Ian Beker
Ian Beker, of Invercargill, received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community. Since 1991, Mr Beker has been the General Manager of Southland DisAbility Enterprises, a not-for-profit organisation providing employment and training services to disabled people. Under his leadership, it has grown from a small organisation into a large employer of people with disabilities working in recycling enterprises and markets. In 2008 Southland DisAbility Enterprises received the Environmental Innovators Award at the Environment Southland Annual Awards. He also developed the Transition to Work initiative, which supports young people moving from school to the workforce or tertiary education.