Entrepreneur mum makes flying visit

From left, Victoria Ransom, Tan Sri Halim Saad, Dr Swee Tan, Helen Clark, Beatrice Faumuina and Audette Exel.

There's nothing like a toddler to help a multimillionaire keep her feet on the ground.

"It's my quickest trip ever to New Zealand but I have a 10-month-old that I have left at home for the first time," senior Google executive Victoria Ransom told the Herald.

Ransom last night received a Kea World Class New Zealand Award at a ceremony at the Viaduct Event Centre.

The awards recognise talented Kiwis and friends of New Zealand who are achieving amazing things here and around the globe.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark took the supreme award.

Kea chief executive Craig Donaldson labelled her a "remarkable and inspiring Kiwi" who was making her mark on the global stage while maintaining close links to home.

Others to receive awards included Audette Exel, who has worked to rescue young women trafficked in Asia, world-leading plastic and cranio-maxillofacial surgeon Dr Swee Tan and Olympian Beatrice Faumuina.

Tan Sri Halim Saad received the Friend of New Zealand winner for his work in forging closer business ties between New Zealand and Malaysia.

Ransom and husband Alain Chuard sold their social media tool Wildfire to Google in 2012 for $350 million.

She grew up on a farm in a small village near Bulls, in the Rangitikei.

"If you had of told me any of this 15 years ago I would have just laughed, so it's been an amazing journey - but yeah, I guess each step of the way I was open to taking risks and taking on new opportunities."

Ransom said she was "truly humbled" to receive by receiving her award and said it was good to see sectors outside of sport receiving recognition.