This page to be updated with 2025 judges
Steve brings to the judging panel over 30 years’ experience in CEO and General Management roles with small to medium sized businesses in New Zealand and Australia.
His broad commercial skill set has been developed through a wide variety of industries including banking and finance, automotive, hospitality and property. His responsibilities have ranged from developing and managing the execution of strategic plans to financial management to developing, motivating and managing staffing levels from 10-200.
In addition, Steve has gained board room experience through chairing both Enterprising Manukau and Touch New Zealand over a combined period of 12 years. During this time he gained valuable insight into the key differences between the governance and operational aspects of a business.
Now the owner of The Alternative Board in Christchurch city, Steve is using his background and experience to provide much needed coaching and support to the business community of Canterbury.
The Lead Judge is involved in every category in the Business Awards and supports the other judges in every category.
Steve has been a judge for the North Canterbury Business Awards since 2016.
Leone has worked in the public and private sectors in roles spanning more than 30 years, with the last 10 years managing her own business, volunteering as a Business Mentor with Business Mentors New Zealand and holding trustee positions with two local charities in North Canterbury.
Leone’s corporate experience includes the dairy, meat, apparel and arable industries; some of which have included international market development activities and managing overseas manufacturing contracts. She held several different roles within New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, one of which was managing a team of people to support companies to develop and execute appropriate international market development strategies within a variety of different countries and customs. Her time at NZTE also included a secondment as Trade Commissioner to New Zealand’s UK office located in London.
While Leone now calls herself retired, she remains very active in the community – her coaching business together with being the Chair of a local charity for the last 10 years, and volunteering as a Business Mentor ensures she is well across current trends and issues facing businesses today.
Leone has been a judge for the North Canterbury Business Awards in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018.
Brian brings to the panel many years of experience in both national and international sales and management within a wide range of industries.
Brian has conducted business in some 60 countries, spending five years based in both China and the UK, developing excellent communication skills and multi-cultural understanding along the way.
Having managed businesses in start-up, growth, maturity and decline phases has provided him with invaluable insight into the operational requirements of businesses of all sizes.
Living in Ohoka, Brian works as a Real Estate Agent in the commercial and industrial sector focusing on North Canterbury. Brian is also a Trustee of the Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust helping our people and businesses meet their full potential.
Brian was a judge for the North Canterbury Business Awards in 2021. This year he judges both the Misco Joinery Technology Award and the Totalspan North Canterbury Trades and Services Award.
Brydon Heller, Marketing Manager of Hellers, is a fifth generation butcher and has worked for Hellers since his dad opened the shop in New Brighton, back in 1985.
Brydon has seen Hellers grow over the 30 years it has been based in Kaiapoi. He has great knowledge of many aspects of the business with a strong focus on marketing and branding. This is why he is judging the MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Food & Beverage award. Brydon believes there is always a good story behind every great product which is why he will be judging not just the end product, but the entire journey.
Brydon is passionate about the food industry in North Canterbury and is keen to support growing the profile of excellent businesses in our region.
He also believes the best sausage has not yet been made!
As well as providing Brydon as a judge for the MADE NORTH CANTERBURY Food & Beverage Award, Hellers is sponsoring the Hellers Emerging Business Award.
With over 18 years experience in the accounting and advisory field, David, a partner at BDO Christchurch Limited, is an expert in providing comprehensive financial and strategic services to businesses of all sizes. He has a keen eye for detail, and a strong commitment to finding creative solutions that help his clients meet their goals.
In addition to his technical skills, David is also known for his exceptional interpersonal abilities. He takes the time to understand each business he works with, building strong relationships with clients and earning their trust. He is a confident communicator, able to articulate complex concepts in a way that is easy for others to understand.
David has been involved with Enterprise North Canterbury since 2015 and has led BDO’s sponsorship of the North Canterbury Business Awards during the period. This is David’s first year on the judging panel and he is looking forward to working with the high calibre entrants.
James Flanagan is a highly regarded figure in the retail industry, known for his exceptional leadership and customer-focused approach. As the owner of PAK'nSAVE Rangiora, he has been at the forefront of delivering top-notch customer service to the local community for many years. James has a strong commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of what customers want.
With his passion for customer service and his wealth of experience in the retail industry, James is an ideal candidate to judge the customer service award. His keen eye for detail, his commitment to excellence, and his unwavering dedication to putting customers first make him a perfect choice to assess the quality of customer service offered by others.
As well as providing James as a judge for the Percival Street Bakery Customer Service Award, PAK’nSAVE Rangiora is sponsoring the PAK’nSAVE Rangiora Community Enterprise Award.
Deirdre brings to the judging panel a career spanning 30 years working in senior leadership, coaching, and community development within central government, local government and social services in the NGO sector.
For the past 12 years, Deirdre has been Manager of Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust. Community Wellbeing offers a range of free social and community services to support the wellbeing of families and individuals in North Canterbury. The Trust employs 35 staff and over 60 volunteers and is the largest social services agency in North Canterbury.
Deirdre is also the Principal of Salta Horses, offering equine-assisted learning and development programmes for both New Zealand and international clients.
Deirdre is one of New Zealand’s leading trainers in Results Based Accountability™ which is a framework for measuring the performance and efficacy of programmes, agencies and services.
With her first-hand experience of leadership through the response and recovery phases of the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes, along with the Covid 19 response, Deirdre is a specialist in leading teams through uncertainty.
Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust were the winners of the BDO Professional Services Award in 2016 and the PAK’nSAVE Community Enterprise Award in 2018.
Julia Hunt is a tourism professional and founder of Tourism Studio Ltd. With a passion for helping tourism businesses succeed, she has built a reputation for delivering practical and effective solutions to her clients.
Her extensive knowledge of the tourism industry and its challenges, combined with her excellent interpersonal skills, allows her to build strong relationships with her clients and understand their unique needs.
With over a decade of experience, Julia has developed a wide range of expertise, including destination marketing, product development, and sustainability. She has a proven track record of helping tourism businesses increase their visibility and grow their revenue, making her an ideal judge of the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa Tourism Award at this year’s North Canterbury Business Awards.
Andrew Arps is a well-respected environmental professional and a well known figure at Environment Canterbury (ECAN). With over 15 years of experience in the field, he has developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing the environment and the measures needed to address them.
His passion for the environment is evident in the work he does, and he is widely recognized as a thought leader in the field. He has a strong reputation for his ability to communicate complex environmental issues in a clear and concise manner, making his expertise accessible to a wide audience. This, combined with his exceptional interpersonal skills, makes him an effective advocate for environmental protection.
Andrew is a strong believer in the power of collaboration and partnerships, and he has worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and community organisations, to advance sustainability initiatives.
Andrew lives in Waimakariri and, together with his wife, also owns and operates Harpers Homestead Wedding Venue.
