Kiwi digital leader recognised at Talent Unleashed Awards

The winners of the 2017 Talent Unleashed Awards were announced at an awards event last night in Sydney, with Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, and Richard Earl Talent founder and executive chairman crowning Kiwi chief digital officer Nick Whitehouse as the global category winner in the Most Disruptive Technology Leader category.

Whitehouse has a unique history leading businesses through disruption and technology firsts.

His work as the chief digital officer at MinterEllisonRuddWatts saw him leading their digital transformation and implementing wholesale technology change.

He is currently at the helm of a world-leading Legal AI joint venture between MinterEllisonRuddWatts and Goat Ventures to explore the potential use of artificial intelligence for legal services.

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder and Global Talent Unleashed Awards judge commented: "[Nick is] an impressive leader with great results.

Sir Richard wasn't alone in identifying Nick as an outstanding individual.

Kiwi judge Frances Valintine, The Mind Lab founder and chair, recognised Whitehouse as a game-changer with a desire to do good things that benefit the world while starting with a commitment to disrupt law.

"Nick is undertaking some major projects using some of the most transformational technologies of our time.

"His adoption of AI to improve law and blockchain smart contracts puts him in a very small group of leaders who both understands what these technologies can do and how to integrate them into an existing sector," says Valintine.

The Talent Unleashed Awards are one of the world's leading awards programmes recognising technology entrepreneurship.

The awards are convened by Talent, an Australian technology and IT services recruitment business now operating in six countries globally.

As part of the prize, Nick will travel to Silicon Valley with the five other winners, for an exclusive tour of some of the world's leading technology companies and receive individual time with Steve Wozniak to be guided on their innovation journey.

• Best Idea - One to Watch  - Michelle Perugini - Life Whisperer AU
• Best Startup – Tech or Digital Innovation - Markus Kahlbetzer - Brickx AU
• Best Startup - Social or Community Impact - Dr. Nikhil Pooviah - Cancer Aid AU
• Most Disruptive Technology Leader - Nick Whitehouse - MinterEllisonRuddWatts - McCarthyFinch NZ
• Most Progressive Workplace Leader - Annie Parker - Fishburners AU