The Judging Process
The interview process is extremely humbling. I thought working on a University Campus was pretty special but to see these young people achieving excellence across all categories is something else. Andrea Davies, Massey University's Campus Registrar at Albany, has been a judge of the North Harbour Club AIMES Awards for the past four years. It is a role that she finds very rewarding. "I enjoy the realisation that we have so many incredibly
Andrea Davies.
Talent leaves judges gobsmacked talented young people on the Shore," explains Andrea. "Every year I am truly gobsmacked. These kids come from all walks of life and from across all categories. It's so humbling." The 2011 AIMES Awards judging panel was Simon Lamb (Principal, Takapuna Grammar School), Henry Duncan (Head of Sport & Recreation, AUT), Mike Stanley (CEO, Millennium Institute of Sport & Health), Sue Stanaway (Director/Licensee, Stanaway Real Estate, Bayleys North Shore) and Andrea Davies. "Being on the judging panel is a lot of hard work," adds Andrea Davies. "In previous years it has involved reading through the contents of a large box that arrives in the office. The past couple of years the applications have been all electronic. While all the paperwork has gone there is still the same amount of reading. We have a great judging team with a variety of skills and strengths and after discussion we always unanimously agree on a shortlist of successful applicants who get through to the interview stage. It is not an easy task to whittle the number down from around 90 to around 25 to 30. There are some really talented people who miss out."
The overall quality of applicants is one of the reasons why an Emerging Talent Awards category was added to the annual AIMES programme a few years ago. "The interview process is extremely humbling. I thought working on a University Campus was pretty special but to see these young people achieving excellence across all categories is something else. "And I love watching them all at the gala dinner each year, celebrating with friends and family. It makes it all worthwhile." Andrea Davies offers the following advice for those contemplating applying for an AIMES Award. "The main bit of advice I would give is to totally believe in yourself. Don't be put off applying by what you have read or heard about the calibre of previous winners. You will learn so much going through the application process. It will be a valuable learning curve. Then, if you get an interview remember to sell yourself. Don't be humble. The judges are keen to really find out about you, your successes, your future aspirations, and how you manage to juggle so many balls to be so talented." For more information visit: www.northharbourclub.co.nz. NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE 2011/2012 PAGE 49