2026 Alumni Awards

Nominations for the 2026 Alumni Awards are now officially closed.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our outstanding alumni community through their nominations.

We’re excited to review this year’s submissions and look forward to announcing the finalists - and ultimately the award recipients - over the coming months.

If you missed out this year, we warmly encourage you to consider nominating yourself or a fellow alum for the 2027 awards and help us continue to honour the remarkable accomplishments within our network.

Key dates for 2025

  • Nominations open: Monday 2 March 2026.
  • Nominations close: Midnight Monday 11 May 2026 (AEST).
  • Winners announced: Tuesday 1 September 2026.

Awards Process Guidelines and Procedure.

Award Categories

  • Professional Excellence

    This award recognises outstanding leaders in their industry or profession who have made or are making significant and positive impact on their communities, their industry, or the world.

    Criteria

    1. Alumni who demonstrate outstanding contributions to a workplace, profession or industry that is noteworthy and exceptional (at a local, national, or international level).
    2. Who accomplishment(s) raise their profile and standing within their community, country or internationally and/or bring greater recognition to their profession.
    3. Who demonstrate through their work, professional or community, alignment with one or all the University’s values of insightful, inclusive, impactful and inspiring.
  • Research Excellence

    This award recognises outstanding research leaders whose research is changing lives, or whose scholarly contributions have made a substantial impact to their field of research.

    Criteria

    1. Alumni who demonstrate sustained contribution to their field of research at local, national and/or international levels (and recognition at national and/or international levels).
    2. Whose scholarly contributions and associated outreach efforts have measurably and significantly improved the lives of people through engagement with their research outputs (including through industry, community, government uptake of research findings/tools/policy recommendations etc).
    3. Who demonstrate through their work, professional or community, alignment with one or all the University’s values of insightful, inclusive, impactful, and inspiring.
  • Social Impact

    This award recognises leaders/individuals whose professional or voluntary work has generated significant social impact to a group or wider community(ies).

    Criteria

    1. Alumni who demonstrate the positive impact they have had on their community and/or the University through their work in the profit, non-profit or public sector. Evidence may include, but is not limited to, positive contributions through social innovation, volunteerism, community development and/or corporate social responsibility.
    2. Who demonstrates significant, long-term impact of their contribution to their community and/or the University.
    3. Who demonstrate through their work, professional or community, alignment with one or all the University’s values of insightful, inclusive, impactful, and inspiring.
  • Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity

    This award recognises alumni who have made an extraordinary impact through innovation in their industry or profession. This encompasses all industry sectors, for example agriculture, technology, allied health, the arts, culture, and/or creative sectors.

    Criteria

    1. Alumni who demonstrate a strong entrepreneurial mindset and/or creative approach in their industry, profession or area of expertise.
    2. Who has achieved recognition as an innovator or creative force within their industry, profession or area of expertise.
    3. Who demonstrate through their work, professional or community, alignment with one or all of the University’s values of insightful, inclusive, impactful and inspiring.
  • Young Alumni

    This award recognises extraordinary achievements of our new graduates across both the professional and service to community fields.  Nominees must be under the age of 35.

    Criteria

    1. Alumni who are under the age of 35 and have demonstrated outstanding contributions to a workplace, profession or industry that is noteworthy and exceptional (at a local, national, or international level).
    2. Alumni who are under age 35 and whose accomplishment(s) raise their profile and standing within their community, country or internationally and/or bring greater recognition to their profession.
    3. Who demonstrate through their work, professional or community, alignment with one or all the University’s values of insightful, inclusive, impactful and inspiring.
  • First Nations Excellence

    This award recognises outstanding achievement or contribution by a First Nations alumni in their chosen industry, profession or field.

    Criteria

    1. First Nations alumni who demonstrate outstanding leadership in their community, industry or profession who have made or are making a significant difference in both local and/or wider communities or throughout the world.
    2. Who demonstrate through their work, professional or community, alignment with one or all the University’s values of insightful, inclusive, impactful, and inspiring.

Charles Sturt University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Renèe Leon, announces the recipients of the 2024 Alumni Awards.

2025 Alumni Award Winners

Read Media Release

Professional Excellence

Professional Excellence

Alumni of the year
Ben Kereopa-Yorke

Learn more
Research Excellence

Research Excellence

Alumni of the year
Amber Johns

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Social Impact

Social Impact

Alumni of the year
Anita Geary

Learn more
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity

Alumni of the Year
Tara James

Learn more
First Nations Excellence

First Nations Excellence

Alumni of the year
David Windsor

Learn more
Young Alumni

Young Alumni

Alumni of the year
Dr Sena Semsak

Learn more

Our past winners

If you missed out on congratulating these these winners, you still can.

2024 winners and highly commended

2023 winners and highly commended

2022 winners and highly commended

2021 winners and highly commended

2020 winners and highly commended

Alumni with impact

Find out more about our alumni who are doing great things all around the world.

Read alumni stories

Thrive magazine

Check out the latest edition of Thrive - our alumni magazine

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