Celebrating wāhine in aquaculture
“It has been overwhelming to see the respect, appreciation, and mana showcased in the nominations. There’s a wonderful variety ranging from well-respected industry stalwarts to up-and-coming young stars”
There is an impressive number of nominations for two new awards recognising the contributions women make to the aquaculture sector.
Aquaculture New Zealand (AQNZ) and Women of Aquaculture Aotearoa (WoAA) have collaborated for the inaugural awards which acknowledge women in the industry, their achievements, and the work they are doing.
WoAA Outstanding Service Award celebrates wāhine who have stepped up and made a lasting impact on aquaculture business, the environment, the people, or the sector as-a-whole.
WoAA Excellence Award recognises rising stars, major achievements, contributors, and valuable members who have done excellent mahi.
Caroline Gilbertson, WoAA Co-Founder says there are some incredible women in the sector and their mahi should be celebrated.
“We started Women of Aquaculture Aotearoa because we knew firsthand the number of wāhine in the aquaculture industry who were doing amazing things, often unrecognised,” she says, “plus we understood the immense appetite for greater connection and networking for women in our sector.”
She says the response to these awards has showcased the passion for this industry and the people in it.
“It has been overwhelming to see the respect, appreciation, and mana showcased in the nominations. There’s a wonderful variety ranging from well-respected industry stalwarts to up-and-coming young stars.”
“We have received deserving nominations from colleagues, employers, business partners, family, students, clients, mentors, friends, and others— it’s been a privilege to see the effort people have made to acknowledge each nominee and their mahi.”
There are twenty-nine nominations for the two awards, and Caroline says the high calibre of nominees will make selecting the recipients a tough job for the judges.
Judging Panel:
Tee Hale Pennington: CE - Aquaculture New Zealand
Jenny Marcroft: Parliamentary Under-Secretary - Oceans and Fisheries
Karen Olver: Director - Women in Seafood Australasia
Julia Jones: General Manager - Agri-Womens Development Trust
The winners will be announced at the 2025 Aquaculture New Zealand conference.
See more on the AQNZ Women of Aquaculture Aotearoa Awards here.