recognising ict excellence
The annual New Zealand CIO Innovation Awards recognise individuals and teams who have shown leadership, innovation, and foresight in their contribution to ICT and business. Coveted by teams and tech leaders, the CIO Innovation Awards are prestigious and inspirational recognition of the talent the best New Zealand offers.
AWARDS TIMELINE:
2 March 2026 – Entries and Nominations Open
26 May 2026 – Entries Close
30 June 2026 – Finalists Announced
4 August 2026 – NZ CIO Innovation Awards
2 MARCH 2026
Entries and Nominations Open
26 MAY 2026
Entries Close
30 JUNE 2026
Finalists Announced
TUESDAY 4 AUGUST
NZ CIO Innovation Awards
Recognising ICT Excellence
The annual New Zealand CIO Innovation Awards recognise individuals and teams who have shown leadership, innovation, and foresight in their contribution to ICT and business. Coveted by teams and tech leaders, the CIO Innovation Awards are prestigious and inspirational recognition of the talent the best New Zealand offers.
Why it matters
The Awards are your chance to shine a spotlight on exceptional leadership, innovation, and the positive impacts made across your organisation, the sector or New Zealand at large, through ICT. But the benefits go far beyond recognition. Here’s why entering the CIO Awards is a strategic move for you and your team:
2026 awards categories
New Zealand CIO of the Year
2025 Winner - Alexandra Smart
Chief Technology Officer, Southern Cross Travel Insurance
Emerging ICT Leader of the Year
This award recognises and celebrates exceptional talent in New Zealand’s ICT sector- future leaders under 35 who are demonstrating outstanding ICT initiative and leadership.
The recipient will have already made an impact in their ICT career, demonstrated through outstanding initiative and leadership. This could include leading a high-performing ICT team, building a successful technology business, or mentoring underrepresented communities in digital leadership.
2025 winner - Stasha Rmandic
Head of Analytics and Insights, Whakarongorau Aotearoa
Business Transformation through Digital and IT
This award celebrates organisations that have successfully planned and executed business transformation initiatives by leveraging digital and disruptive technologies. It recognises those that have strategically integrated these innovations to deliver outstanding outcomes aligned with their broader business goals.
The recipient of this award will showcase seamless collaboration across the organisation, strong leadership advocacy, and a clear vision that paved the way for transformation. They will set the standard for industry leadership, demonstrating how digital technologies can be harnessed to drive meaningful and lasting organisational change.
2025 winner - AA Insurance
Community Tech Champions
This award honours outstanding initiatives that promote digital equity, diversity, and accessibility to technology and tech careers in Aotearoa, New Zealand. These initiatives may include programmes for women in tech, Māori and Pasifika in tech, regional or community projects, accessibility for people with disabilities, youth engagement, and lifelong learning.
The Community Tech Champions award encourages private businesses, public sector organisations, not-for-profits, and academic institutions to take action, ensuring the digital capabilities of all New Zealanders continue to grow and improve.
2025 winner - Digital Future Aotearoa
Best ICT Team Culture & Inclusion
This award recognises outstanding ICT team culture, recruitment, inclusion, and diversity practices that drive team and organisational success. These organisations prioritise recruitment, retention, and training future talent as essential to building high-performing ICT teams.
The award highlights practices, policies, and strategies that create a modern, inclusive, and open team culture. Successful teams nurture diversity, foster cohesion and morale, and retain critical talent to build a competitive digital business.
2025 winner - Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Innovation Leadership Through an Emerging Technology
This award celebrates an organisation that is redefining innovation by harnessing emerging technologies to shape the future of their industry. It recognises those leveraging an emerging technology to create new business models, transform processes, or develop new products and services.
The recipient of this award sets a benchmark for innovation, showcasing how emerging technologies can drive competitive advantage and resilience while navigating the complexities of evolving technologies and regulatory frameworks.
2025 winner - Hamilton City Council
Excellence in Customer Value
This award celebrates technology teams that redefine customer engagement, delivering increased levels of customer value and experience through a refreshed approach to user engagement.
The recipient will demonstrate how their initiative—spanning projects, solutions, processes, business models, or operations—has significantly improved customer outcomes. By prioritising user needs and fostering meaningful engagement, they set a benchmark for excellence in creating lasting customer value.
2025 winner - Auckland Transport
Outstanding Contribution to Technology and Business in New Zealand
This award honours a high-profile business leader from either the public or private sector whose contributions have significantly and uniquely impacted the New Zealand or global business community through information technology.
The award recognises individuals at the intersection of business and technology. Those that have had a long and successful career in IT, who have contributed significantly to the effectiveness of business through technology, or someone who has had great success in a technology company.
The recipient is selected by the judging panel. However, if you know of a worthy candidate, we encourage you to submit a nomination via the form or by emailing awards@brightstar.co.nz.
2025 winner - Elle Archer
Why it matters
The Awards are your chance to shine a spotlight on exceptional leadership, innovation, and the positive impacts made across your organisation, the sector or New Zealand at large, through ICT. But the benefits go far beyond recognition. Here’s why entering the CIO Awards is a strategic move for you and your team:
cio innovation awards
gala dinner
The New Zealand CIO Innovation Awards Gala Dinner is more than just an awards ceremony—it’s the premier annual networking event for New Zealand’s technology community.
Join hundreds of the country’s top CIOs, technology executives, and industry influencers for an evening of sophistication, celebration, and inspiration. We’ll be recognising the individuals and teams who have leveraged technology to drive significant business transformation, deliver exceptional value, and pioneer genuine innovation.
News and Insights
Access comprehensive analysis of the NZ CIO Innovation Summit & Awards. Our insights cover the most significant announcements, award winners, and strategic takeaways for digital transformation. Stay current with New Zealand’s foremost technology leadership event.
From Cubicles to Collaboration, and Tiny Teams with Mighty Impact: NZ’s ICT Culture Champions of 2024
Mercury’s Digital Transformation: A Masterclass in Achieving Extraordinary Results
Finalists Named for New Zealand CIO Awards 2024
Why it matters
The Awards are your chance to shine a spotlight on exceptional leadership, innovation, and the positive impacts made across your organisation, the sector or New Zealand at large, through ICT. But the benefits go far beyond recognition. Here’s why entering the CIO Awards is a strategic move for you and your team: