Jamie Beaton Named EY Entrepreneur of the Year as Māori and Pasifika Scholarship Work Highlighted

AUCKLAND — Crimson Education founder and chief executive Jamie Beaton has been named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year following a gala event in Auckland on 10 November 2026. The prestigious award, announced on Tuesday, recognises Beaton’s decade of work in the global university advisory sector and his role in expanding educational access. In addition to the top title, Beaton was also named the Technology and Emerging Industries Entrepreneur. The independent judging panel, chaired by previous winner Phil Thomson, evaluated nominees based on impact, growth, purpose, and entrepreneurial spirit. Thomson stated that Beaton impressed the judges with his bold vision for championing education for everyone across the world and the significant scale of the business he built since its inception in 2013. Central to Beaton’s educational mission is the Te Ara a Kupe Beaton Scholarship. This initiative was established to provide dedicated educational support and mentorship for Māori and Pasifika students who are pursuing international study opportunities at the world's top universities. The scholarship forms part of a wider portfolio that includes Crimson Global Academy and NumberWorks’nWords. The awards also celebrated other leaders in the New Zealand business community, including Patrick Moynahan of Echo Tech and Sarah Kennedy of Calocurb. Beaton, who previously won the Young Entrepreneur award in 2023, is now set to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the global EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in Monaco next year. Judges noted that the calibre of candidates this year was outstanding, reflecting a strong period of innovation within the local business sector.