Mohammed Hikmet 2019 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year

Auckland intelligent transport systems developer HMI Technologies chairman and Ohmio Automotion autonomous vehicle founder Mohammed Hikmet has been been named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year for 2019.

Hikmet will represent New Zealand among more than 50 winners at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year competition in Monaco next June.

Along with his brother Ahmed, Hikmet started HMI Technologies after migrating to New Zealand with his family following the 1991 Gulf War. Starting a computer repair business, Hikmet identified an opportunity in the manufacture of electronic road signs and later autonomous vehicles, recognising that AVs would reduce the need for road signs and visual communication with drivers.

Hikmet personifies the grit and determination required to turn an idea into reality, judging panel chairman Bill Day says.

“Mohammed left war-torn Iraq in the early 1990s for the safety of New Zealand. As a result, he had to start from scratch. He had to re-sit the same tertiary education that he had already completed in Iraq while delivering pizzas to support his family,” Day says.

“Determined to give back to the country that had given him a home, he was determined to use his talents to export the best of New Zealand to the world.”

Day says the calibre of the entire field is extremely impressive.

Entrants and the five finalists again demonstrated a skew towards young people, women and those from immigrant backgrounds – a representative snapshot of the changing face of New Zealand, he says.

Awards director and EY partner Darren White says each finalist should be praised and all gave the judges something to think about.

“The beauty of EOY isn’t just the people. It’s their stories – the two are inextricably linked and highlight the colourful and often bumpy journey they have been on to get here today,” White says.

“Aotearoa is fertile ground for budding and established entrepreneurs. Today’s entrepreneurs are increasingly focusing on big-picture challenges by creating purpose-led businesses – this also bodes well for the future.”

Also presented at the EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award Gala Dinner was the ASB Exceptional Services to Entrepreneurship Award, going to Andy Hamilton from The Icehouse, and the Family Business Award for Excellence which went to the Barfoot & Thompson families.