Judges

Ray Lewis
Chief Executive, Harkness Henry.

Having graduated with hons in Physics in the UK, Ray did some early career work in nuclear & elementary particle physics but quickly decided he'd prefer to have a more people-focused career so moved into the marketing & sales activities for the IEE (now IET) – the largest professional organisation in Europe and producer of world-leading science publishing products. This allowed Ray to take on ever-expanding territories commencing from the UK; then UK & Europe; then Asia & Australasia before heading to the US for four years to head up the IEE & INSPEC’s operations for the Americas. From there he was promoted to Global VP Sales, Marketing & Training to head back to London for the role. However, in the meantime Ray had met a kiwi and we got married and had young children so diverted plans to move to NZ for optimal upbringing of their children.

In NZ Ray has held a variety of roles from Business Strategy consultant for AgResearch (then full-time employee); GM & International Manager for Comvita (culminating in a global $50m deal for their new medical device products with a US NYSE listed company), Divisional Manager of Hill Laboratories, Global VP of Manta5, Business Consultant for University of Waikato (leading to the creation of a new AgriTech Dept & Chair) before coming here to become CEO of Harkness Henry Lawyers. Ray has also run his own strategic consultancy company for the past 17 years.

Sue Loder
Business Growth Advisor, Soda Inc.

Sue Loder is a Business Growth Advisor and Innovation Specialist at Soda Inc. a business ecosystem based in the Waikato. In her role, Sue engages with businesses at various stages of their success journey, leveraging her extensive experience to provide guidance and support. With close to 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Sue has a wealth of knowledge in start-ups, acquisitions, and both service and product-based businesses, including food manufacturing.

Sue is dedicated to partnering with businesses to help them successfully navigate the ever-evolving landscape and thrive in today's competitive market. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her achievements, including being awarded the Rural Businesswoman of the Year 2021 (Bountiful Table category). This accolade reflects her ability to drive business success.

As one of the judges for the Hauraki Coromandel Business Awards 2024, Sue is excited to contribute her expertise and insights to the evaluation process. She looks forward to assessing the diverse range of applicants and recognizing the outstanding achievements of businesses in the region. Sue is particularly interested in seeing how businesses have innovated, grown, and adapted to challenges, and she is eager to celebrate their successes. Her role as a judge aligns with her passion for supporting business growth and fostering a thriving business community.