From Peter Buchanan:
Winning Strategy…
The Trees for Survival team are thrilled to be the Winners of the 2026 South and East 2degrees Auckland Business Awards for Excellence in Strategy. This award recognises strength and success in development and implementation of a long term strategy and the setting of measurable targets. For Trees for Survival, this amazing accolade recognises the Trust's strength in planning and setting goals and acknowledgement of where the Trust has come from and the people who have contributed along the way. Our partners are part of this success: helping to enable TfS to deliver an inspirational environmental education programme!
As mentioned by Phil Lyons, our National Manager, in his acceptance speech, Trees for Survival is 35 years old this year - from its very small beginnings as an environmental education initiative from Pakuranga Rotary.
Phil (2nd from left in photo) later wrote to his staff and us trustees:
"While the award recognises our strategy and the direction we are heading, strategies only mean something when they are brought to life by people. This recognition belongs to everyone across our team and Board who contributes their time, experience, energy and commitment to making Trees for Survival what it is today.
This award recognises where we are heading, but it is also a wonderful acknowledgement of where we have come from and of the people who have contributed along the way.
So, congratulations everyone. This is something we should all be very proud of. Thank you for the great work you do and for continuing to make Trees for Survival such a special organisation to be part of."
Note that Liz Gunn was also at the Awards Ceremony (8 Sept.) but was somehow missing from this photo. From St Johns Ellerslie, both Liz and I are Trustees of Trees for Survival, along with Gary Key. Gary Langford is our Chair.
As Trustees, we are very fortunate to have Phil as our National Manager and inspirational strategist.
Kind regards
Peter