Criteria and Judging

Clearly describe the problem you addressed and the context in which it occurred. Outline how the challenge was identified or defined, and explain the factors that made it difficult and worthy of an innovative response.

This may include constraints related to time, resources, location, scale, stakeholder complexity, trust or engagement. Please also note any specific challenges affecting diverse or vulnerable cohorts.

Describe the approach you took and why it was innovative compared to past practice.

Explain how your solution responded to the identified challenge and context.

Outline the key stages of design and delivery, including stakeholder engagement and any pivotal decisions or moments that shaped the project.

Please use this section to highlight how inclusion and accessibility were embedded in the solution.

Describe the direct impacts and outcomes achieved within the life of the project, aligned to your stated goals.

Explain what changed as a result of the project and how these outcomes were measured.

Focus on outcomes attributable to the project itself, including any results related to inclusion or equity.

Longer‑term organisational or system impacts should be addressed under Criterion 4.

Explain how this project strengthened council capabilities, systems or ways of working beyond the project timeframe.

Consider its impact on organisational resilience, coordination, learning and adaptability. This may include new ways of working, partnerships or coalitions, documented learnings, or an increased ability to anticipate, respond to and manage future challenges.

This criterion seeks to capture how innovation projects can create opportunities to shift and transform core systems, and to strengthen enduring capabilities within your council.

Describe how this project or approach could be scaled, adapted or transferred to other councils, contexts or teams.

This may include replication of the model, or the sharing of knowledge, tools or learnings.

You may also outline how the project contributes to relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals, either locally or more broadly.

Strong nominations will show how the leader brings focus to the future needs of their organisation and community, supported by curiosity, foresight and an ongoing investment in understanding current trends and what is coming next. This criterion looks for leaders who challenge the status quo, take considered risks and confidently articulate a compelling direction that others understand and are willing to follow.

Evidence may include embedding data and insights into shared ways of working, setting and clearly communicating a shared vision, using storytelling to build trust and momentum, making difficult decisions, or leading effectively through complexity and pressure. Evidence of futures thinking, strategic risk‑taking, resilience and consistency in leadership is encouraged.

Strong nominations will show how the leader empowers people to create value through new programs, systems, ways of working or partnerships. This may include building trust across teams or organisations, breaking down silos, creating psychological safety, or establishing coalitions that allow others to collaborate, test, evaluate and continually iterate.

This criterion considers how the leader invests in a culture of innovation and learning, where safe spaces exist for experimentation and testing and where insight and evidence are used to improve outcomes over time.

Strong nominations will show evidence that this leader views capability as something that evolves over time, who actively invests in their own growth and transparently role-models a practice of growth through testing and learning (sometimes through failure!). This includes a proven ability to adjust priorities, continuously re-evaluate direction and make informed decisions about what to stop, start or reshape.

Examples may include developing new capabilities, building confidence in unfamiliar or emerging domains, or embedding reflection and learning into everyday practice.

Strong nominations will show how this leader’s influence has delivered outcomes for their organisation and community that endure beyond a single initiative. This may include measurable improvements, service or system change, capability uplift or sustained cultural shift.

Evidence should demonstrate how benefits have been embedded and continue to create value.

Project awards criteria

1. CHALLENGE + CONTEXT – 20%
   Submit details about the challenge and the context in which you innovated; what was the problem to be addressed, and what were the factors that made it challenging and required innovation? You might share details about constraints or challenges related to time, location, stakeholders, trust, engagement or other. Please also share any specific challenges for diverse and vulnerable cohorts. (300 words or less)
2. SOLUTION + INNOVATION – 30%
   Share what you did – the approach or activity – and why it was innovative. Describe how your solution responded to the challenge and context. You should share the main steps you took, designing and implementing your project, as well as how you engaged with stakeholders. You should describe why this is different to previous approaches and how it might advance local government practices. Please use this criteria to highlight how your solution was designed to be accessible and inclusive.
3. IMPACT + OUTCOME – 30%
   Tell us what happened as a result of your project or program. What were the impacts or outcomes, and how did you measure these? It is anticipated that impacts will continue to grow over time? You should use this criteria to share any specific outcomes related to accessibility and inclusion. (300 words or less)
4. SCALABILITY – 20%
   Share how your innovation could scale (or be replicated) to create further impacts. This criteria highlights the importance of transferring knowledge and thinking at council and network scale for greater benefit beyond municipal boundaries. Share any thoughts about how this idea or approach can be integrated with or transferred to other councils or teams within your council to leverage the collective power of your council and our council network to scale up the value of your project or initiative. You should also use this section to share how your idea drives towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (either on a global scale or your localised SDGs). (300 words or less)

People awards criteria

1. LEADERSHIP + EXCELLENCE – 40%
   Tell us how this person or team has demonstrated incredible leadership and bravery through operations, projects or programs relevant to the award (i.e. change management, data-driven decision-making or leadership). This includes resilience and innovation in the face of challenges.
2. IMPACT + LEGACY – 30%
   Share how this person has created impact for the organisation and the community, demonstrated through data or feedback from others.
3. COLLABORATION – 30%
   Explain how this person has driven a more collaborative or empowering workplace, helping to break down silos through behaviours and actions, encouraging others and supporting workplace cohesion.

The assessment of all nominations was undertaken externally by a curated judging panel of both council staff and industry experts. We thank them for their invaluable input, expertise and care to help identify leading work.

Council staff:

• Amy Gregorovich, Yarra Ranges Shire Council (MIA Network)
• Bianca Benjamin, Melbourne City Council (MIA Network)
• Cam Perkins, Darebin City Council (MIA Network)
• Kate Harris, Greater Dandenong City Council (MIA Network)
• Yuri Guzman, Greater Dandenong City Council (MIA Network)
• Julian Donlen, Port Phillip City Council (MIA Network)
• Max Ree-Goodings, Murrindindi Shire Council (MIA Network)
• Lee Bethune, Greater Geelong City Council (MIA Network)
• Sam Bagnato, Banyule City Council (MIA Network)
• Mandy O'Toole, Melbourne City Council (MIA Network)
• Jason Eades, Melbourne City Council
• Justine Resta, Maribyrnong City Council (and ALGIM Australia)
• Alicia Hooper, Surf Coast Shire Council
• Rakhi Khana, Brimbank City Council
• Graeme Mawson, Boroondara City Council
• Joan Andrews, Bayside City Council
• Ashlee Gardner, City of Parramatta (NSW).

Sector supporters:

• Allison Kealy, Swinburne University of Technology (Principal Partner)
• Jemma Soklev, Swinburne University of Technology (Principal Partner)
• Claire Taylor, VicHealth (Award Partner)
• Justin Gillingham, JLT Public Sector (Award Partner)
• Nathan Hart, Clean Energy Council (Award Partner)
• Ben Hart, Fireside Agency (Award Partner)
• Ralph Horne, RMIT University (Award Partner)
• Tom Bentley, RMIT University (Award Partner)
• Keir Paterson, Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (Award Partner)
• Katherine Ellis, Leadership Victoria (Award Partner)
• Lauren Morrey, Breakthrough Victoria (Award Partner)
• Eilish Maguire, Australian Red Cross (Award Partner)
• Emile Theodorou, Australian Red Cross (Award Partner)
• Uncle Charles Pakana, Victorian Aboriginal News
• Tamara Pararajasingham, Uniting
• James Sankar, Australian Smart Communities Association (ASCA)
• Clare Flintoff, OzHarvest
• Jeremy Walker, Craig Walker
• Portia Odell, Climate Works
• Rob Adams, Adam Urban
• Sam Hannah-Ranken
• Tyrone Toole, NTRO.