PM picks winners with business prizes

Executives in healthcare, engineering and infrastructure companies feature heavily among this year's recipients of the Prime Minister's Business Scholarships.

The scholarships, which were launched in 2010, offer the winners up to $57,000 each to cover half the cost of a business programme at a range of prestigious international schools.

The programmes range from short five-days to 17 months in length at institutions such as Harvard, London Business School and the INSEAD Business School in Singapore and France.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says the scholarships – seen as a pointer to how the government sees future growth areas – are awarded to the "up-and-coming stars of the New Zealand business scene".

However, many of the recipients are already at top management status, such as the ceo and co-founder of Synlait Milk, Dr John Penno, who holds a PhD in animal science from Massey University.

And Hamish Wiig, vice-president of sales for Tait Communications' Latin American operations.

Based in Houston, Mr Wiig heads the sales and marketing strategy for the Christchurch-based company's Latin America business.

Others in the list include:

• Kathy Meads, the chief financial officer for Lyttelton Port Co.
• Sally Gardiner, supply chain general manager for global Kiwifruit supplier Zespri.
• Ronnie Butt, the Hong-Kong-based China and South East Asia general manager for health care products supplier Comvita.
• Wayne Oxenham, executive vice-president of hospital solutions for Orion Health.
• Damian Pedreschi, business development manager for engineering company Beca.
• Paul Stokes, global sales manager for Wynyard Group, a maker of security software to protect against crime and threats.
• Andy McNicholl, sales and marketing manager for EPL (Elastomer Products Ltd), a Christchurch-based company which makes products for various industries, including construction, marine and agriculture.
• Michael Kwok, principal consultant for engineering firm Resolve Group.
• Angus Bargh, transportation planning manager for Downer, as part of Christchurch's infrastructure rebuild team.
• Corinne Callinan, managing director for Auckland-based hosiery company CXC.
• Sean Horgan, general manager of business development for power company Northpower.
• Richard Keys, chief financial officer for Auckland-based Abano healthcare.