INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Recognising water career excellence
Open to AWA members, our state and national water awards recognise outstanding individual achievement. Nominate yourself, or colleagues and business partners driving a sustainable water future.
Young Water Professional of the Year
Overview
The Young Water Professional of the Year Award honours individuals whose contribution to the water sector aligns with the Australian Water Association’s purpose of inspiring and driving a sustainable water future.
The awardee will be able to demonstrate their leadership, influence and passion for the water sector.
State and territory Young Water Professionals of the Year compete at the national awards.
Eligibility
This award is open to all AWA Members are 35 years of age or younger at the time of submission to their state or territory award.
Conditions of Entry
Submission Criteria
- Describe how you have through your primary professional role contributed to the water sector? (500 words)
- Describe how you are promoting and inspiring a sustainable water future outside of your primary professional role, e.g. through roles you have volunteered for within your organisation or extra-curricular activities (500 words)
- Describe, providing examples, how the nominee is considered a water industry advocate and has displayed a commitment to outreach in terms of either cross-sectoral or community water awareness (500 words)
Important Dates
Closing dates for the 2026-27 season:
VIC - 6 August 2026
WA - 27 August 2026
NT - 4 September 2026
QLD - 7 September 2026
SA - 21 September 2026
TAS - 30 September 2026
ACT - 30 October 2026
NSW - 30 October 2026
Water Professional of the Year
Overview
The Water Professional of the Year honours individuals who, over the previous 5 years, have displayed passion and commitment, while also inspiring positive change in the water sector. The intention of this award is to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Water Professionals over 35 years of age.
State and territory Water Professionals of the Year compete at the national awards.
NOTE: Australian Water Association members who, through long and meritorious service, have made positive and demonstrable contribution to the Australian water sector should consider contacting their Member Engagement Manager for consideration of the Lifetime Achievement Award via the branch committee instead of the Water Professional of the Year Award.
Eligibility
This award is open to all AWA Members.
Conditions of Entry
Submission Criteria
- Executive summary as to why the nominee should be awarded the Water Professional of the Year (250 words)
- Describe how the nominee has contributed professionally to the advancement of the sector over the past 5 years. This may be from a technical, policy or management perspective (500 words)
- Describe how the nominee’s leadership has positively supported a sustainable water future and inspired change in their organisation, the industry, the environment and/or society over the past 5 years, including though volunteer, secondary or extra-curricular roles (500 words)
- Describe how the nominee has supported diversity, inclusion and equality including inspiring leadership and capacity in others over the past 5 years (500 words)
- Describe, providing examples, how the nominee is recognised as a water industry advocate and has displayed a commitment to outreach in terms of either cross-sectoral or community water awareness over the past 5 years (500 words)
Important Dates
Closing dates for the 2026-27 season:
VIC - 6 August 2026
WA - 27 August 2026
NT - 4 September 2026
QLD - 7 September 2026
SA - 21 September 2026
TAS - 30 September 2026
ACT - 30 October 2026
NSW - 30 October 2026
Lifetime Achievement Award
Overview
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to honour members of the Australian Water Association who have made positive and demonstrable contribution to water in Australia.
The award recognises members who have:
- Displayed an exemplary personal and professional contribution in their field
- Provided leadership and influence amongst colleagues and peers
- Raised the profile of water careers
- Been held in high esteem for mentoring junior water professionals
- Fostered diversity, inclusion and equality
- Raised community water awareness
Conditions of Entry
Eligibility
- Australian Water Association members with a minimum of 15 years membership (can be non-continuous)
- Nominations can only be made by an AWA Branch Committee, two or more Board members, or members of an Australian Water Association Specialist Network Committee
Important Dates
Nominations are now open.
Please contact your Member Engagement Manager to nominate a member for this award.
Exceptional Service Award
Overview
The Exceptional Service award is the Australian Water Association’s highest individual honour. It is awarded in recognition of long and meritorious service, and a positive and demonstrable contribution to the Association.
Award Patron George Goffin worked tirelessly for AWA for many years. He was a Victorian branch committee member and president in the 1950s, before becoming National President in the 1970s for two successive terms. George was editor of the Water Journal for over twenty years.
The award recognises someone who has shown:
- Exceptional service and active personal input to the Association (through a technical contribution or sustained administrative, organisational or leadership activity)
- Valuable contribution towards AWA’s strategic objectives
- The service of the individual has resulted in positive (and demonstrable) changes in AWA
- A demonstrated commitment to be an AWA advocate and build the profile of the Association
Conditions of Entry
Eligibility
- Australian Water Association members with a minimum of 15 years membership
- Nominations can only be made by an Australian Water Association Branch Committee, two or more Board members, or members of an AWA Specialist Network Committee
Important Dates
Nominations are now open.
Please contact your Member Engagement Manager to nominate a member for this award.
Kamal Fernando Mentoring Award (NSW only)
Overview
The Kamal Fernando Mentoring Award honours individuals in NSW working with water who have displayed outstanding passion and commitment in mentoring water professionals above and beyond expectations.
The award is the legacy of our friend and colleague Kamal Fernando (former Principal Engineer of Water Supply, NSW Water Solutions, NSW Public Works) who sadly passed away unexpectedly in 2014.
Over 24 years, Kamal made significant contributions to water in NSW. Kamal had a passion for mentoring, and the transfer of his outstanding skills and knowledge has led to many skilled practitioners. Through their work, his contribution continues.
The award encourages and recognises excellence in water mentoring – a fitting tribute to Kamal’s tireless and generous efforts to share his knowledge.
Eligibility
This award is open to all Professional AWA Members and Employees of Corporate AWA Members who has predominately resided and mentored in NSW for at least the last five years.
Conditions of Entry
Submission Criteria
- Please provide an outline of the nominee’s involvement in mentoring water professionals predominately in NSW, both as part of formal mentoring agreements and informally in the workplace and wider industry (500 words)
- What specific benefits have arisen for mentees from having the nominee as a mentor? (500 words)
- Why do you consider the nominee’s efforts in mentoring water professionals as outstanding? (500 words)
Important Dates
Nominations close 30 October 2026
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Mark Pascoe Mentoring Award (QLD only)
Overview
The Mark Pascoe Mentoring Award honours individuals in Queensland working with water who have displayed outstanding passion and commitment in mentoring water professionals above and beyond expectations.
The award is the legacy of our friend and colleague Mark Pascoe who passed in August 2022. Mark Pascoe was a visionary leader whose nearly 50-year career shaped Australia's water sector and the Australian Water Association community.
Eligibility
This award is open to all Professional AWA Members and Employees of Corporate AWA Members who has predominately resided and mentored in QLD for at least the last five years.
Conditions of Entry
Submission Criteria
- Demonstrate the nominee’s sustained dedication to mentoring members and how they have acted as a positive role model, developing trust and respect with the mentee(s) (250 words)
- Provide an overview of how the nominee assists to plan and guide mentees’ future career paths, including defining the purpose of the mentoring and the development of career goals (250 words)
- Describe the process the nominee uses to facilitate a mentee acquiring the skills and resources needed to succeed as a professional making significant contributions to the water industry (250 words)
- Explain how the nominee acts as a sounding board and advisor to improve networks, remove career barriers, navigate workplace challenges, and address social inclusion barriers (250 words)
Important Dates
Nominations close 7 September 2026
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Showcase your water achievements and innovations
- Share water knowledge
- Connect with water peers
- Inspire sustainable water practices
- Promote your water career and leadership
All Awards, aside from the Student Water Prize and Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize, are open to AWA members only. For individual awards, the nominee must be a current individual AWA Member or an employee of a current Corporate Member.
To enter, nominations must be submitted using the online entry forms. Please note when your relevant State or Territory award submissions close
Yes, self-nominations and nominations of individuals by others are accepted.
All nominations must be submitted via the online nomination form. Please check the relevant award category page to view the requirements to complete the nomination form.
State and territory judging is coordinated by the relevant Member Engagement Manager and committee. Each state or territory convenes a panel of experts to assess the applications.
National judging is coordinated by the AWA Awards Secretariat. The panels are chaired by members of the Independent Assessment Panel. Each panel includes at least three judges.
At both state or territory and national levels, judges score each nominee based on how well they address the award criteria. The panel then meets to review the scoring and discuss the merits of all submissions. Final scoring and ranking is based on a majority vote from all eligible members of the judging panel.
All judges adhere to a code of conduct which includes a policy to prevent conflicts of interest. The judges’ decision is final and no discussion about the merits of entries will be entered into with nominees.
AWA will not cover the costs of your travel, accommodation or attendance at the Ozwater Conference unless specifically stipulated as part of the prize (i.e. Student Water Prize).
A complimentary Ozwater Gala Dinner ticket will be provided to national finalists for the Australian Water Awards Gala Dinner.