HumanWare, 'genius' Recongised in Awards

Article from The Press dated September 23rd 2005. Written by David King.

The work of Dr Russell Smith - the "genius" behind HumanWare - has been recognised at the Champion Canterbury Business Awards.

HumanWare, founded by Smith, was named the Supreme Winner in the medium-large enterprise and Champion Global Operator at a gala dinner in Christchurch last night.

Smith, described by colleagues as a genius who made a phenomenal contribution through his technology, which made life easier for the blind and visually impaired, was killed when his light aircraft crashed last month. His wife, Marian D'Eve also died.

The $70 million Hillsborough business exports 98 per cent of its product and has won many accolades. HumanWare chief finanical officer Chris Egan, who joined the business in the early days as its 23rd employee, said the awards were a great recognition of work by many talented and hard working people.

"It's a tribute to him, and to the rest of the staff", he said.

"When we started going to awards the big guys always beat us. Maybe now we are one of the big guys."

Accepting the award Chris Egan, Trish Hickman and Richard Hogarth

The Champion Canterbury Awards awards celebrate the excellence and enterprise of business in the Canterbury region by recognising the contribution that enterprise makes both in Canterbury but also within the New Zealand economy.