Cecilia Robinson Named 2017 Supreme Woman of Influence

My Food Bag founder named 2017 Supreme Woman of Influence

The founder and co-chief executive of My Food Bag, Cecilia Robinson, has been named the Supreme Winner at the 2017 Women of Influence Awards, held tonight at SKYCITY Convention Centre in Auckland.

Robinson created the meal kit delivery service in 2013 with husband James Robinson, chef Nadia Lim and businesswoman Theresa Gattung.

Since then, My Food Bag has become a household name, transforming the diets and meals of thousands of families.

It has more than 50,000 customers, 120 employees and projected revenues of more than $135 million a year.

The Women of Influence event, now in its fifth year, is backed by Westpac and Fairfax Media, with awards judged in 10 categories.

Westpac NZ Chief Executive David McLean says Cecilia Robinson is a worthy Supreme winner, having shaped the shopping and cooking habits of many Kiwi families for the better.

“It is not only a great business idea – it has also had a wider influence on family life. My Food Bag has meant less time planning meals and shopping in supermarkets, and more invaluable time spent with loved ones. On a dietary level, it’s also delivering healthier options for many households.

“It’s a simple idea executed flawlessly and for that reason Cecilia deserves this accolade.”

Fairfax Media Chief Executive Sinead Boucher says what was remarkable about the finalists was the incredible breadth of talent across so many categories.

“There was someone to inspire in every field, whether it was law or conservation or finance or broadcasting.

“These are some of the smartest and savviest women in New Zealand, with their success exemplified by the exceptional work of Cecilia Robinson and her team.”

A special Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to former New Zealand Prime Minister and United Nations Development Programme Administrator, The Rt Hon Helen Clark, for her outstanding work over several decades.

The award was presented by the Governor-General, Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy.

List of Winners

Arts & Culture - Sponsored by SKYCITY - Denise L'Estrange-Corbet

Fashion designer Denise L’Estrange-Corbet is a co-founder of WORLD, one of New Zealand’s most iconic creative brands, with six boutiques across the country. She is also an ambassador for the IHC Art Awards, Diabetes New Zealand (Auckland) and the Mental Health Foundation.

Board & Management - Sponsored by DLA Piper - Anne-Maree O’Connor

As the Head of Responsible Investment for the New Zealand Superannuation Fund since 2006, Anne-Maree O’Connor has helped move responsible investing from a sideline activity for institutional investors to a part of their mainstream investment strategy.

Business Enterprise - Sponsored by MYOB - Cecilia Robinson (also the Supreme Winner)

Entrepreneur Cecilia Robinson is the brains behind food kit delivery business My Food Bag. The business has become a household name in just four years, growing from a start-up to a team of 120, with revenue forecast to exceed $135 million for this financial year, and is preparing for an IPO within three years.

Robinson also set up Au Pair Link in 2006 to connect au pairs from overseas with host families in New Zealand. At the time of sale eight years later, the business was flying nearly 1000 au pairs to New Zealand annually.

Community & Not for Profit - Sponsored by Spark - Lisa King

Lisa King created Eat My Lunch after discovering thousands of children go to school without lunch every day. For every lunch purchased, Eat My Lunch provides a lunch to a child in need. In two years, Eat My Lunch has given around 450,000 healthy lunches to children in low decile schools.

Diversity - Sponsored by Chartered Accountants ANZ - Minnie Baragwanath

At the age of 14, Minnie was diagnosed with Stargardt’s, an incurable disease that causes deteriorating central vision. She went on to start Be. Accessible, a social change agency shifting how Kiwis value accessibility. She is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Global - Sponsored by Massey University - Sian Simpson

A three-time Women of Influence finalist, Sian Simpson is a director of community at Kiwi Landing Pad, where she helps take New Zealand technology to the world. In the past three years, Sian has worked with more than 2000 New Zealand businesses and met with over 3000 entrepreneurs.

Innovation & Science - Sponsored by Mastercard - Hinemoa Elder

Hinemoa Elder leads Maori strategy at the Centre of Research Excellence for the Ageing Brain. She was the first to articulate a Māori theory of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and develop two evidence-based resources for Māori with TBI – an area where Māori are over-represented.

Public Policy - Sponsored by Ministry for Women - Rebecca Kitteridge

As the Director of Security at the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, Kitteridge runs an organisation that deals with some of the most sensitive information in New Zealand. Prior to this role she spent six years in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Rural - Sponsored by Zespri - Professor Nicola Shadbolt

For more than 30 years Professor Nicola Shadbolt has taken a strategic perspective on global agribusiness. She is a professor of farm and agribusiness management at Massey University and is the New Zealand representative in the International Farm Comparison Network in Dairying.

Young Leader - Sponsored by Hotpoints - Sharnay Cocup

Sharnay Cocup is the founder of the Taupiri Youth Group Trust, a Taupiri Community Board member, Taupiri School Board trustee and PTA member. She started the Taupiri Youth Group Trust to restore the Taupiri Mountain track, which hadn’t been maintained properly for 20 years.

Lifetime Achievement - Rt Hon Helen Clark

Helen Clark became New Zealand’s first elected woman Prime Minister in 1999. She held the office for nine years before becoming the first woman to lead the United Nations Development Programme. She was elected the MP for Mt Albert in ten consecutive general elections and led the Labour Party for 15 years.

ENDS

About Fairfax Media

Fairfax Media is an innovative, integrated multi-media business with strong brands across multiple platforms including digital, newspapers, magazines and events.

Fairfax Media has two national, nine daily and more than 50 community newspapers, and market leading website,stuff.co.nz.

About Westpac NZ Ltd

Westpac has been operating in New Zealand since 1861 and is one of the country’s largest full service banks with more than 1.3 million customers. Westpac provides a full range of retail and commercial financial services including home and business lending, funds management and treasury services.

Westpac is committed to improving the quality of life of a broad range of New Zealanders through active support of a variety of organisations, services and facilities including the Westpac Rescue Helicopters, The Sir Peter Blake Trust and The Financial Education Research Centre.

Women of Influence Programme Partners

Arts & Culture - SKYCITY

Board & Management - DLA Piper

Business Enterprise - MYOB

Community & Not for Profit - Spark

Diversity - Chartered Accountants ANZ

Global - Massey University

Innovation & Science - Mastercard

Public Policy - Ministry for Women

Rural - Zespri

Young Leader - Hotpoints

Wine Sponsor - Nautilus Estate

© Scoop Media