Ryman Healthcare’s team of 6000 gathered online on Friday night for a fantastic celebration of colleagues nominated in the 2021 Ryman Awards, with tv stars and hosts for the night Hilary Barry and Laura Daniel adding to the buzz.

The excitement was palpable, despite the necessary separation caused by various levels of lockdown restrictions in New Zealand, with nominees beaming in with their bubbles from homes and villages on both sides of the Tasman.

The big night also marked the end of the first week in the job for new Group Chief Executive Richard Umbers’ who said it was a ‘fantastic night to be a part of’.

“What better way to start than by celebrating the excellent job everyone has done over the past year – and at arguably the toughest time for everyone,” he said.

The winner of the most prestigious title was Senior Registered Legal Executive Pam Harliwich, a 21-year Ryman veteran who works at Head Office in Christchurch.

Being in Level 2, Pam was with family, friends and teammates when it was announced she had won this year’s Kevin Hickman Award, where nominees are selected for best demonstrating Ryman Healthcare co-founder Kevin’s founding values of kindness, excellence, leadership and care and are role models to their teammates.

Pam said she was ‘stoked’ and ‘honoured’ to win the top award.
“It truly is a great honour to receive this award. Kevin has started a great company, with his vision to look after older people.”

She also credited her unit contracts team and the sales team for being so great to work with, many of whom had nominated her for the award with accolades including ‘always helpful and kind’, ‘works so very hard’, ‘outstandingly helpful’ and ‘super committed’.

Pam Harliwich celebrates her win with family, friends and team members.

Said Pam: “It’s a pleasure to be able to help residents coming into the village and leaving the village and making it as stress free as possible.
“I’m stoked!”
Taking out the Village of the Year prize was Auckland village Logan Campbell, with Village Manager Karyn Nobilo giving an emotion-filled acceptance speech with her ‘home team’ – sons Matty and Joe by her side and husband Brad handing her the trophy.

Logan Campbell Village Manager Karyn Nobilo with her sons Matty and Joe.

“I think probably every village deserves to be village of the year after the 18 months we’ve all had,” Karyn said, before describing the journey they’d all been on since opening three and a half years ago.
“Thank you to our team, we have got an amazing foundation of laundry and cook’s assistants, activities coordinators, caregivers who I admire so much and the leadership team of Rebecca, Arma, Kim and our sales advisor Liz, we have a very collaborative approach and I’m just so proud of everyone!”
Logan Campbell Resident Services Manager Rebecca McMillan was also a winner on the night, taking out the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award.
Construction Site of the Year went to John Flynn site in Burwood East, Melbourne with the Australians also scooping Nurse of the Year and Sales Advisor of the Year, with Ellora Santos and Janine Wilde respectively being handed the trophies.
The list of winners:
Caregiver of the Year – Damanpreet Kaur, Caregiver at Bob Owens Retirement Village in Tauranga
Support Team Member of the Year – Erick Abille, Activity and Lifestyle Coordinator at Hilda Ross Retirement Village in Hamilton
Young Achiever of the Year – Millie Fraser, Chef at Diana Isaac Retirement Village in Christchurch
Construction Team Member of the Year – Kayla Myles, Architectural Design Leader at Ryman Christchurch
Sales Advisor of the Year – Janine Wilde, Sales Advisor at Deborah Cheetham Retirement Village at Ocean Grove, Victoria
Nurse of the Year – Ellora Santos, Unit Coordinator at Nellie Melba Retirement Village at Brandon Park, Melbourne
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award – Rebecca McMillan, Resident Services Manager at Logan Campbell Retirement Village in Greenlane, Auckland
Leader of the Year – Asharif Rahman, Clinical Manager at Bob Scott Retirement Village in Wellington
Construction Site of the Year – John Flynn Construction Site at Burwood East, Melbourne
Village of the Year – Logan Campbell Retirement Village, at Greenlane, Auckland
Kevin Hickman Award – Pam Harliwich, Senior Registered Legal Executive at Ryman Christchurch.