Peri Drysdale

Background

Drysdale grew up on a sheep station near the Rakaia Gorge in the South Island of New Zealand.

Education

She was educated at Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru and Saint Margaret"s College in Christchurch.

Career

She went on to train as a nurse, specialising in cardiology. She gave up nursing in 1979. She called it "Snowy Peak" and employed outworkers to knit luxury clothes such as jumpers, hats, scarves and gloves for supply to a few Christchurch stores.

She started with 10 outworkers, and by 1985, after four years operation, she had 500 working for her.

Drysdale experimented with certified organic, eco-friendly wools and cottons. In 1996 she launched the world"s first yarn that blended possum fur with merino wool, calling the new yarn "merinomink".

She also began to export her clothes to Australia, Europe, Japan and Canada, expanded operations in Christchurch with a cafe and retail store, and opened stores in Auckland and Queenstown. In 1999 the brand received international attention when it was chosen to provide garments for world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Auckland.

President Bill Clinton particularly admired his sweater, and he and his family became fans and customers.

In 2014, Drysdale began using a second new textile which she calls "kapua" - a mixture of cashmere, silk and possum - which had been in development since 2000. In 2000, Drysdale founded the "Untouched World Foundation", a charitable trust which is focused on developing sustainable leadership in young people. One percent of the retail sales from Untouched World contribute to the foundation.

Since 2002, students involved in the programme have worked on a nature programme based at Blumine Island in the Marlborough Sounds.

1994 - awarded the Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to New Zealand manufacturing and export

1999 - included in list of 100 New Zealanders who have made the most significant contribution to the economy. 2002 - South Island Businesswoman of the Year Award

2005 - North & South magazine"s "New Zealander of the Year" Award

2007 - honorary doctorate from Lincoln University (New Zealand).

Achievements

• She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the fashion companies "Snowy Peak" and "Untouched World", which produce ecologically sustainable clothing, and the founder of the Untouched World Foundation, which runs programmes in sustainable leadership. After several years" work the island achieved predator-free status and kiwi were released there in 2010. 2002 - Snowy Peak won Most Ethical Company Award 2004 - Snowy Peak won Best Retailer Award 2008 - Supreme Award at the World Class New Zealand Awards for her business achievements, work in showcasing New Zealand overseas and in recognition of her leadership in social and environmental sustainability issues.