Professor Mike Berridge semi-finalist for Kiwibank’s New Zealander of the Year Award 2016

Cancer Cell Biology Group Leader and Distinguished Research Fellow, Professor Mike Berridge has been named as one of the ten semi-finalists for the 2016 New Zealander of the Year.

Each year Kiwibank honour those who use their passion to make New Zealand a better place. Over the last few months they have finalised winners in five categories ranging from: Young New Zealander of the Year, Senior New Zealander of the Year, New Zealand Innovator of the Year, New Zealand Community of the Year, and New Zealand Local Hero, but yesterday they released the names of the ten semi-finalists for the final award category: New Zealander of the Year. 

Mike Berridge says, “I’m honoured to be lined up with this illustrious group who represent Kiwi identity, ingenuity and creativity, and include sporting and business icons. Science is a social endeavour, often conducted out of the limelight and involves individuals and teams. In this sense, I represent the Malaghan Institute and all those local and international contributors who made 2015 such a successful year.”

"The Malaghan Institute and I  have received enormous support from New Zealanders who take a special interest in our research work. Over the last few years, this support has broadened considerably so that society is now engaging with our science. While it is humbling to be nominated for the New Zealander of the year award, and doubly humbling to make the ten finalists, the Institute has much more to offer in its outcome-linked health research. In my 38 years at the Institute, hundreds of Kiwi scientists and scientific staff have  trained here and we collaborate and maintain contact with many of these. A number would dearly like to return to New Zealand if the opportunity arose. As one of the first Malaghan Research Fellows appointed in 1976, I feel a special responsibility to continue that tradition and help create the environment and opportunities that will attract our brightest Malaghan-trained scientists to return and build exciting medical research programmes here. The journey of scientific discovery is ongoing, but equally, I encourage you to share in the journey to generate new knowledge that will be the basis of tomorrow’s healthy living and new approaches to disease treatment."

The winner will be announced at the New Zealander of the Year Gala Awards evening in Auckland on 17 February, 2016.