DEFENCE Winners of Defence Industry and Employer Support Awards announced

The Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry and Employer Support for 2019 were presented at Parliament on the evening of 25 November, recognising outstanding suppliers and employers supporting Defence.

This year saw the 2019 Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry presented in conjunction with the New Zealand Defence Employer Support Council Awards of Excellence.

“Hosting the awards in Parliament is recognition of the important role played by Defence industry in ensuring the New Zealand Defence Force is equipped, trained and supported to do the job New Zealanders expect it to do, often under very difficult conditions and at short notice,” stated Defence Minister Ron Mark in a media statement.

“The partnership this investment creates with defence industry is deep and wide-ranging, reflected in the winners for this year’s Awards,” the minister said. “In working with the Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force to achieve this, Defence industry also invests in our communities creating jobs, generating revenue and driving innovation, including in the regions.

Also recognised were those companies which have demonstrated excellence in supporting their employees’ contribution to New Zealand’s national defence and community wellbeing as members of the New Zealand Reserves and Cadet Forces.

“Without that support our Reserves could not train and our cadet forces would cease being part of our communities.”

Industry excellence was also recognised for those working with the Defence Force to help young people turn their lives around through the Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) programme.

“The LSV programme gives trainees a sense of purpose, discipline and motivation. However, it is through meaningful employment as graduates that lives are truly transformed,” said the minister. “This year’s winner of the LSV Employer Recognition Award has helped turn around many lives.”

“I congratulate the nominees and finalists who through their excellence and service have earned the respect of those who put them forward for an award,” he said.

Awards of Excellence for Industry

The Awards of Excellence to Industry were established by the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council

(NZDIAC) in 1998 to highlight and reward the contribution made by industry to Defence. Award winners – who are profiled in separate articles in this issue of Line of Defence – include:

• Category 1: the provision of a service to Defence less than $15 million: Silverstripe

• Category 2: the provision of a product to Defence less than $15 million: EPE Trusted to Protect Ltd

• Category 3: the provision of a product or service to Defence in excess of $15 million: Østenjø Rederi

• Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sector: Kenny Didham

• Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sector: Simon Manning

Finalists in each award category included:

Category 1: Te Mau Aroha Inc for full immersion level translation services provided for Army, Navy and Air Force recruitment information into Te Reo Maori, which provided access for NZDF Recruitment staff into full immersion schools.

CAE and Beca for providing engineering excellence in running, maintaining and supporting the SH-2G(I) Seasprite Helicopter Full Mission Flight Simulator and six part task trainers.

Category 2: Marops for delivering a training platform for Pilots and Air Warfare officers in the King Air 350, along with a groundbased training system.

Meggitt Training Systems, suppliers of the simulation training system for the NZDF’s new MARS-L, for supplying a product that was indistinguishable from the MARS-L.

Category 3: TSA, LT McGuinness, Planet Design and Kensington Swan were finalists for their work on the Future HQ Project that delivered a new HQ for Defence, including design, project management, build and legal oversight of the project – described as “an outstanding example of partnership and risk sharing to deliver a great result.”

Awards Night

DESC / LinkedIn

Awards of Excellence for Employer Support

Appointed by the Minister of Defence yet independent of the NZDF, the mission of the Defence Employer Support Council (DESC) is “to increase the effectiveness of the New Zealand Defence Force through engagement with organisations in the economy and wider business community.”

Formerly known as the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council, DESC was established in 2006 with the aims of: (i) promoting service within the reserve forces; (ii) providing advice to the Minister of Defence; and (iii) supporting good relations between reservists, cadet force officers and their civilian employers. Its role has since expanded to support a wider range of Defence people in civilian employment.

The DESC Awards of Excellence winners for 2019 included:

Reservist of the Year: Awarded to SGT Timothy Burke, B Company, 2/4 RNZIR, for his selfless and consistent commitment to go above and beyond for the NZDF and the wider community.

The NZDF Reservist of the Year award recognises a Member of the NZDF in a given year who most exemplifies the Defence Force values of Courage, Commitment, Comradeship, and Integrity in their service as a Reservist. Two other finalists for this Award were CPL Philip Newman, 38 Combat Service Support Company, NZ Army Logistic Regiment, and SQNLDR Matt Alcock, Central Flying School RNZAF Base Ohakea.

Reservist Employer of the Year: Talley’s Group, in recognition of the company’s commendable support and encouragement to their employee LMTO B Gallagher, HMNZS Pegasus.

New Zealand Cadet Forces Employer of the Year: Pringle Beleski and Associates, specialists in high voltage engineering, nominated by Cadet Forces FLTLT Tom Wech for their support and active encouragement of him in his work with the Cadet Forces.

2019 Individual Contribution to the LSVs: Awarded to Christine Fernyhough, nominated by the Youth Development Unit (South) in recognition of her immense generosity, commitment, energy and involvement with the LSV Programme and YDU over time.

2019 Employer Contribution to the LSVs: Fulton Hogan Ltd, nominated by the Ministry of Social Development LSV Coordinators (South) for their wideranging support and opportunities for employment, training and mentoring that they’ve provided to graduates since 2014, including organising industry training to assist with employment.