Students vie for title of NZ's first Young MD of the Year

Five exceptional business leaders - all teenagers - are in line for the inaugural New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) Young Managing Director of the Year Award – a new category in the annual Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme National (YES) Awards.

 
The five young managing directors head profitable student companies from schools in Auckland, Christchurch and Invercargill, selling products ranging from an ‘emergency power generator’ – now on the shelves of Kathmandu and Mitre 10 stores - to designer reusable designer lunch bags.

“All these finalists have demonstrated exceptional leadership as is so evident in the outstanding success of the companies they head,” says NZICA Chief Executive Terry McLaughlin.

“It simply reinforces NZICA’s objective in sponsoring this award which is to encourage and foster New Zealand’s future business leaders through giving them real incentives and support to strive for excellence – and be recognised for it,” says Mr McLaughlin.

Finalists for the NZICA Young Managing Director of the Year Award are:

  • Tayla Forde, The Little Cake Company, St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland . Product: A cupcake decorating kit with a book, icing nozzles, reusable piping bag, 200g fondant and patty cases.    
  • Elle Scurr, Back Black Enterprise, Mount Aspiring College, Southland. Product: Roll ’n Go Face Paint Compact, an instant application white and black striped face paint designed initially to cater for the RWC fan market
  • James Agnew, A.C.E, St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch. Product: The Lion Emergency Power Generator, a generator which produces electricity from waste heat to power cell phones and charge batteries, an invention inspired by the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes.
  • Jaden Milligan, Helpful Electronics, Christchurch Boys High, Christchurch. Product: H.E.L.P – the Helpful Electronic Locating Product, a touch screen all-in-one computer for retail outlets enabling customers to search for products within the store.
  • Emily Fry, Le Lunch, St Cuthbert’s College, Auckland. Product: A range of designer, reusable ‘snap-down’ lunch bags made of oil-cloth material, snap band and velcro which compact down after use.

The winner receives a cash prize of $1000, a trophy and an all-expenses paid trip with their fellow finance director to the ‘swanky’ NZICA Leadership Awards in Wellington on 30 November, a chance to mingle and network with the country’s top business leaders.

Have your say
In addition, NZICA is creating the opportunity for New Zealanders to select their ‘People’s Choice’ Young Enterprise Managing Director of 2011. Visit our Facebook page to learn more about the finalists and vote for your preferred young business leader. The winner will receive an iPad for their school.

18 November 2011