Jennie Sew Hoy QSM

Director, Glacier Investments Ltd

Jennie was born in Guangzhou, China and migrated to with her family at the age of 1 to Wellington (1937).  As co-owner of Glacier Investments Ltd with her husband (for 54 years) Donald, Jennie has been a Director since 1990.

Jennie’s service in business includes:

• Request by NZ Wool Board to create a 3-piece wool garment for Miss New Zealand, Pamela King (1973)
• NZ Delegate for Dunedin City Council trade delegation to Shanghai, sister city (1998)
• NZ Delegate for NZ Government trade delegation to Beijing/Hangzhou and signing of NZ/China FTA agreement (2008).  Invitation by Helen Clark to accompany her to witness the signing of FTA agreement

Achievements:

• Bell Gully, Wellington (1953-1956)
• Private Secretary to Sir Denis Blundell (1953-1956)
• Lobbied Department of Education for Dunedin’s first Deaf unit attached to Arthur St Primary School (1969)
• Sew Hoy & Sons Ltd, Dunedin – awarded a NZ Government export Award (1972)
• House of Sew Hoy became a household name in Otago for two decades (1970-1980
• Sew Hoy Group became a major employer and clothing manufacturer, employing over 700 in five factories in NZ  (1970-1980)
• Awarded a Paul Harris Rotary Fellowship (2005)
• Glacier Investments Ltd, Auckland was awarded The Warehouse Supplier of the Year (2006)
• Awarded a Sapphire Paul Harris Fellow (2012)

Jennie’s grandchildren and community service is what she enjoys and was honoured with a QSM “For Services to the Chinese Community” in the Queens Birthday Honours List 2008.

Community Service:

• Member – NZ Chinese Association, Wellington (1953-1961)
• Teacher – taught Sunday School at Wellington Chinese Baptist Church (1959-1961)
• Member – regularly visited Chinese patients at Wellington Hospital to assist with interpreting or errands as part of a church group (1959-1961)
• Member – NZ Chinese Association, Otago Branch (1961-2000)
• Committee – Plunket Mornington, Dunedin (1965-1966)
• Committee – Mornington Kindergarten, Dunedin (1967-1969)
• Committee Otago Association for Deaf Children, Dunedin (1966-1979)
• Committee – Helen Deem Kindergarten, Dunedin (1969-1972)
• Committee – Arthur Street School for Deaf Children’s Group, Dunedin (1972-1976)
• Judging panel – Mrs Plunket Otago contest, Dunedin (1972)
• Judging panel – Miss Otago contest, Dunedin (1973)
• Charter Member for 28 years – Rotary Club of Dunedin Inner Wheel, Dunedin to assist with fundraising for various charities (1973-2001)
• Organised a Chinese dinner fundraiser for Otago Girls High School Choir to attend the South Pacific Choral Contest (1991-1992)
• Committee – Otago Girls High School PTSA, Dunedin (1991-1994)
• Member – NZ Chinese Association, Auckland Branch to assist with fundraising for all projects (2001-2008)
• Member – NZ Chinese Association, Auckland Women’s Club (2001-2015)
• Committee – Rotary Club of Harbourside Auckland (2002-2008)
• NZ Delegate for Rotary International World Convention, Brisbane (2003)
• Committee – Auckland Chinese Community Centre (2004-2015)
• Committee – Auckland Chinese Community Centre for annual Chinese New Year Festival at ASB Showgrounds
• Committee – Rotary Club of Harbourside Auckland for Chinese New Year Ball at SKYCITY Convention Centre – ongoing fundraising for various charities for many years