Dr Tan honoured as a World Class New Zealand Award winner

The 2015 Kea Award winners: from back left: Tan Sri Halim Saad,
Dr Swee Tan, Beatrice Faumuina; from front left: Victoria Ransom,
the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Audette Exel

All of us at the GMRI, and our supporters and collaborators, are delighted that our Founder and Executive Director, Dr Swee Tan, has recently been the recipient of a prestigious Kea 2015 World Class New Zealand Award.

The World Class New Zealand Awards recognise inspirational, world-leading Kiwis and friends of New Zealand who are making outstanding contributions to our country. This year’s Awards were presented in early July at a celebratory event in Auckland: http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tall-poppies-celebrated-expat-association-awards-cs-175067
For more information please view Kea New Zealand’s website: www.keanewzealand.com

“It gives us real pleasure to see Swee honoured in such a way,” GMRI Chair, Paul Baines, said.

“Those of us who are familiar with Swee’s values, professionalism, his dedication and work ethic, and his love for New Zealand and humanity, will know the honour is richly deserved.”

According to the Director of Kea’s World Class NZ Network, Stephen Dee, the process of selecting Award winners is exhaustive.

Nominations are received from the general public and from a range of other sources (including international posts of NZTE and MFAT, and previous Award winners).

From these, a short list of 12 nominees is presented to the judging panel who are required to select winners based on the premise of “Inspiring New Zealanders by celebrating world-leading and world-changing Kiwis”.

According to Kea, the Award winners should be “remarkable people, exceptional achievers whose stories will inspire and motivate New Zealanders.”

Typically this will be indicated by a sustained history of achievement at the highest level, demonstrating qualities such as imagination and creativity, innovativeness and ingenuity, tenacity and determination to succeed against all odds. Merely being successful in their chosen career is not a sufficient qualification; the nominee’s life’s work should be world-leading and, at least potentially, world-changing too.

The Awards have been in existence since 2003, and a total of 80 have now been given.

“Swee’s work over many years has benefited many families in New Zealand and around the world, and he has inspired and nurtured research students, medical students and plastic surgery trainees in New Zealand and from around the world. The Award is a fitting testament to his undoubted ability and his passion for helping other people,” Paul said.