At the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council awards were National Press Club's Peter Isaac with Bob Fulton the Christchurch-based chief operating officer of Fulton Hogan and Julian Smith proprietor of the Otago Daily Times. Mr Fulton's firm is a leading sponsor of the scheme and Julian Smith OBE is the regional representative for Otago and Southland on the council. The awards ceremony was held in Parliament's Grand Hall. Speakers noted the benefit to participants of the applied technical and managerial skills transfer derived from active service at home and abroad with the Territorial Forces, The Territorial Forces Employer Support Council is the Minister of Defence's advisory agency on reserve forces.