean — Commerce (by coursework)
- Michelle Lewis — Commerce (by research thesis)
- Julie Moularde — Tourism Management
- Lara Penman — Public Management
- Elizabeth Scurr — Professional Accounting
- Utsav Sharma — Business Administration
- Wilbur Townsend — Commerce (by coursework)
- Peter Watkins — Applied Finance
- Stacey Young — Information Management
Accounting, taxation and commercial law
- Siobhan Bassett — Greenwood Roche Award for Commercial Law / Excellence Award for Accounting
- Liam Beattie — KMPG Award for Accounting / Excellence Award for Commercial Law
- Kelly David — Excellence Award for Taxation
- Rebecca D’Souza — Excellence Award for Accounting
- Derek Snow — Excellence Award for Accounting
- Alex Tunstall — CPA Award for Accounting / Excellence Award for Commercial Law
- James Van Dissen — CPA Award for Accounting
- Caroline Young — KMPG Award for Taxation / Excellence Award for Accounting / Excellence Award for Commercial Law
Economics and finance
- Liam Beattie — Excellence Award for Economics
- Saif Fawzi — Infometrics Award for Economics
- Jamie Hatch — Infometrics Award for Economics / INFINZ Award for Finance
- Ketan Patel — NZIER Award for Economics
- Alexander Perry — NZX Award for Economics
- Ronal Prasad — Fisher Funds Management Award for Finance / Excellence Award for Economics
Management
- Toni Ann Alamani — Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Award for Management
- Siobhan Bassett — Excellence Award for Management
- Alice Berry — Excellence Award for Management
- Harry Boam — New Zealand Trade & Enterprise Award for Management
- Millicent Jackson — Excellence Award for Management
- April Richardson — Financial Markets Authority Award for Management
- James Taylor — Excellence Award for Management
Human resource management and industrial relations
- Eleftheria Golding — Kiwibank Award for Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations
- Zoe Rodgers — HRINZ Award for Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations
Tourism management
- Cecelia Campbell — Wellington Airport Award for Tourism Management
- Alexandra Gadd — Wellington Airport Award for Tourism Management
Marketing and international business
- Caitlin Attenburrow — Marketing Association Award for Marketing
- Claire Belford — Excellence Award for Marketing
- Cara Butcher — Excellence Award for Marketing
- Kaliana French — Marketing Association Award for Marketing
- Katelynn Fuller — Marketing Association Award for Marketing
- Tamra Lindsay — NZX Award for International Business / Excellence Award for Marketing
- Alicia McQuade — NZX Award for International Business
- Sophie Speakman — Excellence Award for Marketing
- Megan Weir — Excellence Award for Marketing
Information systems
- Alexander Brodie — Excellence Award for Information Systems
- Rhiannon Butler — Excellence Award for Information Systems
- Jacques Du Preez — Deloitte Award for Information Systems
- Qiyuan Liu — Excellence Award for Information Systems
- Harley Radford — Xero Award for Information Systems
- Oliver Tristram — Revera Award for Information Systems
- Caleb Withers — Excellence Award for Information Systems
Public policy
- Matthew Horwell — Deloitte Award for Public Policy
- George Ritchie — Excellence Award for Public Policy
Special awards
- Pouaka Parore — ISACA PRIZE FOR TOP STUDENT INFO 301
- Selbi Soylemezoglu — ISACA PRIZE FOR BEST RESEARCH PROJECT INFO 301
- Herewini Ammunson — VBS & AVC (PASIFIKA) SCHOLARSHIPS
- Justyce Loau — VBS & AVC (PASIFIKA) SCHOLARSHIPS
- Sina Ah Sam — ADRIAN WIMMERS PRIZE FOR TOP PASIFIKA STUDENT YEAR 1 COMMERCE
Sponsors for the Excellence Awards
Victoria Business School is grateful to the all the organisations who have generously sponsored prizes for the Excellence Awards that celebrate our highest achieving undergraduate students.
