Women well represented in award final

Three of the finalists in the OBiz future leader awards are (from left) Rebecca Twemlow, managing director of Firebrand, Lani Evans, chief executive of Thank You Payroll, and Zoe Hobson, producer and marketing strategist at Myth. At rear: Otago Chamber of Commerce president Ali Copeman. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.

Lani Evans, Zoe Hobson and Rebecca Twemlow are the three finalists, one of whom will be announced as the winner at the OBiz awards dinner being held at the Dunedin Town Hall on November 6.

''This is outstanding. The three women finalists show we are a progressive city with a high calibre of women working at the highest level,'' Mrs Copeman said.

The city was already setting a good example, she said.

Dunedin City Council chief executive Sue Bidrose, Southern District Health Board chief executive Carole Heatly and University of Otago vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne all provided ''wonderful examples'' to young women aspiring to reach the top of their profession.

The award finalists, announced this week, provided a mix of new and established companies but she was pleased internationally recognised companies such as ADInstruments and Scott Technology had entered this year.