Celebrating the New Zealand Virtual Assistant industry
Amazing to think that the New Zealand Virtual Assistant Awards 2021 was supposed to be a 'live' Awards Night held in Hamilton, for Virtual Assistants from all over New Zealand.
Accommodation and flights were booked, the excitement amongst the NZ VA Industry was rising, and it was going to be a chance for us all to get together in the same room for the very first time.
You might be interested to know that it was back in 2012 when the last VA Awards were held in New Zealand, and My Virtual Assistant was awarded 'Runner-Up Virtual Assistant of the Year'.
But here we are in 2021, and with no thanks to Covid causing New Zealand to go into lockdown it was looking like the awards night might have to be postponed or maybe even cancelled.
After getting over the initial disappointment, all the stops were pulled to turn this into a fabulous online 'virtual' event - and of course, doing things 'virtually' is what Virtual Assistants do best!
I can only imagine how much planning and hard work has been put in by the ever-dedicated and absolutely phenomenal team of Samantha Browne and Jo Jensen, who got busy doing whatever it takes, against all odds (aka covid), to make sure this exciting event goes ahead as planned.
Right down to individually packaging up and delivering oh-so-many 'Awards Night Watch Party Packs', simply because they wanted to make sure everyone gets in the mood, making us feel like we are all together and joining in on the fun. How awesome are they to even think of doing that?
We were all given strict instructions not to open the Watch Party Packs until the Big Day, Saturday 25 September 2021.
My Virtual Assistant is proud to be recognised as a Finalist for the VA Legacy Award category, which is sponsored by the Virtual Assistant Network NZ (VANNZ).
UPDATE
Well, My Virtual Assistant didn’t win the NZ VA Legacy Award and apparently there was only ONE POINT in it!
The award went to the ever-amazing Lindsey Carroll and so well deserved. Congratulations, Lindsey!
Lindsey and I met in 2012 (she beat me at the VA awards then, too!) and we’ve been friends and referred business to each other, ever since.
My Virtual Assistant is honoured to be a recognised as a VA Legacy finalist and enjoyed a super-fun night watching the NZ VA Awards.
(Winners and sponsors are listed below...)
My Virtual Assistant would like to take this opportunity to thank the VA Foundry and the Virtual Assistant Network New Zealand for putting on such a fantastic online event and bringing together - 'virtually' - so many talented, supportive and innovative Virtual Assistants from around the country.
Congratulations to all the category award winners:
Best Virtual Assistant Newcomer Award - Holla VA
Best Virtual Assistant Specialty or Niche Award - Released
Best Virtual Assistant Website Award - Varntige
Top Performing VA Team Member Award - Leanne Rookes
Virtual Assistant Community Contributor Award - Sabrina O'Flaherty
Virtual Assistant Leadership Award - Teesha Mason
Virtual Assistant Legacy Award - Outbox
Top Performing Virtual Assistant Freelancer Award - Punct
Top Performing Virtual Assistant Agency Award - Released
Virtual Assistant of the Year Award - Kellie Beaumont, Released
Thanks also go to the sponsors, judges and organisers for their incredible support:
The VA Foundry
Virtual Assistant Network New Zealand
Rocketspark
Edible Blooms
ICNZB - Institute of Certified NZ Bookkeepers
iCLaw
Natalie Tolhopf
BizCover
Virtual Print
ACTA Office Products
Tracy Hemingway, Debt Free Diva (Speaker)
LK Secretarial Solutions
Natalie Coombe
Tracey Hancock
Davidson Fraser Accountants
Red Hot Business Coaching
Stapleton Consulting
BSI People Skills
Lisa Nairne
Jason Tiller (MC)
Nikki Bollen
Chrissie Terry Virtual Assistant
Alice From Accounts
Peg Creative
ACLX Production Equipment & Services
#nzvaawards