Staff Awards

2020 Awards

Please see the terms and nomination forms to the right of this page.

Rotary Pride of Workmanship Award

The Rotary Club of Dunedin Harbour welcomes two nominations from the University of Otago and on their behalf, invites nominations from managers / supervisors to nominate staff in their teams. These awards are to recognise employees who show a distinct quality in their approach, attitude, and dedication to their job. The nomination form lists further qualities for consideration.

The annual Pride of Workmanship Award gives the University an opportunity to give public recognition to staff who are doing an outstanding job, and to further develop our relationship with the local community.

Managers who wish to nominate their staff for the award should complete the nomination form and email it to Emily Lucas (HR) emily.lucas@otago.ac.nz by Wednesday 11 November at 12 pm.

Awards for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff

The University of Otago Award for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff was instituted in November 2004 by the Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Group. The purpose of this annual award is to recognise and reward members of the professional staff who have made an outstanding contribution to the University of Otago.

From 2020, four awards are available, with one recipient also being awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award.

Health, Safety and Well-Being Awards

These awards are available to all staff to recognise their commitment to health and safety.

• University of Otago Health, Safety and Well-Being Award (Individual)
• University of Otago Health, Safety and Well-Being Award (Team)

Awards for Sustainable Practice by Staff

These awards have been instituted as a means of recognising and rewarding staff who have made an outstanding contribution to sustainability.

• University of Otago Award for Sustainable Practice by Staff (Individual)
• University of Otago Award for Sustainable Practice by Staff (Team)

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The 2019 Staff Awards Winners

The University's 2019 Staff Award recipients, from left, Rachel Kinnaird, Campus Watch Team Leader Peter Corbett, Brian Donnelly & Rachael Holloway. Photo credit: Sharron Bennett (photo from Otago Bulletin).

Award for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff

Brian Donnelly, Senior Adviser, Superannuation, Retirement & Staff Benefits, Promotions and Remuneration

Brian’s award is a result of many measurable and anecdotal outcomes during 33 years of service for the University.

Since he took up his current role 14 years ago, the number of staff members enrolled in a superannuation scheme has climbed significantly, there are now more UniSaver members at Otago than any other University in New Zealand, and these numbers continue to increase.

Staff members who have received assistance from Brian are full of praise, citing his kind and supportive nature as well as his value to the University. 

Excellence Award in Health and Safety (Individual)

Rachel Kinnaird, Gross Anatomy Manager, Anatomy 

Excellence Award in Health and Safety (Team)

Campus Watch 

Excellence Award in Health and Safety (Member of the wider Health and Safety team)

Rachael Holloway, Compliance Officer, Physiology 

Read the full Otago Bulletin news story

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Previous Winners - Award for Exceptional Performance by Professional Staff

• 2018: Claire Gallop, Client Services
• 2017: Joint winners Sally Carson, New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, and Sze-En Watts, University Volunteer Centre
• 2016: Joint winners Kieran Columb, Department of Human Nutrition, and Fieke Neuman, Department of Anatomy
• 2015: Sally-Ann Howard, Department of Anatomy
• 2014: Mark Brunton, Office of Māori Development
• 2013: Helen Morrin, Christchurch Campus Department of Pathology
• 2012: 'The Goddard Boys' (Jeremy Anderson, Russell Phillips, Lindsay Robertson, Jason Campbell, Richard Hamelink, Meric Hoffman, William van der Vliet, Paul O’Donnell and Hadyn Youens), Department of Psychology. Also, Carole Scott, Higher Education Development Centre
• 2011: Joint winners Peter Stroud and Richard Sparrow, Physics Department’s Mechanical Workshop Team
• 2010: Susan Deans, Department of Physiology
• 2009: Nicola Walmsley, Customer Services, Information Technology Services
• 2008: Linda Brown, Department of Languages and Cultures
• 2007: Nigel Barrett, School of Physical Education
• 2006: Joint winners, Management Team, Arana College and Allan Mitchell, Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology
• 2005: Joint winners, Louise Kewene, Department of Music and Murray McKenzie, Department of Zoology

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