Old Girls Honours Award
The Old Girls Honours Award is presented annually to an Old Girl who has made an outstanding contribution internationally, or nationally, in the area of commerce, the arts, education, military, the professions, public service, research, science and technology or sport.
The honours award recognises Old Girls who have had the courage to take on significant challenges, shown integrity and constantly striven for excellence in their chosen career. The Old Girls Honours Award is presented at the annual “Making Their Mark Breakfast”, which is part of Sir Peter Blake Leadership week.
2010 Bridget Liddell
Bridget Liddell, who attended St Cuthbert’s from 1958-1968, receives this year’s award for her services to the business community. Considered one of New Zealand’s most accomplished businesswomen, she has held directorships of many companies and organisations including Industry New Zealand, Sky City Ltd, Uniservices Ltd, Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd and CS First Boston NZ Ltd.
In 2003 she moved to New York, where she is the managing principal of Fahrenheit Ventures, a company that specialises in strategic innovation, branding and marketing.
Bridget also finds time for a number of economic development leadership roles, including chair of the New Zealand/United States ‘Beachhead’ Board, director of the Knowledge Wave Trust, board member of the US/NZ Council Kiwi Expatriate Association, and trustee for NZ Global Women.
Bridget has done invaluable work in connecting many businesses nationally and internationally in order to encourage trade and economic success.
2009 Gillian Mellsop
A recognition of inspired leadership has gone to Gillian Mellsop – the seventh name to be added to the St Cuthbert’s College Old Girls’ honours board, for her service to the international community.
Gillian is currently the UNICEF Representative in Nepal and holds a degree in anthropology and history, a post graduate community counciling qualification and an MA in development management.
She has worked for the New Zealand Foreign Ministry, the Australian Government Overseas Programme with numerous overseas postings including Bangladesh, Laos and India, and as UNICEF’s Pacific Representative in Fiji.
Gillian shared what she has learnt about being a woman leader over the years. She says there is no right or wrong way of being a leader, that it is important to know and use one’s strengths to one’s advantage, emotional intelligence is vital, and that leaders exist only through the support of their team members.
2008 Judith Trotter
The making Their Mark awards were complimented with the presentation of a fourth honour, the announcement of the latest name to be added to the St Cuthbert’s College Old Girls’ honours board.
Judith Trotter was a College Prefect and Head Boarder in 1952 and Head Prefect in 1953.
Her distinguished 34-year career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs included being Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs; New Zealand High Commissioner to Singapore and Canada; New Zealand Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to the OECD; as well as diplomatic postings in Athens, Bangkok, New York and Rome.
She was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the 1996 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Since her retirement in 1999, Mrs Trotter has remained active in groups and in 2004 completed a Graduate Diploma in Art History at Victoria University.