Our Judges for 2025

Brian Elliott is a founding Principal of Designgroup Stapleton Elliott and is the founding Chairman of Designgroup New Zealand. He has served the New Zealand Institute of Architects in several capacities and was National President from 1997 to 1999. Brian holds a Bachelor of Architecture with Honours from Auckland University, is a Life Fellow and Past President of the NZIA and holds an NZIA Award of Honour.

With over 40 years’ experience working for clients throughout New Zealand and Australia, Brian is a recognised expert in the Education sector. He is an Education Planner working across all education sectors, including ECE centres, Primary and Secondary schools through to entire Tertiary Education campus planning throughout New Zealand. He has been appointed by the NZ Government to a number of educational organisations, including Early Childhood and Tertiary Boards and working parties.

With over two decades of business management experience, including 13 years managing over 100 employees as a McDonald’s franchisee, and 18 years implementing the KiwiHost training programmes, Nevis Training owner Bronwyn Lord has helped hundreds of organisations in New Zealand and across the globe enrich and reshape their cultures.

Through collaboration with businesses dedicated to fostering and maintaining positive, engaging customer experiences, Nevis Training delivers unparalleled customer service, superior customer experiences, and cultivates self-assured, dynamic leaders.

One of Bronwyn’s key strengths is an innate talent for deciphering the intricacies of a company’s challenges and addressing them. She engages in transparent conversations with business owners and key staff members to identify the strengths and areas of improvement and uses these insights to formulate meticulously customised training solutions. As a result, the training delivered targets every problem area and leverages every existing strength to create profound change.

Bryan Is a legal and business consultant. He retired as an independent commercial barrister of the High Court in June 2022 having been, until 31 March 2013, a Partner in the Wellington office of the New Zealand national law firm, now known as Dentons Kensington Swan. He served as Managing Partner of the Commercial Advisory division, Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Director, of the law firm and specialised in Corporate and Commercial Law and Competition/Regulatory Law.

Bryan is the immediate past Chairman of the Kapiti Youth Employment Foundation (commonly called Work Ready Kapiti). He was a member of the executive board of trustees of the Enterprise New Zealand Trust (2004-16). He was Director of Wellington Rugby Football Union (1998-2004) and served as Chairman of the Audit & Financial Subcommittee and Commercial Subcommittee; a member of the Advisory Board, VIP Transport, Internal Affairs Department (1992-96); and, Advisory Board, QEC Enterprises, Internal Affairs Department (1990-96). Bryan was also a member of the New Zealand Council of the Institute of Directors (2008-2010) and Chairman of the Wellington Branch Committee of the Institute of Directors (2006-2010).

Geoff Lewis is a Horowhenua-based horticulturist and pastoral farmer. He and his family own a fresh asparagus and berry fruit business and he has extensive experience with growing, processing and exporting. He also owns, with his family, a dairy farming and beef business.

He has had many governance roles at a community and national level chairing various companies and industry organisations.

He is passionate about the Horowhenua, businesses and employment being his key interests.

He believes strongly in business needing to meet the principles of the triple bottom line, good business management, good employment principles and creating environmentally sustainable growth.

With over 35 years of experience in leadership coaching, including a decade as a military officer, Sally empowers entrepreneurs, peak performers, elite sports teams, and industry leaders to cultivate extraordinary cultures, articulate and achieve their visions, and sustain peak performance.

As a speaker, Sally inspires individuals and organizations to prioritize wellness by delving into the neuro-physiological impact of stress on performance and wellbeing. Her direct and humorous approach delivers insightful, actionable strategies that resonate with audiences.

Sally’s expertise lies in the science of sleep and its pivotal role in athletic and professional success. She specializes in designing environments with optimal lighting and layouts to enhance recovery, performance, and overall wellbeing. Her passion includes consulting on the creation of elite athlete villages, residential halls, and hotel environments that maximize sleep quality and performance through neuroscience-based environmental strategies.

Sarah is the Chief Executive of the Wellington Culinary Events Trust (WCET) and Director of Food + Drink New Zealand. The WCET owns and delivers some of New Zealand’s largest food and beverage events including Visa Wellington On a Plate, Beervana, the Road to Beervana and Highball. These events and festivals were all created with the principal objective of "promoting Wellington city and region as the premium New Zealand food and beverage destination" focused on attracting out-of-town visitors and developing further opportunities to support culinary activities 365 days per year.

Sarah has had extensive experience in both the food and tourism sectors over the last 20+ years. She has extensive connections in the food sector in New Zealand – chefs, producers and commentators, as well as a growing network internationally.

Helene Judge is the Owner Operator of Kāpiti Business Projects that helps businesses improve their operations and grow with practical and affordable advice, tools, and solutions. Working with Kāpiti Business Projects means you get access to Helene, a business development specialist in Kāpiti along with her team of professional contractors. They help enterprising people drive their business forward with innovative knowledge and business experience throughout the Kāpiti Coast, Wellington Region and Horowhenua.

Helene is based in Paraparaumu and also operates the Electra Business Breakfast, is the Campaign Manager for the annual fundraising event for rangatahi, Kapiti Run for Youth, and is Co-owner of the Kapiti Food Fair which is working towards charitable status. She is a proud member of the Kāpiti community and is a Member of the Kāpiti Coast Chamber of Commerce who helped to establish the Women in Business group that continues to operate successfully today. She is a past Board Member of Kāpiti Retirement Trust, one of Kāpiti's largest employers with a charitable purpose.