A Year of Impact, Value and Momentum - 2023/24 Annual Report
17 October 2024
In 2023/24, Edmund Hillary Fellows continued to build on the value of the Global Impact Visa programme, founding businesses, creating jobs, providing direct investment and access to capital, and supporting communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Building on the strong foundation laid over the previous two years - where EHF Fellows attracted more than NZ$551.5 million in capital for Kiwi businesses and directly invested NZ$136 million into New Zealand ventures, the Hillary Institute and EHF 2023/24 Annual Report highlights how Fellows continue to create value and impact across Aotearoa NZ, including:
Investing millions of dollars to help NZ businesses scale globally, for example, Andrew Wilkinson’s investment-company Tiny’s NZ$58 million investment into Letterboxd, Rob Reid’s fund Resilience Reserve invested NZ$7 million in Mint Bio, and Anthony Lee’s leading role in the NZ$21.6 million Series A funding round for Tracksuit.
Connecting Kiwi founders to international markets, like Mohan Nair connecting US healthtech leaders with Kiwi businesses.
Transformative ventures contributing to high-value sectors, such as Jeff Schlichting and Tim Derrick’s Helios, which is progressing a number of grid-scale solar projects that will support NZ’s economy, energy market and climate commitments.
Actively supporting regional communities, like Scott Miller and Lily Stender’s work in Tolaga Bay providing seed loans and hands-on mentoring for Māori businesses, and Maya Soetoro and Zelda Keller’s launch of the Pacific Partnership Hub that encourages community-led solutions to enhance climate and community resilience.
Tackling inequities and supporting inclusion, like Jarek Beksa and Sara Chin who are advancing accessibility technology for individuals with vision impairments and reading disabilities, through their NZ-based startup Sonnar.
These are just some of the examples of the amazing work of EHF Fellows and Hillary Laureates. The report also highlights the unique role EHF holds within Aotearoa NZ’s innovation ecosystem.
Fellows a unique force in NZ’s ecosystem
Board Chair Anna Kominik notes that like Hillary Laureates, EHF Fellows are focused on action.
“Fellows’ work has resonated not only in Aotearoa NZ but around the globe. Edmund Hillary Fellows have huge passion and huge skills, talent and networks. But even more powerful is their innate ability to work with others to help scale Kiwi businesses, power-up communities, transform high-potential sectors, and accelerate innovation.”
Hillary Institute and Edmund Hillary Fellowship Chief Executive, Rosalie Nelson says:
“The Fellowship started as a talent attraction programme in partnership with the New Zealand Government, and has created a ripple effect of value, having delivered more than $111* of direct economic value for every $1 that the New Zealand Government invested.
“Fellows occupy a unique position in Aotearoa NZ’s innovation ecosystem: they can help businesses scale globally, leveraging their knowledge and extensive networks to develop, scale, and fund cutting-edge local innovations. EHF is committed to building NZ’s innovation economy, and Fellows play a critical role in this. We now have the opportunity to draw on Fellows’ international skills and networks to intentionally shape NZ’s innovation economy for the future.
“The Global Impact Visa pilot has been an extraordinary talent attraction programme: over 100 of our international Fellows now have NZ permanent residence with another 190 eligible to apply for permanent residence next year. This can be the engine for both future innovation talent attraction and building our innovation potential. Next year we are holding an Innovation Summit in Auckland, which will bring global changemakers and NZ leaders together to explore opportunities for where NZ can lead the world.”
This year’s Annual Report shares and celebrates Hillary Laureates and EHF Fellows’ outstanding impact and their service to others. Like the great explorer and humanitarian Sir Edmund Hillary, Laureates and Fellows work in service to people and planet, tenaciously tackling problems for a better world.
*Methodology is derived from NZTE’s Potential Direct Economic Impact model. Is based on aggregate, unqualified data based on research conducted by Martin Jenkins and Curran Research Associates between 2017 and 2022. It does not include our most recent 2022/23 - 2024 impact findings.
Note: Fellows’ impact activity in Aotearoa NZ is reviewed and assessed against an impact criteria to determine whether a Support Letter is provided, which is a requirement to obtain a Permanent Residence Visa (following the Global Impact Visa pathway).
