2026 Finalists + Bright Spark Special Commendations
The 2026 MAVlab Innovation Awards received 140 nominations from across Victoria, showcasing outstanding projects, approaches and leadership that are transforming local government and helping build thriving, inclusive and resilient communities.
We congratulate everyone who submitted a nomination. Judges described the field as highly competitive and said the submissions left them inspired, optimistic and excited about the future of local government in Victoria.
This year we are recognising 64 outstanding projects and individuals from 27 councils across the state. New in 2026, the Bright Spark Special Commendation recognises innovative projects that demonstrated strong merit but were not selected as finalists. Commended councils will receive a certificate and acknowledgement here on the MAV website.
Finalists are invited to join us on Thursday 17 September at our Award Celebration where winners will be announced. This will be an uplifting evening that brings the sector together to recognise achievements, share ideas and celebrate the people making a real difference across Victoria.
September 17 will also mark the launch of the 2026 MAVlab Innovation Case Study Library. 40 new finalist projects will join this unique and evolving sector resource, showcasing practical examples of innovation in action and highlighting what's possible when councils collaborate, think differently and learn from one another.
Discover the 2026 MAVlab Innovation Awards finalists below, and recipients of the new Bright Spark Special Commendation.
Please note, the finalists are listed in alphabetical order by their councils.
2026 Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Established Leader (CEO), supported by Davidson
Finalists:
- Jacqui Weatherill, CEO, City of Greater Dandenong
- Mary Agostino, CEO, Mitchell Shire Council
- Tammi Rose, CEO, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
2026 Innovatio Pro Bono Publico Award: Emerging Leader, supported by JLT Public Sector
Finalists:
- Ann Ly, Secretariat, Community Advocacy Officer, City of Greater Dandenong
- Jay Smith, Energy and Water Innovation Officer, Mildura Rural City Council
- Manohar Esarapu, Chief Information and Innovation Officer, City of Port Phillip.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- Nick Grant-Collins, Coordinator, Community Safety and Resilience, Bass Coast Shire Council
- Dr Marjan Hajjari, Executive Director Strategy and Corporate Services, City of Greater Dandenong
- Lucy Proctor, Business Investment and Support Coordinator, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
The Community Voice Award for Inclusive Democratic Engagement, supported by Australian Resilient Democracy Network (ARDN)
Finalists:
- Stand Together: Countering Misinformation, Indigo Shire Council
- Talking Kingston, Kingston City Council
- By Kids for Kids Collective, Melbourne City Council
- Council Plan 2025-2029, Greater Shepparton City Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- Our Place, Our Plan, Glen Eira City Council
- Hume Young Mayors, Hume City Council
- Shaping Balaclava, Port Phillip City Council.
The Connector Award for Inclusion and Community Cohesion, supported by YLab
Finalists:
- Test and Learn: Co Designing Inclusive Playgrounds, Boroondara City Council
- Disability at Dusk, City of Casey, City of Greater Dandenong and Cardinia Shire Council
- Youth Without Limits, City of Greater Dandenong
- Fair Access: Sport Inclusion Program, Whittlesea City Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- YOur Special Place, City of Casey
- Artplay New Ideas Lab, City of Melbourne.
The Dollars and Sense Award for Impactful and Innovative Business Operations, supported by SenSen Networks
Finalists:
- Stronger Together: A shared Cyber Security model for Local Government, City of Greater Bendigo
- Customer Experience Governance Model, Whittlesea City Council
- Upper Yarra Local Economic Development Strategy, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendation:
- Old Cheese Factory Analytics Upgrade, City of Casey.
The Horizon Award for Future Climate Change Leadership and Action, supported by Infrastructure Sustainability Council
Finalists:
- Climate Action Living Lab, City of Casey
- Zero Emissions Initiative with Kingston’s Local Business, Kingston City Council
- Monbulk Community Microgrid, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- bunjil nganga (Quarry Hills) ReLeaf Project, Whittlesea City Council
- Supercharging Mildura Rural City, Mildura Rural Shire Council
- Worms at Work, City of Melbourne
- Polytank Recycling Program, Strathbogie Shire Council.
The Resilient Infrastructure Award for Emergency-ready Community Systems, supported by Matter
Finalists:
- Energy Resilient Community Hubs, Bass Coast Shire Council
- Modern Asset Management meets Biodiversity Protection and Public Safety, Stonnington City Council
- Council Resilient Buildings Program, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendation:
- Casey Cellular Infrastructure Mapping, City of Casey.
The Skilled to Serve Award for Capability Uplift, supported by DataScape
Finalists:
- Stronger Together: A shared Cyber Security model for Local Government, City of Greater Bendigo
- From Compliance to Insight: AI-Powered Gender Impact Assessments, Gannawarra Shire Council
- Family and Domestic Violence Workplace Support Program, City of Port Phillip.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- Casey Innovation Program, City of Casey
- Building and Scaling an Organisation-wide Change Champions Network, Greater Geelong City Council.
The Smooth Operator Award for Service and Systems Optimisation and Transformation, supported by Atturra
Finalists:
- Stronger Together: A shared Cyber Security model for Local Government, City of Greater Bendigo
- Service Review Program, City of Greater Geelong
- M-Snap, Mitchell Shire Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- KerbsideIQ, Mitchell Shire Council
- AI Agents built with C.A.R.E, City of Port Phillip.
The Storytelling Award for Inclusive and Engaging Council Communications, supported by RMIT Regenerative Futures Lab
Finalists:
- THIS! Is Kingston, Kingston City Council
- Poetic Portraits, Monash City Council
- ngurrak barring, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendation:
- Keeping Hume Clean, Hume City Council.
The Stronger Together Award for Council Collaboration, supported by Davidson
Finalists:
- Worms at Work, City of Melbourne
- Community Disaster Resilience Plan, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- Yering Billabongs Project, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- Beyond the Flood, Campaspe Shire Council
- Building a Victorian Local Government AI Community, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
- CDS Bin Baskets Rollout, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
The Thriving Places Award for Design and Planning Excellence, supported by JLT Public Sector
Finalists:
- Doing Planning Differently, Murrindindi Shire Council
- Neighbourhood Activity Centre Framework, Stonnington City Council
- ngurrak-ba wurrung balit Country Voice Strong: Indigenous Design and Engagement Protocols, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- Growing Places Strategy, Golden Plains Shire Council
- Mansell Reserve Masterplan, Mildura Rural City Council
- Smart Shared Path Infrastructure, Stonnington City Council.
The Wellbeing Award for Community Health Impacts, supported by Choosewell and the Local Government Employees Health Plan
Finalists:
- Homelessness in Bass Coast: Scaling Collective Impact, Bass Coast Shire Council
- Immunisation Equity in Action, Greater Dandenong City Council
- Mallee Wellbeing Week, Mildura Rural City Council
- Engaging Fathers, Strengthening Families: MCH & Dads Group Collaboration, Stonnington City Council.
Bright Spark Special Commendations:
- Home Library Service with Better Health Network, Kingston City Council
- Aging Well: Immunisation Education and Pop-up Vaccination Clinics, City of Melbourne
- MMR Rapid Response, Measles Prevention Initiative, Melton City Council
- Upper Yarra Partnership: Listen to Learn, Yarra Ranges Shire Council.
Awards Celebration (Thursday 17 September)