When life works better, business works better
Every year, Vitae celebrates organisations and individuals who are making a meaningful difference to workplace wellbeing. We recognise actions and contributions that help create positive, healthy work cultures.
You can nominate your organisation, yourself, someone in your team or another Vitae customer. Just fill out this form or contact us if you have any questions.
Could you be the next recipient? The deadline for 2026 is Friday 24th April.
Nominations are open from February to April each year.
2026
Individual Wellbeing Award
Heather Leong, Profile Group
It is highly unusual for one customer organisation to receive both awards. However, we simply could not go past Profile Group’s Wellness Nurse, Heather Leong, for exemplifying everything the Awards stand for – care, compassion, innovation and a genuine commitment to improving the everyday wellbeing of people.
Organisation Wellbeing Award
Profile Group
Profile Group’s thorough wellbeing response evidences intentional planning,
implementation, and evaluation. We loved the way they have expanded their offering to include the five different support options and greater choice across cultural preferences, life stages, and individual needs. We also loved that they have made communication their priority to normalise wellbeing for staff and through making data-informed decisions.
2025
Individual Wellbeing Award
Karen Billings-Jensen
Karen models the type of behaviour she wants to see in her staff, making sure everyone feels safe, valued and heard – creating a culture of trust, collaboration and high performance.
Through integrity and flexibility, Karen puts the wellbeing of the team first. She celebrates success, encourages open communication and leads with care. Her leadership has helped shape a resilient and fun workplace where her people have indicated that they all thrive.
Organisation Wellbeing Award
Goodwood school
Goodwood school in Waikato has been awarded this year’s Wellbeing Award for their long list of wellbeing initiatives to support staff and students. Congratulations to the team!
2024
Individual Wellbeing Award
Laura Van Amsterdam, Tuatahi First Fibre
- Laura and her team have worked tirelessly on the culture, wellbeing and health of staff over the three years
- They go beyond the brief of their roles
- Act as excellent role models for their own advice
- Through their efforts the organisation is providing healthy habit advice, access to Vitae support and tracksuit products, wellbeing subsidies and paid wellbeing days, molemaps, eye tests, staff acknowledgements and the list goes on.
Her nominee Brad says ‘I would regard the company as at the forefront of the standard of care that should be given to its employees due to the hard work of Laura and the people and culture team’.
Organisation Wellbeing Award
PaperKite
PaperKite has been awarded this because of the following:
- A people first outlook, where employees can bring their whole self to work
- The focus not only on professional development but also personal development with every staff member having a Discipline Lead and People Coach
- A personal onboarding process which sets people up for success and makes them feel comfortable and valued from the moment they start
- Genuine care for all staff that starts at the top with your leadership team
- Prioritising whanaungatanga and time for connection with ‘tools-down’ Fridays.
Congratulations to the whole team for this award! It’s companies like PaperKite that we love to work with!
2023
Individual Wellbeing Award
Trina Cornelius
The individual wellbeing award was presented to Trina Cornelius, Wellbeing & Safety Consultant at FMG. Trina champions and promotes Wellbeing in all her day to day activities.
We congratulate Trina for all her tireless work.
Organisation Wellbeing Award
Hutt City Council
The company wellbeing award was presented to the Hutt City Council for their energy and commitment to a range of inclusive and comprehensive staff wellbeing initiatives and living their stated values. They understand and respond to the wellbeing needs of their staff in meaningful ways. Congratulations Hutt City Council!
The award was presented to Katie Shaw – Health, Safety & Wellbeing Manager on their behalf.
2022
Individual Wellbeing Award
Paris Bree
Paris Bree has been a trailblazer in helping New Zealand Oil & Gas become a place where staff feel safe, well, and listened to. Paris’s energy has fuelled the Te Ata Wellbeing project, a holistic wellbeing framework that aims be an effective, accessible, and relatable for all staff.
Paris was the driving force behind New Zealand Oil & Gas achieving (and retaining) a Rainbow Tick, a first for a listed oil company in New Zealand. Paris does this incredible work while balancing a busy life as the mum of three young sons. She is a well-deserved recipient of the Vitae Wellbeing Award!
Organisation Wellbeing Award
Mary Potter Hospice
Mary Potter Hospice has recently implemented a ‘Supporting the Wellbeing of Our People’ programme. This programme recognises that wellbeing is not a one size fits all concept. Instead, it focuses on work culture and initiatives that empower and enable individuals to take personal responsibility for their wellbeing and how they can thrive.
This holistic programme is based on the Māori Wellness Model, Te Whare Tapa Wha. Initiatives specifically support the areas of physical, mental, spiritual and whanau wellbeing. The wellbeing programme acknowledges the amazing contribution hundreds of volunteers make to the hospice and has started to incorporate volunteers into initiatives where practical e.g. opening membership of their social club up to them.
2021
Organisation Wellbeing Award
Ministry of Justice
This year, we would like to acknowledge Ministry of Justice and the people that have demonstrated great care for its staff wellbeing.
There have been some challenging periods through this last year, and the team have worked methodically and tirelessly to provide the support needed. This has required a deep understand the impact of the traumatic nature of some of the work that staff are involved in on a day to day basis.
It has been a pleasure to work alongside Helana Taylor and Rachelle Davies.
2020
Individual Wellbeing Award
Dave Tyson
This year, one of our individual wellbeing awards is extended to Dave Tyson, Health and Safety Manager at Parliamentary Services. Dave is a real advocate for people based solutions, a forward thinking manager who we have seen make a huge difference this past year. He has managed a range of wellbeing options for staff including supervision and onsite support.
It has been a pleasure to work with Dave and you cannot help by being inspired by his thinking and outlook on wellbeing.
Individual Wellbeing Award
Jeremy Bennett
Our other award this year is extended to Jeremy Bennett, Manager at New World Whakatane. He stands out for the significant contribution, care and active concern that he shows to his staff, and this support of their personal and professional wellbeing.