Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is presented to a woman who is truly an inspiration for all women - a woman who has made a lifelong commitment to governance and leadership, who supports other women in their governance journey, and who publicly advocates for gender equality.

Nominees will provide examples of their support of other women and their public advocacy to championing gender diversity and/or gender equity.

Nominees can represent any field and industry sector.

This award is sponsored by the University of Waikato.

Meet the finalists


Elle Archer

Elle has a successful career in technology, science, geospatial technology, digital architecture and infrastructure where there are few women leaders. Elle has often been the only wāhine in the room and that has driven her to make a difference for other women coming through. 

For over 20 years Elle has been a disruptor, committed to achieving gender equality in the digital and infrastructure sector. 

She has made a valuable contribution to Māori governance in the digital sector and to improving a bi-cultural understanding of governance. She started and facilitates the sisterhood Kaupapa, speaking with wāhine in schools, whare kura, and university encouraging and empowering women through telling her own story. She is an advocate for youth development for Māori and wāhine into professional pathways. 

Elle is a managing director for ELG Global, and her governance roles include Chair of Te Matarau the Maori Tech Association of Aotearoa National, is Iwi representative - Ministry of Education Nga Iwi o Hauraki, is Chair of the Canterbury Regional Joint Committee Waitaha Regional Digital Equity Governance Group, a board member of GovHack NZ and board trustee of Ako Otautahi Learning City Christchurch Trust Board and Central Plains Water Trust Board. 

In 2021 Elle was a finalist in the Inspiring Governance Leader award. 

“I not only want to be a good governor, I want to ensure I give voice to the voice-less, and aid in evolving the governance space for all.”


Sally Morrison

Sally has been a champion of grass roots community sports, manaakitanga and whanaungatanga her entire adult life. Her leadership over nearly 30 years as a volunteer has made a significant difference for communities in Wellington and to ensuring women get a fair go at board level and on the pitch.

In 2009, she became the first woman elected to the Cricket Wellington Board, and in 2016 became the first woman to Chair any regional or national cricket board in New Zealand, retiring from that role in 2019. Sally was Chair of Wellington Hockey Association until 2021 and is now Chair of Wellington Rugby League Zone, a role she sought, wanting to make a positive difference for Pacific and Māori communities, in particular wāhine and kōtiro.

Sally was a finalist in the NZ Women of Influence Awards in 2022, is a Kiwibank Local Hero Award winner and a finalist in the NEXT Women on the Year in 2019. She was awarded the Wellington Sport Leadership Award in 2019 for services to sports governance. In 2021, Sally was a finalist in the Not-For-Profit Governance award.

She is the Head of the Office of the DCE Corporate at MBIE and prior to that was Head of Governance.

Sally has led in predominantly male dominated areas, particularly in cricket when she was the first to do a number of things. Despite opposition from those who saw these roles for men, Sally has blazed a trail for women. Each Board has needed significant remedial work, recovery and change and she has done the hard work, and all her governance work has been voluntary.

“I believe we all have a responsibility to uphold and uplift the mana of others - this is about embracing diversity and celebrating each other. Those of us who have the privilege to lead should do so authentically, responsibly and with empathy.”