The Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship programme is grateful for the support of its partners across the sporting and creative and performing arts sectors. Like us, our partners are committed to developing future leaders within the value of Sir Edmund Hillary, and many of our partners have been with us since the inception of the scholarship in 2005. Specific partners are named below, and other partnerships may be developed to support scholars who excel in other disciplines.
Supporting the Himalayan Trust
Hillary Scholars support the work of the Himalayan Trust, an international non-profit organisation first established in the 1960s by Sir Edmund Hillary. The Trust aims to improve the health, education and wellbeing of people living in the Solukhumbu District in Nepal. Hillary Scholars regularly fundraise for the Trust, and Step Higher awardees visit the area to volunteer in the community and see Sir Ed's legacy in action.
Orbit Hamilton: Foundation partner supports leadership
Orbit Hamilton became a foundation sponsor of the Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship prgoramme when it was established in 2005. In 2012 Orbit expanded its support by sponsoring the Step Higher Awards, an award promoting leadership excellence, providing a unique opportunity to travel to Nepal to see Sir Ed's legacy in action. Read more.
Everest Consulting: Nurturing personal development
Human resources experts, the appropriately-named Everest, provides 
mentoring support to Hillary Scholars, speaking and hosting workshops on personal development, goal-setting, and overcoming adversity and setbacks. These so-called 'soft skills' are crucial for developing empathetic leaders, in alignment with the values of the Hillary programme. Read more.
Sports partners
We are proud to partner with the following high-performance sports organisations to support scholars in sport:
- Athletics: Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty
- Badminton: Waikato Badminton
- Basketball: Waikato Basketball
- Cricket: Northern Districts Cricket
- Cycling: Cycling New Zealand
- Equestrian: Equestrian Sports New Zealand
- Football: Waikato Bay of Plenty Football
- Golf: Golf New Zealand
- Hockey: Hockey New Zealand
- Netball: Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty
- Rowing: Rowing New Zealand
- Rugby: Waikato Rugby Union
- Shooting: New Zealand Shooting Federation
- Squash: Squash Waikato
- Surf Lifesaving: Surf Lifesaving New Zealand
- Swimming: Swimming New Zealand
- Table Tennis: Table Tennis New Zealand
- Tennis: Waikato Tennis
- Triathlon: Triathlon New Zealand
- Volleyball: Volleyball Waikato
Creative and performing arts advisors
- Music: Dr Michael Williams, Music Programme
- Theatre: Dr Laura Haughey, Theatre Studies and Dance Programme
- Screen and Media: Dr Lisa Perrott, Screen and Media Studies Programme
- Design: Keith Soo, Computer Science/Visual Design Programme
- Dance: Associate Professor Karen Barbour, Theatre Studies and Dance Programme
- Māori Creative and Performing Arts: Associate Professor Te Kahautu Maxwell, Te Pua Wananga ki te Ao