Dame Ellen Adrienne Stewart, Lady Stewart DNZM QSM (née Peake; born 1936) is a New Zealand arts patron.
Ellen Adrienne Peake was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1936. [1] [2] She moved to New Zealand aged 19 and first worked in Wellington and Auckland. [3] In 1958, at age 22, she started working for PDL as personal secretary to Bob Stewart, who had purchased the firm the previous year. [2]
Stewart divorced his first wife and in 1970, Ellen Adrienne Cansdale (who had by then been married before) married Bob Stewart and took on his surname. [1] The Stewarts developed PDL into one of New Zealand's best known companies, and they became major exporters. Adrienne Stewart became deeply involved in the arts sector, where she is a "patron, supporter, board member and philanthropist". [2]
In the 1979 New Year Honours, her husband was appointed Knight Bachelor, and she was thus styled Adrienne, Lady Stewart. [4] In 1993, she was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. [5] In the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours, Stewart was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service. [6] In the 2006 New Year Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community. [7] In 2011, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters (LittD) by the University of Canterbury. [3] In 2014, Stewart was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. [8] In the 2015 New Year Honours, she was appointed Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM) for services to the arts and business. [9]
The Stewarts had two children; Mark James Stewart and Todd Huntly Stewart. [1] Her husband died in 2007. [1]
Dame Ellen Adrienne Stewart, Lady Stewart DNZM QSM (née Peake; born 1936) is a New Zealand arts patron.
Ellen Adrienne Peake was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1936. [1] [2] She moved to New Zealand aged 19 and first worked in Wellington and Auckland. [3] In 1958, at age 22, she started working for PDL as personal secretary to Bob Stewart, who had purchased the firm the previous year. [2]
Stewart divorced his first wife and in 1970, Ellen Adrienne Cansdale (who had by then been married before) married Bob Stewart and took on his surname. [1] The Stewarts developed PDL into one of New Zealand's best known companies, and they became major exporters. Adrienne Stewart became deeply involved in the arts sector, where she is a "patron, supporter, board member and philanthropist". [2]
In the 1979 New Year Honours, her husband was appointed Knight Bachelor, and she was thus styled Adrienne, Lady Stewart. [4] In 1993, she was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. [5] In the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours, Stewart was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service. [6] In the 2006 New Year Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community. [7] In 2011, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters (LittD) by the University of Canterbury. [3] In 2014, Stewart was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. [8] In the 2015 New Year Honours, she was appointed Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM) for services to the arts and business. [9]
The Stewarts had two children; Mark James Stewart and Todd Huntly Stewart. [1] Her husband died in 2007. [1]