See all the images from our Heroes Gala professional photo studio

At last week’s Heroes Gala, we were lucky enough to have acclaimed photographer Olivia Kirkpatrick onsite with a professional photo studio to create beautifully crafted snapshots of what proved to be a night to remember. Encouraging guests to pose for their very own portrait moment, it was with great skill and tireless patience that Kirkpatrick wrangled the keen masses into sophisticated poses to capture the finer details of everyone’s carefully curated getups.

All of the photos from Olivia’s studio are available to view and download here.

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Video: We recap an evening spent celebrating our Denizen Heroes

It was in the spirit of revelry and with a generous dose of black-tie glamour that we all packed into Shed 10 last Thursday night to celebrate our 2018 Denizen Heroes. Women in flawless finery and jaw-dropping threads, and men looking as suave as a Fred Astaire film celebrated with gusto, four individuals who have been striving (and succeeding) to help the community in their own ways.

Delicious Chivas cocktails like the Chivas Collins and Signature X, kept every whistle wet, while those preferring to opt for a more pared back concoction, sipped delicious drops of Chivas’ 18 Yr and Ultis whisky, neat. Flutes of Perrier-Jouët champagne served on trays were also distributed to the jovial crowd.

Following the formalities, where our deserving Heroes received their awards, The Sweet Mix Kids drew us to the dancefloor in droves, spinning their crowd-pleasing tunes until it was time to depart, everyone thoroughly happy and exhaustively entertained.

Until next year…

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A glimpse at all the action from inside our Denizen Heroes Gala

Photographers Jared Donkin and Holly Sarah Burgess were in attendance at last week’s Heroes Gala to ensure no outfit went un-snapped and no moment un-captured. Expertly catching every celebratory second and every angle of the guests’ captivating attire, the resulting photos offer a glimpse into the charming evening of conviviality that was the 2018 Denizen Heroes Gala.

All of Jared’s photos from the night are available to access here

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The Chivas Entrepreneurial Award Winner, Mimi Gilmour

Many know Mimi Gilmour as the powerhouse hospitality name behind a number of Auckland’s most popular restaurants including Burger Burger and formerly, Mexico. Her entrepreneurial spirit has seen a new breed of casual dining emerge with more than half a million diners known to pass through her doors each year. While hers has become an iconic tale of a businesswoman crushing it in the hospitality industry, what many don’t know is how Gilmour is using her position to encourage young people to gain employment and develop an excellent work ethic. With a goal to be the best workplace for under-25s, she is committed to creating an engaged and energetic workforce via a programme called BB University which will create positive growth by way of incentivised financial opportunities and an unprecedented support network. Gilmour is leading by example and is positioning the hospitality industry as a viable career path for young people.

To read more about the inspiring journey of this entrepreneurial Hero, pick up a copy of the latest Denizen magazine, available now.

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The winner of The Innovator Award, presented by Chivas Regal — Tim Brown
Video: A glimpse into all the action from our 2019 Denizen Heroes Gala, presented by Chivas Regal

The Tiffany & Co. Innovation Award Winner, Brittany Teei

Brittany Teei is the founder of KidsCoin, a ground-breaking software that teaches children financial literacy at home and in schools, particularly in disadvantaged communities. When her career as a professional tennis player ended, the 27-year-old decided she wanted to help kids learn about money and build self-confidence. To do so, she created the software programme that allows them to complete ‘real-life’ lessons in accordance with the school’s curriculum. After winning the DigMyIdea Maori Innovation Challenge in 2015, she was able to launch a pilot programme and KidsCoin took off.

As she continues to refine the programme and establish partnerships, her focus is on cultivating large clients in the public and private sectors and building relationships with iwi. She has already been approached by social enterprises around the world who are interested in implementing the software. Teei believes that teaching kids how to manage their money will empower them as well as help them to avoid poverty traps later in life.

To read more about this innovative Hero and her impressive foray into the digital realm, pick up a copy of the latest Denizen magazine, available now.

Heroes

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The winner of The Innovator Award, presented by Chivas Regal — Tim Brown
Video: A glimpse into all the action from our 2019 Denizen Heroes Gala, presented by Chivas Regal