“Being the 2020 Microsoft NZ Partner of the Year Award winner is a significant achievement and recognizes how our solutions are making positive change in our world. To love what we do, and to be acknowledged for our team's hard work and dedication with this prestigious award, is one we will celebrate proudly… to win in such great company is a humbling acknowledgement, and to be part of the collective Microsoft partner ecosystem allows us all to do good and truly change the world for the better. “ says Damon Kelly, CEO
The Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award recognises Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions during the past year. Awards were classified in several categories, with winners chosen from a set of more than 3,300 submitted nominations from more than 100 countries worldwide. Enlighten Designs was recognised for providing outstanding solutions and services in New Zealand.
“It is an honour to recognise the winners and finalists of the 2020 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards,” said Gavriella Schuster, corporate vice president, One Commercial Partner, Microsoft. “These partners go above and beyond, delivering timely solutions that solve the complex challenges that businesses around the world face – from communicating and collaborating virtually to helping customers realize their full potential with Azure cloud services, and beyond. I am proud to honour and congratulate each winner and finalist.”
It’s been humbling to have our team's efforts recognised, with the Partner of the Year Award and last year winning two Microsoft NZ Partner awards in the categories of Transforming Business and Cloud for Good, and finalists for Modern Workplace Award.
The additional exposure of this award win, will build on our momentum to scale the positive impact both here in New Zealand, and as we continue to expand globally. It always gives great pleasure to see our solutions being used all over the world, and this recognition will allow us to attract more like-minded people, clients and communities that want to use technology to make a difference.
When people in our local community had energy bill's more than 10% of their income, we used Microsoft Azure to create an automated energy retailer, run by 3 people, so that the energy retailer could pass the savings on to the families in need of food and clothing, not just trying to keep the lights on.
We then did it again to give neighbouring Raglan, a small beautiful west coast beach town in NZ, the ability to buy and sell locally generated solar power. Using Microsoft Azure Enlighten delivered the community a fully automated online energy trading platform in twelve short weeks allowing them to embrace new, environmentally sustainable local energy sources.
However, it's our ongoing collaboration with Sustainable Coastlines that is a transformation making waves. When Camden Howitt from Sustainable Coastlines got hit in the face with a nappy while surfing and couldn't take it any longer, we supported his vision to use technology to bring data to the forefront of sustainability, climate change and healthy oceans. Sustainable Coastlines has a clear mission to enable people to look after the coastlines and waterways they love, which dovetails nicely with Enlighten's passion for delivering human-centred technology solutions.
Matt Bostwick, Commercial Partner Director at Microsoft New Zealand, added: “This is an exciting moment for me personally, as I’ve worked closely with Damon and the Enlighten team for many years, watching them grow and evolve as a business that’s making a real difference for its customers and our local communities. From helping to clean up our beaches with Sustainable Coastlines to improving access to electricity and supporting local businesses to engage better with their customers, Enlighten truly exemplifies an innovative, exceptional partner that well deserves to be recognised on the world stage. I look forward to seeing what more they can achieve in years to come."
Whatever the future may hold, you'll find Enlighten harnessing the power of technology to help all our clients transform for long-lasting, positive change – for business, for people and for our world.