Judging Criteria

The winner of this category will be an individual who is:

• Under 30 years of age on 2 March 2026.
• Making an outstanding contribution to a NZ Hi-Tech company or community as a founder, director, employee, advisor or contractor OR to the Hi-Tech sector itself.
• Demonstrating qualities that single them out as a leader and achiever.
• A NZ citizen or a NZ permanent resident who has lived in NZ for a minimum of five years.

Note: In the face-to-face finalists panel interview, entrants/nominees will also be judged on their ability to tell their story/narrative, and capture and sustain the attention of the judges.

Please Note:

• You can either directly enter this category yourself (entrant) or nominate (nominee) someone you think deserves the award.
• This award, like the Flying Kiwi Hi-Tech Hall of Fame and Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual awards, are enduring accolades.
• Therefore previous winners are not eligible to re-enter, but previous finalists are encouraged to enter again.
• Finalists in the Young Achiever category cannot also be a finalist in the Inspiring Individual category in the same year. In the event of this occurrence, the entrant/nominee will be asked to select the category they wish to go forward in.