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NZSCA Recognition Awards

About the Awards

The NZSCA would like to recognize and acknowledge the individuals within New Zealand that give back to the industry, without these individuals we would not be where we are today.

Since 2009, we have been celebrating the people dedicated to improving our industry, collaborating across companies, and countries, and in the pursuit of improving the value of what’s in that cup.

 

The 2023 awards are proudly supported by Sucafina.

For individuals who have distinguished themselves in terms of making a significant contribution to the New Zealand specialty coffee industry. NZSCA lifetime membership is awarded to people who have served the coffee industry in New Zealand or brought distinction to it over and above the normal course of their job.
For an individual to qualify for a Lifetime membership, they must have fulfilled one of the following:

1. Excellence and high achievement in their career that reflects positively on the coffee industry;

2. Having served with distinction in the management of, or service to, the NZSCA or the coffee industry.

Lifetime membership is the NZSCA’s highest honour in recognition of coffee excellence and contribution.

See our Lifetime Achievement winners John Burton and Jeff Kennedy here

This is an award for an individual in recognition of their outstanding on-going contribution to the NZSCA and the NZ Coffee industry as a whole, they have consistently dedicated time and knowledge to make a lasting impact on the industry and the association.

These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a specific NZSCA project, or other notable contribution. Importantly, the contributions should be above and beyond the every day and have had a long-lasting impact on the NZ Industry as a whole.

This is an award for an individual in recognition of their contribution to developing the NZSCA and the NZ Coffee industry as a whole.

These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a specific NZSCA project, or other notable contribution.

This is an award for an independent individual in recognition of their personal contribution to the NZSCA.

These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a specific NZSCA project, or other notable contribution.

This is an award for an individual in recognition of their contribution to the New Zealand Coffee industry. This Award may be bestowed to an individual that was active prior to the formation of the Association in 2005. They may or may not be active now but we wish to acknowledge their valuable contributions to our industry.

These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a coffee project, or other notable contributions. Importantly, the contribution/s should be above and beyond the every day and have had an impact on the New Zealand industry as a whole.

Awarded in 2021

This year’s NZSCA Recognition Awards were sponsored by member company Sucafina. The rustic atmosphere at Sherwood, Queenstown created a celebratory air as 80 coffee industry legends gathered. The Recognition Awards acknowledge the individuals within NZ who give back to the industry and also create the community we have today. Nominated by peers, customers, and providers, the names are collated and then presented in a fun relaxed style befitting our community.

Carl Sara, previous NZSCA President and now representing Sucafina opened the Awards. Carl was a recipient in 2017 of the Development Award and took the moment to mention that the Awards are “an opportunity to work together, support and recognize the people who make a particular effort and who help support the Association and the industry as a whole. We feel very fortunate to support this.”


Sarah Kennard was presented Friend of the Association for her services to Championship volunteering by Scott Pepler and John Cole. Scott says “while Sarah may be in the background, she comes with a lot of coffee expertise. When I met Sarah, straight away, all my colleagues recognized her as a true coffee talent. The key thing with Sarah is her attention to detail and all the key communication to key people. I know how much work events take and with people like Sarah in the background, I’m pretty proud of you.”

Sarah accepted the award by saying she loves all the events she attends and loves being a part of this amazing community. “It’s all about coming along and supporting the community and this is the one time I can be fully involved in the community.

One of my favorite moments is the proud mum moment when the competitors finish their performance and you’re proud of yourselves, and the awards ceremonies and I cry”


Nic McClean then got up to speak: “This award winner is someone who has consistently supported and attended the events for many years. Always willing to lend a hand from helping on the main stage or quietly behind the scenes. Because the distances to the events are probably further than most but are never an issue, they often cut into family time. He, and it is a he, always has a friendly smile and some good advice if you need it. His taste in drinks is a bit sour and he can slag off our treasure of a national airline, but I am pleased to announce the Friend of the Association is Mr David Worth.”

On accepting the award, David said he “was quite chuffed” and perhaps there were a few happy tears shed. “I’m very grateful. It’s wonderful to be appreciated and recognize and it’s taken 40 years for anyone to recognize me as a friend!

“To receive this from my friends and peers in the NZSCA is very humbling. Coming over here in 2012, I was very new to the coffee industry. I was promised beer and skittles! It’s been a ride and an honour to be a part of the industry worldwide.

He was roped into being an MC because he was loud at a Latte Art Championship. “They didn’t have any amplification and I was it! It was such a fantastic event, I was so overwhelmed, I went home and had two heart attacks! That’s how much I put into this industry and how well-deserved this award is!”

David carried on to say “Also, this is an award that I take on board for my boss, Greg Clubb as AMC Roastery Supplies has tried to support the industry in New Zealand. We’ve found our voice with Emma Markland Webster and she’s the most amazing person I’ve worked with. She’s our coffee professional and coffee brain. We have our moments. She calls me Angry Man and I don’t know about that, I’ve never been angry in my life!”

David Worth summed up his acceptance speech by saying “Thank you to everyone, I have so many friends here, I can’t name you all, you know who you are. If you’re not my friend, come and buy me a beer, we’ll be friends. I’ll teach you how to make a whiskey sour”.


Tom Handiside of La Marzocco in Auckland was awarded the Development Award. Tom was presented his award by David Huang and Emma Markland Webster. These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a specific NZSCA project, or other notable contributions. His mahi towards events, inclusive industry knowledge, and giving of time won him this award.

Tom also served four years of service to the board in both allied and exec positions, another apt reason for him to win. He’d bowed out after spending a year as Vice President, a testament to his character of knowing his capabilities of having too many balls in the air. As such, Tom said, “while this is an individual award, I know that the countless talented teamwork that goes on to make the industry great is what really matters.”

He’s an “ideas guy and loved doing Coffee In Good Spirits. He thanked everyone who supported him too.”

Tom said he “was humbled, I’ve enjoyed contributing and the legacy of the board is great.”


Ongoing Contribution was awarded to Craig Miller of Miller’s Coffee in Auckland.

David Burton spoke: “Craig has always been serious about espresso, backed by a focus on hospitality. He has a passion for sensory delights, coffee, wine, ume plum, chocolate, ice cream. He loves combining flavours. He’s a guy who has such a lovely understanding of flavours and delights, but coffee was the centre of that. He’s so passionate he put his name on it, Miller’s Coffee.

“Craig knows the importance of preserving heritage as such he wrote Coffee Houses of Wellington. He’s done a lot of research. He realized very quickly that he had to gather the history. And we look forward to his next edition.

“Who else could bring us all together, first at the dock way events and more latterly at the Photo exhibition? There were 30 plus people on the wall and it was humbling to see who had been involved in the industry from the start We owe him the recognition for what he’s done for the industry and he deserves for his Outstanding Ongoing Contribution.”

Megan Wyper: “I met with Craig last week and started reading the following: This is an award for an individual in recognition of their outstanding On-going contribution to the NZSCA and the NZ Coffee industry as a whole, they have consistently dedicated time and knowledge to make a lasting impact on the industry and the association.

These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteer, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a NZSCA project, or other notable contributions. Importantly, the contributions should be above and beyond every day and have had a long-lasting impact on the NZ Industry as a whole.

Craig’s response, “that sounds like something I’ve felt like an industry we have done together even though it’s an individual award. We must all maintain our individual identities but also work together as a collective.

Thank you, I’m very grateful for all of this.” 

Meg continues: “We then started chatting, as one does with Craig, about the dock way drinks he hosted at the office/garage space on cross street opp the roastery in 2004. I very much remember, as I’d heard whisperings of the event happening in the Millers’ roastery – basically it was being billed as a meeting of heads of states?

“In 2004 I was managing his café Serious Espresso in the city and living at the Roastery. I went out of my way to avoid the dock way that day as wow, it was an intimidating thought all of those old guys all chatting and mingling for this 19-year-old barista. So I hid away in the apartment above the roastery.

“I had picked up a phone book in early 2000 and started asking for jobs, Craig gave me a job at Serious Espresso – I quickly learned the Millers’ way to do things, you do not write orders down and there’s no till. I basically learned to multi-task very quickly and my ability to remember a dozen orders, do math in my head all while yelling at customers to come and grab their coffee.

“For a creative non-mathematical dyslexic this was mad! – but it was one of the best cafe educations you could have and I’ll be forever grateful for that proper start in the hospo game. 

“He taught/showed me to do what I love and that working in coffee and hospitality is a possible career not just something you do between school and life.”

Craig Miller is presented his Award by David Burton, June 2021

Thanks to Sucafina @sucafinaspecialty_asiapacific for sponsoring the Recognition Awards.

The next day at the AGM, Roz Cattell said “Overall, the caliber of the nominees was excellent,” commented Roz “The ceremony was put on hold, like many occasions, last year. Isn’t it incredible to be all together?” 

“It’s encouraging to see the quality and variety of recipients which was recognized this year,” said Roz.

This year’s NZSCA Recognition Awards were sponsored by member company Sucafina. The rustic atmosphere at Sherwood, Queenstown created a celebratory air as 80 coffee industry legends gathered. The Recognition Awards acknowledge the individuals within NZ who give back to the industry and also create the community we have today. Nominated by peers, customers, and providers, the names are collated and then presented in a fun relaxed style befitting our community.

Carl Sara, previous NZSCA President and now representing Sucafina opened the Awards. Carl was a recipient in 2017 of the Development Award and took the moment to mention that the Awards are “an opportunity to work together, support and recognize the people who make a particular effort and who help support the Association and the industry as a whole. We feel very fortunate to support this.”

Awarded in 2019

Life Time Achievement Award:

For individuals who have distinguished themselves in terms of making a significant contribution to the New Zealand specialty coffee industry. NZSCA lifetime membership is awarded to people who have served the coffee industry in New Zealand or brought distinction to it over and above the normal course of their job.
For an individual to qualify for a Lifetime membership, they must have fulfilled one of the following:

1. Excellence and high achievement in their career that reflects positively on the coffee industry;

2. Having served with distinction in the management of, or service to, the NZSCA or the coffee industry.

Lifetime membership is the NZSCA’s highest honour in recognition of coffee excellence and contribution.

See our Lifetime Achievement winners John Burton and Jeff Kennedy here>

WATCH THE VIDEO

Chris Dillon

Photo credit: Nik van der Giesen

Life Time Achievement Award: Chris Dillon> 2019

Former President Tony Kerridge presented the award to Chris and had the following words to say: “While tonight is about acknowledging the people in our industry, it is also the opportunity to celebrate our industry. The turnout tonight and support for these awards shows the strength of our industry.

Where competitors in business can come together to celebrate and acknowledge individual contributions that ultimately benefit us all.

The Lifetime Achievement award is to recognise someone who has made a significant contribution to the New Zealand Speciality coffee industry.  Since the Association was formed in 2005, it has only been awarded twice and the last time was nine years ago.  It’s a special award and so it should be. *roll tape*

Coffee Supreme with branches throughout New Zealand and Australia and more recently Tokyo is testament to Chris’ business acumen in building a world-class coffee company.  Coffee Supreme was recently named by gearpatrol.com as one of the 10 best Coffee roasters in the world. 

This is what they had to say: “Coffee Supreme regularly wins awards for bag design and is generally excellent at presenting its coffee, then you drink the coffee.  Coffee Supreme is decades ahead of most rosters in the coffee world.  It’s at the bleeding edge of coffee sustainability.  Its semi-concept shop acts as the most well-curated coffee gear store on the planet.  Coffee Supreme is the complete package.”  

However, for me, what warrants this recognition tonight is the contribution Chirs has made to the New Zealand coffee industry.  Chris was a founding Board member of the Association in 2005 and remained active on the Board for six years – one of it’s longest serving Board members and I was fortunate to sit on the board with Chris and experience working with him first hand. 

When the Association was formed, it had 27 members – an initial group of people who were enthusiastic and perhaps a few who didn’t really grasp what was going on.  In year two, this grew to 42 Members, perhaps the FOMO affect at play.  In 2007, Chris became president and three years on, the quite natural mutterings of members started, questioning the Association, it’s role, is it worth it?  What am I getting out of it? and the like. This was a challenging time for the Association and Chris through his calm and reassuring leadership guided the Association through this period, so successfully that when he left that Board in 2010, membership had grown to 67 members. 

I personally consider his presidency to have been instrumental in cementing the future of the Association and I don’t say that lightly.  He proved strong leadership a very challenging period in the Association development.  I believe without this, we might not be here celebrating tonight.”

On-going Contribution Award:

The 2019 recipient: Kim Boyd

This is an award for an individual in recognition of their outstanding on-going contribution to the NZSCA and the NZ Coffee industry as a whole, they have consistently dedicated time and knowledge to make a lasting impact on the industry and the association.

These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a specific NZSCA project, or other notable contribution. Importantly, the contributions should be above and beyond the every day and have had a long-lasting impact on the NZ Industry as a whole

Chris White of Altura Coffee had these words to say:

“Kim started as a barista 11 odd years ago on her return from Jpan, then she was scooped up as a barista trainer by one of those Wellington based coffee companies that invaded Auckland in the noughties.  Now she works for another Wellington based coffee companies that also invaded Auckland!  I’m trying to get Trump to build a wall at the Bombay Hills…

Kim has, for the last 10 years, been involved with local championships up and down the country and every certificated haded to every competitor and judge over the last 10 years has been handwritten by her impeccable calligraphy skills which is just one of her many talents.

Kim has also been a huge part of the World Barista Championship judging team worldwide for years and is highly respected by her fellow judges and by competing baristas.  This is due to the extremely high standards that she sets herself and her amazing attention to detail. 

One of my personal highlights with Kim was when Emma Markland Webster and myself had the job of asking Kim to judge the world barista finals in Seattle in 2015, her reaction was priceless and many a tea was shed (all by me). 

Kim’s dedication, passion and sense of humour make her one of those humans that you want to be around, not have to be around. 

I have asked a few people to say a few words about Kim and the most popular answers are a warm, caring, gentle soul.  Always keen to support people and share her time and knowledge.  Super smart and talented, even though she sometimes doesn’t realise this to the extent that she has these traits.  Super humble and an all-around great person. 

Most of all… handy to have when we are out at a Japanese restaurant. Deserved winner of this award… Kim Boyd”

Development Award

The 2019 Recipient: Masako Yamamoto

This is an award for an individual in recognition of their contribution to developing the NZSCA and the NZ Coffee industry as a whole.

These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a specific NZSCA project, or other notable contribution.

Friend of the NZSCA Award

 

 

The 2019 Recipient: Sam Low

For always being a passionate and enthusiastic supporter of the NZSCA.

This is an award for an independent individual in recognition of their personal contribution to the NZSCA. These contributions may include but are not limited to the dedication of time, volunteerism, contributions of professional knowledge, exemplary work on a specific NZSCA project, or other notable contribution.

Meg Wyper of Acme & Co presented this award and she had these great words to say:

“I’m so excited to be standing here presenting this award to two-time Latte Art and NZ Barista Champion 2016, Sam Low. 

He’s so focused on the NZ industry as a whole more so than on himself. It’s really refreshing to see a professional barista practising what they preach in such a sincere and graceful way. 

Sam goes above and beyond representing  New Zealand in the Industry, wither that’s as a barista, supporter, coach or just as a friend.

I have already mentioned this to some people but I was really impressed with how he presented himself and represented NZ off his own back in Boston at SCA, he makes an incredible effort to get to know people and introduce you to everyone. It doesn’t matter who you are in the industry you will be treated all the same. 

I couldn’t think of a more deserving person for this award.”