2026 Awards

ACTS is delighted to announce the 53 finalists for the 2026 Green Gown Awards Australasia. This year marks a record-breaking milestone for the awards, with the highest number of submissions ever received from tertiary institutions across Australia and New Zealand. Following a rigorous judging process, outstanding finalists have been recognised across 13 categories, celebrating the innovation, leadership and collaboration from 27 institutions working to shape a more sustainable future for tertiary education.

This year’s finalists showcase the breadth of sustainability action taking place across the sector, from transformative learning and teaching, research and student engagement, to campus operations, governance, partnerships and institutional leadership. Together, they demonstrate how tertiary institutions are creating meaningful environmental, social and economic impact.

Rhiannon Boyd, CEO of ACTS, said:

“This year’s record number of submissions reflects the growing ambition and leadership across the Australasian tertiary education sector. Every finalist should be incredibly proud of their achievement. Their work demonstrates the many ways sustainability is being embedded across institutions to create lasting impact for students, staff, communities and the environment.

As ACTS celebrates its 20th year, it’s especially rewarding to recognise the people, projects and partnerships driving positive change across our sector. We look forward to celebrating with all of our finalists and recognising their outstanding achievements on the Gold Coast.”

The winners will be announced at the Green Gown Awards Australasia Gala Dinner on Thursday 29 October 2026, held as part of the 2026 ACTS Conference: The Future of Sustainability, hosted by Griffith University on the Gold Coast.

Held only once every two years alongside the ACTS Conference, the Gala Dinner is a unique opportunity for sustainability professionals, institutional leaders, partners and finalists to come together and celebrate the sector’s outstanding achievements. As ACTS marks its 20th anniversary, this year’s event promises to be an especially memorable celebration of the progress our sector has made and the opportunities that lie ahead.

We’ll be sharing more about our inspiring finalists in the lead up to the Gala Dinner, including our annual Finalist Showcase Week in August, where each finalist and their outstanding sustainability initiatives will be featured. Stay tuned as we celebrate the people, projects and partnerships driving positive change across the Australasian tertiary education sector.

2026 FINALISTS

Benefitting Society

Griffith University

Performance and Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL): Advancing Climate Care in the Performing Arts

Griffith University’s Performance and Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL) is advancing climate care in the performing arts by addressing a critical knowledge gap in how the Australian sector responds to ecological crisis. Through research, collaboration and eco-creative practice, P+ERL supports artists, organisations, educators and cultural institutions to rethink how performance is made, programmed, taught and shared.

Working across national and international partnerships, P+ERL combines bottom-up industry collaboration with top-down policy influence. Its work includes the ARC Linkage project Culture for Climate, eco-literacy and eco-creativity workshops, curriculum development, community-engaged performance projects, and a formal contribution to the National Cultural Policy supported by major industry organisations.

By positioning the performing arts as a powerful vehicle for climate literacy, public reflection and cultural change, P+ERL is helping the sector move beyond resource-intensive production models toward sustainable practice, ecological stewardship and creative climate leadership.
Benefitting Society

Griffith University

Making it Matter: Driving Social Impact Through Community Internships and SDG Partnerships

Griffith University’s ‘Making it Matter’ initiative uses the Community Internship and Partnerships for SDGs course to connect student learning with real-world social and environmental impact. The curriculum-embedded Work Integrated Learning model combines service-learning, community engagement and sustainability education, enabling students to contribute their skills to not-for-profit, public sector and social impact organisations.

Using the United Nations SDGs as the organising framework, students apply disciplinary knowledge to projects addressing issues such as food security, disability inclusion, mental health, homelessness, refugee and migrant support and environmental advocacy. The course transforms internships from workplace exposure into purpose-driven opportunities for meaningful social contribution. By strengthening organisational capacity, expanding equitable access to employability opportunities and building socially responsible graduates, the initiative delivers measurable benefits for students, partners and the communities they serve.
Benefitting Society

Macquarie University

Macquarie University Food Hub: Nourishing Students, Reducing Waste, Building Community

Macquarie University’s Food Hub is a holistic, student-focused initiative addressing rising food insecurity through free and low-cost food access, food literacy, and sustainable food redistribution. The program has evolved from a small breakfast service into a centralised hub offering grocery pick-ups, breakfast and lunch support, cooking workshops, exam-period dinners, Christmas hampers and seasonal support.

By combining immediate food relief with cooking skills, nutrition literacy, community connection and food waste reduction, the Macquarie University Food Hub demonstrates a scalable model for supporting student wellbeing while building more sustainable and resilient food systems.
Benefitting Society

Murdoch University

Connecting children in hospital with nature: eight integrated initiatives

Murdoch University’s ‘Connecting Children in Hospital with Nature’ initiative reconnects children undergoing cancer treatment with the natural environment through accessible, nature-based educational resources focused on native Western Australian plants and ecosystems. Led by Dr Janene Sproul, the project responds to the reality that children in oncology care often spend long periods in highly controlled clinical environments where access to plants, gardens and natural elements is restricted.

The initiative brings together eight interconnected projects, including the Taxonomy Tournament, Nature Cuddlebooks, Forever Flowering Gardens, decodable readers, digital ecosystem games, community garden learning and dieback action programs. These resources are designed for use across hospital, school, home and community settings, supporting wellbeing, learning continuity and ecological literacy.
Benefitting Society

University of Tasmania

Island of Ideas – engaging society for informed change

The University of Tasmania’s Island of Ideas is a flagship public engagement initiative that translates research into accessible knowledge and fosters informed community dialogue. Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals, the program delivers free, hybrid public events that connect researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and community voices to explore complex societal challenges.

Created in 2020, the program responds to barriers such as geographic isolation, regional access constraints and limited access to expert information. Through in-person events, livestreams, recordings and podcasts, Island of Ideas has reached nearly 90,000 live and virtual participants, with 89% of attendees sharing insights within their networks.

By strengthening community capability, supporting evidence-informed discussion and enabling civic participation, Island of Ideas demonstrates how universities can act as trusted civic convenors. The program provides a scalable model for delivering measurable societal benefit through public knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, community decision-making and ongoing partnerships.
Climate Action

The Australian National University

Becoming Carbon Smart: A multi-dimensional transition

The Australian National University’s Carbon Smart approach is a whole-of-organisation response to climate change, empowering people to make low-emissions choices, embed carbon awareness into decision-making, and direct efforts to where impact is most significant. The program targets emissions reductions across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, supporting ANU’s ambition to reach below zero emissions by 2040 while adapting to emerging climate risks.

The multi-dimensional program combines infrastructure transformation, systems change, and behavioural and cultural engagement. This includes electrifying heating with innovative heat pump technologies, transitioning towards 100% market-based renewable electricity, improving building energy performance, transforming their travel policy, mapping value-chain emissions, expanding EV infrastructure, and creating tools and education opportunities for staff and students.

By integrating research, teaching and operations with real-world climate action, ANU’s Carbon Smart approach demonstrates how a large institution can embed climate responsibility across infrastructure, governance, culture and daily decision-making.
Climate Action

Monash University

Decarbonising Pharmaceutical Science: A Whole-of-Institute Climate Health Transformation

Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) is addressing the dual challenge that medicines both respond to and contribute to climate change. Through an institute-wide climate health initiative, MIPS is embedding sustainability across research, education and operations, transforming an energy-intensive research environment into a model for low-carbon innovation.

The initiative has implemented coordinated operational and behavioural change at scale, with 80% of laboratories engaged in My Green Lab certification; the highest number of participating My Green Lab laboratories and Green-level certifications nationwide.

By embedding sustainability capability through staff training, student learning and industry partnerships focused on Scope 3 emissions, the initiative is delivering measurable outcomes. It establishes a scalable, sector-leading model for sustainable pharmaceutical science.
Climate Action

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka - University of Otago

Navigating to Net Zero: Values, Data, Action

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago’s Net Carbon Zero Programme is a whole-of-institution climate action programme designed to deliver the University’s commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Since its inception, the programme has been grounded not only in emissions reduction and scientific rigour, but also in a broader systems view of wellbeing guided by Indigenous knowledge and values. These principles shape both what the programme does, reducing emissions, and how it does it, through partnership, transparency and collective responsibility.

A defining feature is the adoption of a wayfinding approach, inspired by Pacific navigation traditions. This enables adaptive, evidence-based decision-making, supported by staff and student engagement and continuous reassessment of progress in challenging and uncertain times.
Climate Action

University of Technology Sydney

UTS towards Climate Positive

The University of Technology Sydney recognises climate change as one of the greatest existential threats facing the world and was the first Australian university to sign a Climate Emergency Declaration in 2019. Through UTS towards Climate Positive, the University is applying a whole-of-institution approach to decarbonise as rapidly as possible, achieve net zero and become climate positive by 2029.

The Climate Positive Plan provides the framework for action across education, research, operations and engagement. This includes energy efficiency, renewables, electrification, embodied carbon, circular economy and offsets for residual emissions, supported by strong governance, transparent reporting and executive-level commitment.

Over the past two decades, UTS has made significant progress because of their plan and by embedding sustainability and climate action across curriculum, research, campus operations and partnerships, UTS is building institutional capability and supporting broader climate leadership beyond the University.
Sustainability Leadership

University of Technology Sydney

Associate Professor Paul James Brown

Director – Diploma in Innovation, Transdisciplinary School

Associate Professor Paul James Brown has spent the past 15 years spearheading sustainability innovation across teaching, research and organisational strategy at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Through collaborative, future-focused leadership, Paul has helped embed sustainability into curricula, operations and institutional decision-making, while building cross-sector partnerships that address complex sustainability challenges.

As a long-standing member of the UTS Sustainability Steering Committee, Paul has contributed to major initiatives including more ambitious carbon targets, a Green Revolving Fund, renewable energy procurement, divestment and the University’s early Climate Emergency declaration. His teaching and research have engaged thousands of students and staff, informed policy and industry practice, and supported UTS’ transformation into a recognised sustainability leader, including as International Green Gown Awards Sustainability Institution of the Year 2025. By bridging academia and practice, Paul empowers others to act and helps create lasting sustainability capability across the University and beyond.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Curtin University

Wicked Problems, Collaborative Solutions: The Curtin University Sustainability Challenge

Curtin University’s Sustainability Challenge is an intensive, credit-bearing, challenge-based learning unit that equips students with the skills, confidence and experience to respond to complex sustainability problems. Delivered over one week during the mid-year trimester break, the program brings together students from across disciplines to work in interdisciplinary teams on real sustainability briefs posed by industry, government, community and university partners.

Structured around the themes of net zero emissions, circular economy and nature positive outcomes, the Challenge mirrors professional sustainability practice. Students work under genuine time pressure, receive mentoring from academic and industry experts, and present their solutions at a public showcase attended by partners, university staff and community members.
Nature Positive

UNSW Sydney

UNSW Nature Positive - Delivering net gain in Nature Value across a major urban campus

UNSW Sydney’s Nature Positive initiative demonstrates how a major urban university can deliver measurable biodiversity improvement while continuing to grow. Through an institution-wide approach, UNSW has transformed biodiversity from a series of isolated greening projects into a measurable organisational performance outcome.

The initiative established a bespoke Nature Value metric, created a campus baseline, embedded biodiversity requirements into planning and operations, and introduced transparent governance, monitoring and reporting. By 2024, UNSW achieved its Environmental Sustainability Plan target of net gain in Nature Value across the Kensington campus and maintaining this result in 2025.
Student Champion

Griffith University

Hosna Saba

Biomedical Science Student, Leader of the Refugee Background Student Success Program and Founder of the Rising Phoenix Association

Ms Hosna Saba is a Biomedical Science student at Griffith University and founder of the Rising Phoenix Association, a student-led initiative supporting inclusive, sustainable community-building. Drawing on her lived experience as a refugee student, Hosna has created welcoming spaces where students from refugee, multicultural and diverse backgrounds can build confidence, connection and practical life skills.

Through her leadership, Hosna has made sustainability more accessible by linking it with belonging, wellbeing, low-cost living, cultural exchange and participation. Her work demonstrates how student-led social sustainability can strengthen community resilience and create a more inclusive campus culture.
Digital Futures

University of Technology Sydney

Energy Intelligence: An AI-Driven Building Optimisation Program for a Smarter, Lower-Carbon Campus

The University of Technology Sydney’s Energy Intelligence project uses advanced data analytics and AI-driven insights to optimise building performance and reduce campus emissions. Launched in May 2024 as part of UTS’s Building Optimisation Strategy, the program draws on existing data sources, including half-hourly electricity metering, WiFi-derived occupancy data, HVAC telemetry, building management systems and weather data.

Led by the Data, Analytics and Insights Unit in partnership with Facilities and Operations, the initiative applies machine-learning forecasting, anomaly detection and signal processing to identify where, when and why energy is used. These insights have directly informed decisions on lighting controls, building closures, cleaning schedules and demand management. By using existing data rather than capital-intensive retrofits, UTS demonstrates how digital insight can drive measurable sustainability gains and support a smarter, lower-carbon campus.
Powerful Partnerships

University of the Sunshine Coast

UniSC Milbi Centre – Sea Turtle Research and Rehabilitation

The UniSC Milbi Centre – Sea Turtle Research and Rehabilitation is a place-based partnership between the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and Turtles in Trouble Rescue Inc. Established on Butchulla Country, the Centre integrates First Nations knowledge, Western science, specialist wildlife care and community engagement to support sea turtle conservation on the Fraser Coast.

The Centre was developed in response to increasing sea turtle strandings and mortalities following extreme weather events in 2021–22, and the absence of a local treatment facility. Since opening in May 2026, the Centre has improved local triage and treatment capacity, reducing the need for injured turtles to be transported long distances for care. By combining research, rehabilitation, cultural governance, education and digital engagement, the UniSC Milbi Centre demonstrates a powerful partnership model delivering environmental, cultural, social and educational impact.
Sustainability Institution of the Year

Auckland University of Technology

Perseverance with Purpose – Sustainability at AUT

Auckland University of Technology’s Perseverance with Purpose – Sustainability at AUT reflects a whole-of-institution commitment to embedding sustainability across learning and teaching, research, leadership and governance, facilities and operations, and partnerships and engagement. Since launching its first Sustainability Plan in 2018, AUT has worked steadily towards 2025 targets, using influence, reporting, collaboration and practical action to drive progress despite limited dedicated sustainability funding.

The initiative has delivered measurable outcomes across the University. Between 2020 and 2025, the proportion of students enrolled in one or more sustainability-focused course increased from 10% to 20%, while SDG-related research outputs increased from 17% to 36%. Operationally, AUT reduced carbon emissions by 34% between 2018 and 2025, reduced air travel emissions by 48%, improved waste diversion, introduced compostable collections across three campuses and planted 59 different species of native plants.

By combining persistence, executive support, cross-functional collaboration and staff and student engagement, AUT demonstrates how a university can make significant sustainability progress through existing systems, budgets and relationships.
Powerful Partnerships

Griffith University

25 Years of Shared Leadership for Sustainability Education: the EcoCentre Partnership

Griffith University’s EcoCentre partnership is a 25-year collaboration with the Queensland Department of Education that connects P–12 education, tertiary learning, environmental research and community engagement through place-based sustainability education. Located on the remnant ecosystems of Toohey Forest at Griffith’s Brisbane South campus, the partnership provides a living laboratory where school students, university students, educators and community members engage directly with biodiversity, climate and sustainability challenges. The partnership delivers hands-on co-designed programs, shared governance and joint investment, which have sustained the partnership across changing educational and environmental needs.
Student Champion

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago

Lily Bond

Master of International Development and Planning Student & Tētēkura at Toitū te Taiao Otago University’s Sustainability Office

Lily is a Master of International Development and Planning student and a Tētēkura, student sustainability leader, with Toitū te Taiao, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago’s Sustainability Office. As Operations Lead for Te Oraka, Lily supports student-led circular economy initiatives that connect sustainability with affordability, wellbeing and community.

Through her leadership, Te Oraka has become a high-impact student sustainability space, redistributing clothing, bikes and e-rescue items while creating accessible events, paid student opportunities and strong digital engagement. Guided by care for Papatūānuku, student voice and community-centred sustainability, Lily’s work demonstrates how circular economy practice can become part of everyday student culture.
Sustainability Leadership

University of Tasmania

Mary Gill

Waste Officer

Mary Gill is the Waste Officer at the University of Tasmania, where she leads the operational side of waste management and champions the University’s Reuse Program. Mary brings practical problem-solving, strong values and infectious enthusiasm to her work, helping staff rethink waste as a resource and find better outcomes for materials that might otherwise end up in landfill.

Through her leadership, UTAS has achieved major waste reduction outcomes ahead of target, including a 41% reduction in waste to landfill in 2024. Mary’s work has supported large-scale reuse across campus relocations and building upgrades, with furniture and equipment repurposed within the University and donated to community groups across Tasmania. Her people-centred, solutions-focused approach has delivered environmental, financial and social benefits, earning recognition through the TEFMA Sustainability Clever Campus Award and Circular North Waste NoT Awards.
Student Engagement

The Australian National University

Campus as classroom: ANU Green’s work-integrated sustainability internships

The Australian National University’s ‘Campus as Classroom’ initiative brings students directly into the University’s operational sustainability work through work-integrated internships, course-embedded projects and collaborative learning opportunities. The program treats the campus as a living classroom, where students contribute to real institutional sustainability challenges while developing practical skills for future careers.

Through co-designed projects, students work alongside professional sustainability staff to investigate, shape and deliver work that supports ANU’s environmental goals. The program connects students from diverse disciplines with applied sustainability practice, helping them understand how climate action, resource efficiency, behaviour change and governance are addressed within a complex organisation.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Flinders University

Embedding sustainability in teaching through a Gamified Sustainability Learning Lab

Flinders University’s ‘Gamified Sustainability Learning Lab’ is a digital learning initiative designed to embed sustainability principles and practices across disciplines, education levels and learning contexts. The Learning Lab includes three connected layers: interactive microlearning content, a first-person sustainable city design game, and a multiplayer Sustainable Development Goals role-playing game.

Since its development, the Learning Lab has engaged more than 1,000 learners across high school, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional contexts. Developed through the University’s Embedding Sustainability in Teaching scheme, the project demonstrates how institutional strategy can move beyond policy by funding practical, scalable tools that support academics to integrate sustainability into everyday teaching.
Staff Champion

The Australian National University

Millan Pintos-Lopez

Head of Operations, Residential Experience Division

As Head of Operations for the Australian National University (ANU) Residential Experience Division, Millan Pintos-Lopez oversees the facilities and services that support more than 5,500 students living on campus. While sustainability is not a formal part of his role, Millan has made it central to his leadership, driving practical initiatives that reduce the environmental footprint of the ANU residential community.

Since taking on the role, Millan has led a suite of improvements across the residential estate, including redesigned end-of-year waste infrastructure, expanding reuse and donation pathways, adding recycling streams and a formal sustainability interface between the Division and its facilities management contractor. Through personal initiative and stakeholder collaboration, Millan is embedding sustainability into the everyday operations of campus residential life.
Powerful Partnerships

The University of Sydney

The Wiser Healthcare NetZero Leads Partnership

The University of Sydney’s Wiser Healthcare NetZero Leads Partnership is a co-designed collaboration helping to decarbonise clinical care across NSW Health. The partnership brings together the University’s Wiser Healthcare research group, NSW Health’s Climate Risk and Net Zero Unit, ten clinician Net Zero Leads, the Agency for Clinical Innovation, Health Consumers NSW and the HEAL Network to address healthcare’s significant carbon footprint.

The partnership supports clinician-led decarbonisation projects across high-impact clinical areas, including anaesthetics, pharmacy, emergency care, intensive care, allied health, surgery and medical imaging. By combining frontline clinical expertise with academic rigour, policy alignment and translation pathways, the initiative evaluates carbon, cost and care-quality outcomes together.
Sustainability Leadership

Macquarie University

John Macris

Biodiversity Advisor

John Macris has led high-impact biodiversity initiatives across 17 years as Biodiversity Advisor at Macquarie University, delivering measurable ecological outcomes while helping transform the campus into a living laboratory for interdisciplinary learning. Through strong partnerships across faculties, curriculum-aligned field experiences and international study tour opportunities, John has embedded biodiversity into teaching, research and student engagement.

John developed the biodiversity KPI for the University’s Sustainability-Linked Loan, only the second of its kind in Australia, creating a peer-reviewed, data-driven framework to measure forest condition and restoration. His leadership has also supported restoration of the endangered Turpentine-Ironbark Forest and long-term rehabilitation of Mars Creek. His work demonstrates how operational sustainability, research and education can be integrated to deliver lasting environmental and institutional value.
Creating Impact

Massey University

Rage to Rags

Rage to Rags is a creative, low-cost circular economy initiative led by Te Paepto Seedlings at Massey University. The project responded to a local op shop’s challenge of managing large volumes of unsellable textile donations by connecting the shop with local mechanics who could reuse the materials as workshop rags.

To support the initiative, the team hosted a student “Rage to Rags” event during exam season, where students helped rip unusable textiles into rags while releasing stress in a fun, practical and purposeful way. The event raised awareness of local waste challenges, engaged students in hands-on sustainability action, and helped prepare materials for reuse by mechanics.

The project has created an ongoing relationship between the op shop and local mechanics, reducing waste to landfill, generating a new income stream for the hospice supported by the op shop, and replacing imported rags with a local, lower-impact alternative. It demonstrates how simple community connections can unlock practical circular economy solutions.
Staff Champion

Victoria University

Celeste Young

Collaborative Research Fellow

For over a decade, Celeste Young has worked alongside communities, volunteers and emergency management organisations to help Australia adapt to the growing impacts of climate-driven disasters. Grounded in the belief that those most affected hold valuable knowledge and solutions, Celeste’s work brings community voices into critical conversations about recovery, volunteering, inclusion and capability.

Through community-engaged research, workshops and long-term partnerships, her work has influenced Australia’s Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, informed the National Emergency Volunteering Strategy, shaped recovery policy following the Black Summer bushfires, and supported workforce capability planning across emergency management and beyond. Celeste’s leadership is helping communities, institutions and emergency management systems better adapt, respond and thrive in an increasingly uncertain climate future.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

University of Technology Sydney

Transformative Learning at Scale: A University-Wide Transdisciplinary Electives Program

The University of Technology Sydney’s Transdisciplinary Electives Program embeds learning across all undergraduate degrees, ensuring every UTS student develops the capability to work across disciplines, sectors and perspectives. Through eight innovative subjects, each co-designed with an industry, community or government partner, students engage with real-world sustainability and societal challenges as a core part of their degree.

By embedding authentic partner engagement at scale, the program helps students move beyond learning about sustainability to learning for sustainability. It builds systems thinking, collaboration, creativity, reflexivity and professional confidence, while generating fresh insights and practical value for partner organisations and wider society.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Western Sydney University

Integrating regenerative living labs in science curriculum

Western Sydney University’s ‘Integrating Regenerative Living Labs in Science Curriculum’ initiative embeds the Hawkesbury campus’s unique environmental and agricultural assets directly into science teaching and learning. The program uses regenerative agriculture, water recycling, biodiversity stewardship, emerging rewilding initiatives and digital tools such as GIS, drones and AI as practical learning environments for students.

By integrating campus operations, curriculum, data stewardship and industry-relevant skills development, the initiative supports job-ready graduates equipped to respond to climate change, nature risk and evolving land management challenges in Western Sydney and beyond.
Powerful Partnerships

The University of Melbourne

Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition

The University of Melbourne’s Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition is a cross-sector partnership supporting health service staff to design and deliver sustainable healthcare quality improvement projects. Led by the Melbourne Medical School Sustainable Healthcare Team and delivered with university-affiliated health services, the competition combines training, practical tools, local support, impact measurement and recognition to help staff improve care while reducing emissions, waste and costs.

Over four years, 76 projects have been submitted, collectively delivering site-reported savings of almost $3 million, approximately 3,700 tCO₂e avoided, 69 tonnes of waste diverted and more than 800,000 items kept from landfill. The partnership demonstrates how universities and health services can work together to build sustainable healthcare capability and scale local innovation.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Envirotech Education

Removing barriers to sustainable blue economy careers: bilingual, on Country cross-cultural marine VET pathways

Envirotech Education’s initiative creates inclusive, accredited marine conservation training pathways for learners who have historically been excluded from tertiary and vocational education. Through bilingual, on-Country delivery, community-controlled governance and practical conservation placements, the program supports diverse learners to access sustainable careers.

The initiative centres on Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration VET qualifications developed by Envirotech with community and industry partners. Delivery is shaped through partnerships, including Traditional Owner organisations, research institutions and marine conservation partners. The model demonstrates how inclusive vocational education can remove barriers, build local capability and create pathways into marine conservation, restoration and climate-resilient livelihoods.
Creating Impact

The University of Sydney

Beyond the Cohort: Building Sustainable Systems in Healthcare Education

The University of Sydney’s Beyond the Cohort: Building Sustainable Systems in Healthcare Education addresses the environmental impact of clinical simulation, one of the most consumable-intensive teaching environments in health education. The project responds to a sector gap by creating sustainability guidelines, waste diversion pathways and reuse protocols for simulation settings without compromising educational quality or clinical fidelity.

Led by a small Faculty of Medicine and Health team using faculty operational funding, the project established a structured waste diversion workflow through Medcycle, embedded a sustainability learning module into simulation teaching, and developed co-designed guidelines now adopted across multiple sites. The project has also produced a peer-reviewed publication, practical guidelines for sector-wide adoption, and an invitation to present at Laerdal Medical’s SUN Conference 2026, demonstrating its value as a scalable model for embedding sustainability into healthcare education.
Creating Impact

The University of Melbourne

Sustainability Week 2025: Driving Behaviour Change at Scale

The University of Melbourne’s Sustainability Week 2025 was a flagship, university-wide initiative designed to drive behaviour change at scale. The program engaged more than 2,000 students, staff and community members through 42+ events delivered across five themed days, moving beyond awareness-raising to embed sustainability into the student and staff experience.

Delivered through a collaborative, community-led model, Sustainability Week connected institutional frameworks including Melbourne Plus and Green Impact, creating clear pathways for continued engagement beyond the event itself. The program addressed key sustainability priorities including circular economy, climate action, biodiversity, health and wellbeing, and social sustainability.

By combining large-scale engagement with structured follow-on opportunities, Sustainability Week 2025 created a scalable model for long-term cultural change. It strengthened cross-campus collaboration, increased participation in sustainability programs, and contributed directly to the University of Melbourne Sustainability Plan 2030.
Student Champion

Griffith University

Natalia Drazek

Bachelor of Environmental Science / Bachelor of Business

Miss Natalia Drazek is a Griffith University student studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science / Bachelor of Business. Her work as a sustainability student champion connects research, student engagement and community partnerships to create practical, scalable impact.

Through her leadership, Natalia has contributed to circular economy research, student food security, community-based conservation and international sustainability projects. Her approach focuses on translating complex sustainability challenges into accessible programs, tools and partnerships that benefit students, communities and organisations.

By combining research capability with student-led action, Natalia has demonstrated how young leaders can create measurable environmental and social outcomes while building pathways for ongoing sustainability impact beyond university.
Sustainability Institution of the Year

The University of Melbourne

Closing the Loop: A Whole-of-Estate Circular Economy Program

The University of Melbourne’s Closing the Loop: A Whole-of-Estate Circular Economy Program embeds circular economy principles across the University’s physical estate, from demolition and capital works to daily waste management, events, dining and student engagement. Rather than treating circular economy as a standalone initiative, the program integrates reuse, donation, recovery, procurement and behaviour change into the way the University builds, operates and connects with its community.

Through contractual sustainability targets, reusable service ware, asset recovery, Indigenous procurement, volunteer engagement and transparent reporting, the University demonstrates how circular economy can be delivered at scale. The program creates environmental, financial and social value while influencing contractor behaviour and sector practice beyond the campus.
Nature Positive

University of Technology Sydney

Coral Nurture Program

The University of Technology Sydney’s Coral Nurture Program is a science-led, industry-supported reef restoration initiative working to restore high-value sites across the Great Barrier Reef. In partnership with Wavelength Reef Cruises and other tourism operators, researchers, Traditional Owners and local communities, the program combines coral propagation, outplanting and long-term monitoring to enhance biodiversity, coral cover and ecosystem resilience.

By embedding restoration into tourism operations, the Coral Nurture Program demonstrates how conservation, science, community stewardship and reef-based livelihoods can reinforce one another. With more than 133,000 corals planted across 119 species, the program provides a scalable model for achieving nature-positive outcomes while supporting climate resilience, education and global reef restoration practice.
Next Generation Learning & Skills

The University of Melbourne

The Undergraduate Chemistry Practical Subject Rejuvenation

The University of Melbourne’s Undergraduate Chemistry Practical Subject Rejuvenation has transformed first-year laboratory education by embedding sustainability into both curriculum and laboratory practice. Reaching more than 3,000 students annually, the initiative ensures future scientists learn to consider environmental impact, resource use, waste management and safer chemical practices alongside scientific technique and experimental outcomes.

The project redesigned the practical chemistry program to include sustainability as an explicit learning outcome, with each experiment incorporating a defined sustainability takeaway. Students now learn in laboratories that model best practice through reusable materials, optimised reaction scales, improved waste systems, sustainable procurement and safer chemical substitutions.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Wodonga Institute of TAFE

Growing Belonging

Wodonga Institute of TAFE’s ‘Growing Belonging’ project created an inclusive community garden learning environment for English language students, connecting language development with sustainability, wellbeing and community participation. Designed for culturally and linguistically diverse learners, including students from refugee backgrounds, the project moved learning beyond the classroom into a hands-on outdoor space where communication could develop naturally through shared tasks.

Co-designed by the Environmental Strategic Project Lead and English Language educators, the garden enabled 42 students to contribute to planting decisions, composting, worm farming, food growing, watering, harvesting and garden care. Learners used English in authentic, low-pressure settings while drawing on their own cultural knowledge, agricultural experience and lived expertise.
Student Champion

Murdoch University

Chloe Elsegood

Bachelor of Science, Honours

Chloe is a Bachelor of Science Honours student at Murdoch University whose leadership has delivered practical biodiversity and student engagement outcomes through the Murdoch Community Garden. As Secretary and then President, Chloe initiated and led a native bushland revegetation project at the Environmental Technology Centre site, creating new habitat while strengthening student connection to campus nature.

The project restored approximately 975m² of bushland, including a 140m² Miyawaki Forest planted with locally native species. Through grant funding, stakeholder collaboration and volunteer engagement, Chloe created a lasting educational and ecological asset that supports native wildlife, student learning and ongoing community stewardship.
Digital Futures

University of Tasmania

Digital Futures for Sustainability: Embedding Impact Across Systems, Behaviour and Scale

The University of Tasmania has developed a sector-leading digital futures sustainability model that embeds environmental and social impact directly into digital systems, decisions and behaviours. The initiative moves beyond isolated projects by integrating sustainability across the digital ecosystem, from IT asset lifecycle management to responsible AI use and low-carbon digital marketing.

By embedding sustainability into digital platforms, AI guidance frameworks and marketing technologies, the University enables real-time, data-informed decision-making at scale. In 2025, the model diverted 728 devices from landfill, avoided 3.9 tonnes of e-waste, recovered around $31,000 in asset value, and reduced digital marketing emissions by 33–48%, while improving campaign performance.

Distinctively, the model links operations with behaviour change, empowering students and staff to make informed digital choices. This integrated, scalable approach demonstrates how digital transformation can accelerate sustainability outcomes across institutions and beyond.
Nature Positive

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Growing our Future

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington’s Growing our Future project is regenerating native forest on a 26-hectare site on the edge of Wellington, creating a restoration area larger than all the University’s campuses combined. Developed in partnership with Wellington City Council, the project responds to the limited space available for large-scale biodiversity enhancement on the University’s urban campuses by restoring nearby public land within the city’s Outer Green Belt.

Since 2021, the project has planted more than 28,000 native trees, helping to close a gap in a corridor of native habitat along Wellington’s western ridge. The restored site provides a stepping stone for native fauna, including kiwi, while contributing to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, soil stabilisation, water filtration and community access to nature.
Powerful Partnerships

Climate Scenarios Working Group

A sector-wide partnership to navigate climate futures

The Climate Scenarios Working Group brought together twelve Australian universities through the ACTS network to create the sector’s first shared climate scenario framework. Inspired by earlier work in Aotearoa New Zealand, the partnership recognised that climate change presents shared, systemic risks that are better addressed through collective action than isolated institutional efforts.

By pooling funding, expertise and delivery capacity, the partnership avoided duplication, reduced costs and created a publicly available framework now being used to inform climate risk assessments, strategic planning and sustainability reporting. The collaboration has since evolved into an expanded Climate Risk and Adaptation Group, demonstrating lasting sector value.
Staff Champion

Murdoch University

Dr Grey Coupland

Research Fellow – Ecology

Dr Grey Coupland developed and leads Murdoch University’s Miyawaki Forest Outreach Program, empowering students and communities to create dense native pocket forests that support urban greening, biodiversity restoration and climate action. Since 2021, the program has grown to 24 school and community forests, engaged more than 5,200 participants, and generated over 40,000 citizen-science data points on biodiversity, soil health and urban cooling.

By combining circular-economy composting, hands-on ecological restoration, STEM learning and long-term forest monitoring, Grey has helped transform schools into living laboratories and supported communities to take practical environmental action. The program has informed WA’s approach to urban greening, received UNESCO Green Citizens recognition, and gained national finalist recognition through the Banksia Foundation Awards and Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, demonstrating meaningful environmental and societal impact beyond the university.
Sustainability Leadership

The University of Melbourne

Raveena Grace

Sustainability Coordinator

Raveena Grace is the Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Melbourne and a passionate sustainability leader dedicated to empowering staff and students to create positive change. Driven by a belief in the power of collective action, Raveena designs programs that inspire individuals to become changemakers within their communities.

Over the past eight years, Raveena has led flagship initiatives including Green Impact, Sustainability Week, the Sustainability Awards, Sustainability Advocates and sustainable events programs, engaging tens of thousands of people in sustainability action. Her leadership has delivered more than 8,700 verified sustainability actions, over 1,000 events, and significant environmental outcomes through waste reduction, reuse and emissions reduction. Through sector-leading tools such as the Sustainable Events Framework, Environmental Management System and ACTS Sustainable Events Certification, Raveena’s work is creating lasting behavioural and cultural change within the University and across the global Green Impact network.
Staff Champion

The University of Western Australia

Ibrahim Faseeh

Manager, Research Operations, Minderoo OceanOmics Centre

Ibrahim Faseeh is the Manager, Research Operations at the Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at The University of Western Australia, where he oversees laboratory operations, safety, resource management, and sustainability initiatives within advanced wet laboratory research environments.

With a strong background in quality assurance, operational management, and regulatory compliance in life science research, Ibrahim is passionate about improving the environmental sustainability of research laboratories through practical and evidence-based solutions. He has led the implementation of internationally recognised laboratory sustainability frameworks, helping the OceanOmics Centre become the first research laboratory in Western Australia to achieve My Green Lab Green certification and the first laboratory at UWA to achieve LEAF Gold certification.

Through collaboration, staff engagement, and operational leadership, Ibrahim continues to champion sustainable laboratory practices and contribute to broader institutional sustainability initiatives across the university sector.
Student Champion

University of Tasmania

Jack Oates Pryor

President, Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA)

Jack Oates Pryor is President of the Tasmanian University Student Association and a student sustainability leader committed to embedding student voice, equity and sustainability into university governance and student life. Through a Students-as-Partners approach, Jack has worked to move beyond consultation towards genuine co-design between students, TUSA and the University of Tasmania.

Jack’s leadership has supported major student wellbeing, food security, transport, reconciliation and governance initiatives across Tasmania. By connecting environmental, social and economic sustainability, Jack has helped strengthen student participation, expand support services and embed values-driven decision-making across institutional systems.
Sustainability Institution of the Year

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka/University of Otago

Tī Kōuka: A vision of a thriving future

Tī Kōuka: A vision of a thriving future is Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago’s institution-wide sustainability framework, moving sustainability from aspiration into measurable action. Grounded in mātauraka Māori and shaped by the characteristics of the Tī Kōuka tree valued by Kāi Tahu Whānui, the framework provides a shared, place-based approach for embedding sustainability across governance, operations, research, education, student life and external impact.

Co-led by Toitū te Taiao and the Office of Māori Development, Tī Kōuka positions Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago as a Tiriti-led, regenerative university. It has supported major progress, including a 32% reduction in total emissions since 2019, 45% reduction in staff air travel emissions, 68% reduction in landfill emissions, and growing integration of sustainability across curriculum and research.

Through localised planning, student leadership, mātauraka Māori, operational innovation and community partnerships, Tī Kōuka demonstrates how a university can embed sustainability as a whole-of-institution responsibility and create long-term cultural, environmental and social change.
Student Champion

The University of Queensland

Megan Barkman

Masters Student of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Megan Barkman is a Master of Civil and Environmental Engineering student at The University of Queensland whose leadership has strengthened student engagement, climate education and environmental action across campus. Through roles including President of the UQ Climate and Energy Society and UQ Union Environment Officer, Megan has created opportunities for students to engage with sustainability through discussion, practical action, industry connection and cross-political collaboration.

Her work has helped students build confidence, connect with professionals and contribute to campus sustainability strategy. By creating initiatives designed to last beyond individual leadership cycles, Megan has helped embed a stronger culture of climate action, biodiversity awareness and student-led sustainability at UQ.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

University of Tasmania

This is Me - Innovation and leadership matter for inclusivity

The University of Tasmania’s ‘This is Me’ project is a whole-of-system identity transformation designed to ensure everyone can have their names, pronouns, titles and gender accurately reflected across university systems. Created in response to gender-diverse staff and students reporting exclusionary identity update processes, the project replaces manual, inconsistent workflows with self-service, real-time identity updates across more than 100 IT systems.

Co-designed with lived-experience participants, the project prioritised user dignity and safety over technical convenience. ‘This is Me’ demonstrates how inclusive digital infrastructure can reduce harm, improve data integrity, strengthen belonging and set a new benchmark for diversity, equity and inclusion in tertiary education.
Sustainability Leadership

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka / University of Otago

Dr Ray O’Brien

Tumuaki / Head of Sustainability

Dr Ray O’Brien has led research-informed, whole-of-institution change towards a more sustainable and Tiriti-led university through the Leadership by Learning Design model he developed. As Tumuaki / Head of Sustainability, Ray co-led the development of Tī Kōuka: The Sustainability Strategic Framework, that has reshaped how Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka / University of Otago governs, teaches, researches and operates.

Ray’s leadership is grounded in active decolonisation, embracing complexity, futures thinking and transformational learning experiences. As an ally, his approach is to create space, support others to lead and help embed sustainability across learning, research and operations. This work has contributed a significant number of papers and publications aligning to the SDGs, a reduction in total emissions, and award-winning, sector-leading practice across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Student Engagement

Auckland University of Technology

Empowering the Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders at AUT

Auckland University of Technology’s ‘Empowering the Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders’ program supports students to engage with sustainability through practical, inclusive and community-focused action. Delivered through a combination of staff-supported activities and student-led initiatives, the program creates accessible pathways for students to build confidence, develop leadership skills and contribute to sustainability across campus life.

Through Green Impact and a range of hands-on engagement opportunities, students are supported to move from participation into leadership, designing and delivering projects that reflect their interests and communities. The program has strengthened student agency, built cross-campus collaboration and embedded sustainability as a shared part of the student experience. AUT has created a scalable model for student engagement that develops future sustainability leaders while delivering social, environmental and wellbeing benefits across the university community.
Powerful Partnerships

Victoria University

Stopping Broken Powerlines Before They Spark Disaster

Victoria University’s ‘Stopping Broken Powerlines Before They Spark Disaster’ is an eight-year partnership with Powercor addressing a critical bushfire protection gap in rural and regional electricity infrastructure. The project responds to the risks posed by ageing Single Wire Earth Return powerlines, which supply electricity across approximately 200,000 kilometres of rural and regional Australia and can ignite vegetation if they break while energised.

The initiative combines Victoria University’s research capability with Powercor’s live-network access, operational expertise and field crews. Now trialled across five regional Victorian SWER networks and moving towards rollout across ten additional networks by 2027, the project demonstrates how sustained university–industry collaboration can deliver practical climate resilience and public safety outcomes.
Creating Impact

University of Tasmania

Circular creativity student workshops

The University of Tasmania’s Circular Creativity Student Workshops is a youth-led project demonstrating how students can inspire community hope and practical sustainability action with limited resources. The project promoted upcycling and encouraged participants to see potential in everyday waste items, while also responding to student cost-of-living pressures by creating opportunities for connection, creativity, saving money and reducing waste.

Seven student leaders from the Student Living University Gardening Society, across Hobart and Sandy Bay, and Togatus student magazine collaborated to design and deliver the project. Supported by a Youth Climate Action Fund microgrant, they co-designed and ran three participatory workshops across two campuses, engaging 35 participants, 80% of whom were young people.

Through the workshops, students upcycled waste materials into 12 food garden beds, created origami seed packets from old magazines, and generated online engagement. The project demonstrates a low-cost, replicable model for community-centred circular economy action that builds skills, confidence, social connection and sustainability leadership.
Student Engagement

Charles Sturt University

Student Voices, Sustainable Choices: Leading Impact from the Ground Up

Charles Sturt University’s ‘Student Voices, Sustainable Choices’ initiative empowers students to lead sustainability action through its Student Sustainability Advisers program. Now in its eighth year, the program uses a peer-to-peer model where students design and deliver initiatives that resonate with their campus communities.

Supported by the University’s Sustainability team, advisers help embed sustainable behaviours into everyday student life through education, events, volunteering, resource reuse and community engagement. The program strengthens student leadership while extending the reach of a small professional sustainability team across regional campuses.

By giving students paid, practical experience in sustainability engagement, the initiative builds confidence, employability and a stronger culture of care for people, place and the environment.

2026 FINALISTS

Benefitting Society

Griffith University

Performance and Ecology Research Lab (P+ERL): Advancing Climate Care in the Performing Arts
Benefitting Society

Griffith University

Making it Matter: Driving Social Impact Through Community Internships and SDG Partnerships
Benefitting Society

Macquarie University

Macquarie University Food Hub: Nourishing Students, Reducing Waste, Building Community
Benefitting Society

Murdoch University

Connecting children in hospital with nature: eight integrated initiatives
Benefitting Society

University of Tasmania

Island of Ideas – engaging society for informed change
Climate Action

The Australian National University

Becoming Carbon Smart: A multi-dimensional transition
Climate Action

Monash University

Decarbonising Pharmaceutical Science: A Whole-of-Institute Climate Health Transformation
Climate Action

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka - University of Otago

Navigating to Net Zero: Values, Data, Action
Climate Action

University of Technology Sydney

UTS towards Climate Positive
Sustainability Leadership

University of Technology Sydney

Associate Professor Paul James Brown
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Curtin University

Wicked Problems, Collaborative Solutions: The Curtin University Sustainability Challenge
Nature Positive

UNSW Sydney

UNSW Nature Positive - Delivering net gain in Nature Value across a major urban campus
Student Champion

Griffith University

Hosna Saba
Digital Futures

University of Technology Sydney

Energy Intelligence: An AI-Driven Building Optimisation Program for a Smarter, Lower-Carbon Campus
Powerful Partnerships

University of the Sunshine Coast

UniSC Milbi Centre – Sea Turtle Research and Rehabilitation
Sustainability Institution of the Year

Auckland University of Technology

Perseverance with Purpose – Sustainability at AUT
Powerful Partnerships

Griffith University

25 Years of Shared Leadership for Sustainability Education: the EcoCentre Partnership
Student Champion

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka – University of Otago

Lily Bond
Sustainability Leadership

University of Tasmania

Mary Gill
Student Engagement

The Australian National University

Campus as classroom: ANU Green’s work-integrated sustainability internships
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Flinders University

Embedding sustainability in teaching through a Gamified Sustainability Learning Lab
Staff Champion

The Australian National University

Millan Pintos-Lopez
Powerful Partnerships

The University of Sydney

The Wiser Healthcare NetZero Leads Partnership
Sustainability Leadership

Macquarie University

John Macris
Creating Impact

Massey University

Rage to Rags
Staff Champion

Victoria University

Celeste Young
Next Generation Learning & Skills

University of Technology Sydney

Transformative Learning at Scale: A University-Wide Transdisciplinary Electives Program
Next Generation Learning & Skills

Western Sydney University

Integrating regenerative living labs in science curriculum
Powerful Partnerships

The University of Melbourne

Health Service Environmental Sustainability Competition
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Envirotech Education

Removing barriers to sustainable blue economy careers: bilingual, on Country cross-cultural marine VET pathways
Creating Impact

The University of Sydney

Beyond the Cohort: Building Sustainable Systems in Healthcare Education
Creating Impact

The University of Melbourne

Sustainability Week 2025: Driving Behaviour Change at Scale
Student Champion

Griffith University

Natalia Drazek
Sustainability Institution of the Year

The University of Melbourne

Closing the Loop: A Whole-of-Estate Circular Economy Program
Nature Positive

University of Technology Sydney

Coral Nurture Program
Next Generation Learning & Skills

The University of Melbourne

The Undergraduate Chemistry Practical Subject Rejuvenation
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Wodonga Institute of TAFE

Growing Belonging
Student Champion

Murdoch University

Chloe Elsegood
Digital Futures

University of Tasmania

Digital Futures for Sustainability: Embedding Impact Across Systems, Behaviour and Scale
Nature Positive

Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Growing our Future
Powerful Partnerships

Climate Scenarios Working Group

A sector-wide partnership to navigate climate futures
Staff Champion

Murdoch University

Dr Grey Coupland
Sustainability Leadership

The University of Melbourne

Raveena Grace
Staff Champion

The University of Western Australia

Ibrahim Faseeh
Student Champion

University of Tasmania

Jack Oates Pryor
Sustainability Institution of the Year

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka/University of Otago

Tī Kōuka: A vision of a thriving future
Student Champion

The University of Queensland

Megan Barkman
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

University of Tasmania

This is Me - Innovation and leadership matter for inclusivity
Sustainability Leadership

Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka / University of Otago

Dr Ray O’Brien
Student Engagement

Auckland University of Technology

Empowering the Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders at AUT
Powerful Partnerships

Victoria University

Stopping Broken Powerlines Before They Spark Disaster
Creating Impact

University of Tasmania

Circular creativity student workshops
Student Engagement

Charles Sturt University

Student Voices, Sustainable Choices: Leading Impact from the Ground Up

Organisational Awards

Click + to read the category criteria

Benefitting Society

As anchors in their communities and cities, tertiary education institutions benefit society in many ways. This category captures the powerful and innovative ways education institutions are realising their purpose in today’s society to benefit the lives of individuals, communities and wider society. Examples will range from economic, social and environmental impacts with organisations and sectors outside the institution where innovative new approaches to bringing positive benefit can be found.

Although all applications will be considered on their merits, the judges will particularly be looking for innovative community engagement type of initiatives which have an element of proactive, new, community and social concern and positive impacts, rather than the very worthy and commendable ‘grassroots’ and ‘business as usual’ activities.

Amongst others, examples might include how an institution applies and exchanges its student and academic knowledge with communities or partner organisations, how it uses its finances and investments, how it designs and manages its campus – all to demonstrate its values and the positive value it brings to society. A powerful example of such innovative and proactive engagement is the Living Lab approach: establishing projects that draw on students’ curricular work or academic research to address real sustainability challenges in stakeholder partnerships with community bodies.

Activities which have a substantial student element should be submitted to the Student Engagement category.

Judges recognise that not all projects will have a carbon saving, or include elements of environmental, social, cultural as well as economic benefit.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the Benefitting Society category for the International Green Gown Awards.

Climate Action

Carbon reduction and adaptation to the effects of climate change are essential for institutional resilience and business continuity – both executive-level issues. Institutions are exposed to significant climate risks and responsibilities to meet targets; institutions have to be taking bold steps to meet these targets while ensuring student outcomes and satisfaction are maintained.

This category focuses on the whole institution approach to reaching net-zero emissions. The judges are looking for innovative ideas and approaches that institutions are taking or planning. It is recognised that there may not be the normal evidence or impact available as this category includes current plans, however institutions that can provide evidence on implemented actions will be favoured by judges.

The judges will be looking for:

Innovative plans for achieving net-zero.
Focus on achieving Scope 1 and 2 emissions initially with Scope 3 in the horizon.
How do you know you are getting there? Outline what steps are being taken in the area of measurement and verification of impact of efforts on the progress towards net-zero.
What steps are being taken on mitigation and adaptation?
Actions that can be scalable and transferable to other institutions and across the sector.
Plans and actions that are looking at the whole institution and holistic approach.
Examples of using internal research and academic knowledge in helping advance actions.
Examples of working in partnership within your local community and other stakeholders.

The aim of this category is to showcase and share the institutional-level commitments, strategies, and actions that are shaping climate leadership in the sector. While final outcomes may not yet be available, judges will assess projected impacts and institutional readiness for delivering long-term change.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the 2030 Climate Action category of the International Green Gown Awards.

Creating Impact

This category recognises institutions that have achieved significant sustainability-related outcomes, on campus or within their community, using minimal and/or limited resources. Initiatives need to demonstrate the relationship/link between the number of resources used (for example staffing, budget, time) and the level of impact achieved (for example quantifiable changes in behaviours and/or reportable metrics). Institutions that have received substantial external funding for their initiative are not eligible for this category.

Initiatives could include those which can demonstrate significant sustainability achievements (such as sustainable products, processes or learnings) in a relatively short period and/or with a restricted budget, and/or with a small staff base e.g. good progress from a low base. Projects that raise the broader profile of sustainability will be particularly favoured.

Initiatives can cover a single aspect of sustainability or a focussed impact area or as a whole-institution approach, including but not limited to: facilities & operations; learning & teaching, research; leadership and governance; community; procurement, and engagement. However, regardless of the topical focus, the primary aim of this category is to demonstrate how institutions can still achieve creative and high impact outcomes with limited resources.

Applications must show how learning from others has been implemented and for the greater chance of success demonstrate how the initiative can be extended to and/or replicated by other organisations.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the Creating Impact category for the International Green Gown Awards.

Digital Futures

This category recognises the digital transformation of the education, research and skills sectors. The Digital Futures award provides opportunities to showcase improvements in the student experience, campus environment, and teaching and research practices in a way that has moved sustainability from a side project to a core part of their digital strategy.

It is essential that IT infrastructure is not only resilient, but how it considers developments through the lens of sustainability and equity. Advances in internet connectivity, artificial intelligence and augmented reality have scope to transform campuses and learning into more immersive and more sustainable experiences. Similarly, the digital revolution is driving smart buildings, intelligent campuses, and step-change advances across all aspects of an institution giving students a richer teaching and learning experience.

Applications must show how IT innovations, smart campuses, digital education and research practices have improved sustainability across campuses.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

This category recognises the work institutions undertake to integrate equity, social justice and inclusion as part of their broader sustainability work. Disadvantaged groups will be impacted the most by the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and pollution, so equity and equality are core to achieving a sustainable world. Institutions have to take new approaches and different ways to engage broader diverse audiences and champions. The sector needs to look at the barriers that exist which exclude particular protected characteristics and celebrate areas where these have been broken down and accelerated to a more inclusive approach to transition to a sustainable future.

This category recognises those surprising collaborations and innovative approaches that staff and students take to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in their institutions. Approaches may include how institutions promote sustainability as a career to a broad audience to cultivate diverse and equitable professional opportunities. Judges will be looking for institutions that have ongoing commitments to embed equality and inclusion within sustainability practices or impactful initiatives that push the boundaries and challenge the status quo to improve diversity, equity and inclusion.

Judges will be looking for institutions that have innovative collaborations within or beyond their institutions. Examples could be, but not limited to:

Engagement with the wider community to focus on under-represented groups within your local region to engage with sustainability
Leading practises or initiatives that lead to greater access and participation in sustainability
Innovative internal collaborations across departments
Leading research that addresses barriers and challenges.

Judges will be looking for evidence of the impact of the initiative and must be able to show that it exceeds normal performance as well as looking at potential to scale-up and replicate across the sector.

Other categories recognise community and student engagement more generally and applicants are to apply under those categories where protected characteristics and/or elevated community vulnerability to climate change was not central or only part of the initiative.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sustainability category for the International Green Gown Awards.

Nature Positive

From the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food we eat, nature provides the essentials we all rely on for our survival and well-being, including crucial economic, health, cultural and spiritual benefits. To reflect the biodiversity and ecological crisis the world is facing, this category champions those institutions who are taking action to promote nature on their campuses, in their operations and teaching and research as well as working in partnership with their local communities.

This category is in recognition of the Global Goal for Nature to be net positive by 2030 and the landmark deal on the Global Biodiversity Framework at the UN Biodiversity Summit (COP15). Nature must recover so that thriving ecosystems and nature-based solutions continue to support future generations, the diversity of life and play a critical role in combating climate change.Institutions have a critical power and influence to build more resilient ecosystems and help nature recover, whilst simultaneously addressing societal challenges such as climate change, human health, resource security, and natural disaster risk reduction and adaptation.

Being Nature Positive means halting and reversing nature loss so that species and ecosystems start to recover. For institutions this means restoring species and ecosystems that have been harmed by the impacts of the institution and its activities and enhancing the institution’s positive impacts on nature.

Applications are encouraged from institutions that can demonstrate how their actions have positive impacts on both the community and the environment, including how they are engaging and educating their students and staff on a positive approach.

Judges will be looking for institutions that can provide:

Nature recovery targets, such as increasing species diversity, restoring habitats and ecosystem services and reducing the impacts of their operations on biodiversity
Clear actions and implementation plans on the innovative actions they are taking to reach their nature recovery targets
Measurable progress toward targets and transparently report on their actions, performance, lessons learned and challenges
Evidence of integrating approaches into core operations and decision-making process, from research to education, procurement, infrastructure and community engagement
Positive impacts both with students, staff and local communities

Judges will favour applications that can demonstrate collaboration and sharing best practices with other stakeholders, such as local communities, governments, businesses and NGOs.

Signatories of Nature Positive Universities are encouraged to apply but applicants do not need to be signatories to apply.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the Nature Positive category for the International Green Gown Awards.

Next Generation Learning and Skills

This category recognises achievement in the development of academic courses, skills and capabilities relevant to sustainability. These can be vocational, undergraduate or postgraduate courses or related to wider purposes such as community involvement, global or environmental awareness or to support lifestyle changes.

Examples of possible application topics include:

Training for apprenticeships;
Continuing professional development (CPD) activities;
Skill-focused courses leading to professional or vocational qualifications;
Adult and community learning and short courses for practitioners;
The development of new courses focused on some or all sustainable development issues;
Adaptation of existing courses;
Use of practical sustainability-related projects or other practical activities within courses including work-based learning initiatives;
Staff development.

Applications can be made for activities connected with academic courses if there is a practical focus on the development of specific skills which goes beyond the normal activities of the disciplinary curriculum, e.g. running community-based projects which give students considerable autonomy and develop their communication, management abilities etc

Possible applicants for this category include: Higher Education institutions; Further Education institutions; adult and community and work-based learning providers.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the Next Generation Learning and Skills category for the International Green Gown Awards.

Powerful Partnerships

This category celebrates institutions that have forged impactful partnerships with industry and/or cross-sector partners, demonstrating outstanding leadership in advancing sustainability initiatives through collective efforts. This award specifically recognises initiatives based on a single project or collaboration.

Judges will look favourably on initiatives where successes not only benefit the institution/s and stakeholders, but also benefit the lives of individuals, communities and wider society. Applications will need to clearly articulate:

The purpose and necessity of the partnership, outline the stakeholders involved and the extent of their engagement in shaping the partnership.
The overarching goals, targets and measurable impact areas.
Demonstrated leadership and collaboration among partners in driving the initiative forward.
Efforts to engage with key stakeholders and the broader community throughout the partnership journey.
Quantifiable outcomes and benefits resulting from the partnership, such as reduced environmental impacts, enhanced social equity, economic benefits, or improved organisational resilience, that demonstrate the partnership’s effectiveness in driving positive change.
Identified opportunities for knowledge sharing and replication of successful approaches within the tertiary education sector and beyond.

Student Engagement

This category reflects that students and staff must work together to achieve goals using “top-down” and “bottom-up grassroots” methods to achieve maximum understanding and engagement across an institution. This, in turn, aids student progress and allows for opportunities to gain transferable employability skills. It looks at both the student input and the staff commitment and the relationship between the two. It must be clear that initiatives include both staff and students (not just one party) working in partnership, however judges will look favourably on activities that have been initiated by and/or demonstrating strong leadership by students.

Where staff and students are involved, as well as including the actual numbers, including how they are involved and what impact/influence they have had.

Examples could include: Social media projects; Awareness and communication campaigns; Procurement actions; Sustainability reporting and websites; Volunteering activities organised by unions, societies and similar organisations within institutions; Community projects.

Applications are equally welcomed from institutions or student bodies.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the Student Engagement category for the International Green Gown Awards.

Sustainability Institution of the Year

This category recognises sustained, whole-institution commitment and impact to becoming a sustainable organisation.

To improve social responsibility and environmental performance through a whole of institution approach, strategic sustainability activities through four main areas must be achieved:

Leadership and Governance
Facilities and Operations
Learning, Teaching and Research
Partnerships and Engagement

Applications are only likely to be successful if they provide considerable quantitative evidence on the nature of the improvements made and also demonstrate a causal relationship between activities undertaken and improvements achieved based on the four key areas. Initiatives must have been running for at least two years.

Judges will be looking for evidence of whole institution measuring and reporting such as STARS, the Sustainability Leadership Scorecard or equivalent.

Judges will be looking for key areas where it is felt that the institution is distinctive compared to its peers, and provide supporting evidence. Tangible evidence of high-level commitment, and its incorporation into management procedures, will also carry great weight with the judges as will engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and public reporting of performance.

Judges welcome more granular data so others in the sector can learn and replicate approaches taken by these leading institutions.

The winning entry will automatically be put forward for the Sustainability Institution of the Year category for the International Green Gown Awards.

Individual Awards

Click + to read the category criteria

Sustainability Leadership

The Sustainability Leadership Award is open to all individuals who hold formal sustainability roles within an ACTS member organisation and demonstrates exceptional leadership in driving sustainability initiatives. Candidates for this award are assessed based on their strategic vision, innovation, and impact in advancing sustainability within their roles.

Judges will be looking at the scale and complexity of sustainability projects led, engagement with stakeholders, and demonstrated quantifiable outcomes in promoting sustainability across the organisation.

Individuals apply themselves but should be formally nominated by a manager or peer. Please ensure the application is written in the first person (ie. “I did”). Individuals that have previously won an individual award can reapply after 2 years.

Sustainability Staff Champion

The award acknowledges individuals, at any level within an ACTS member organisation, who have made significant contributions to sustainability within their organisation and/or local communities through their work or volunteer efforts, without holding formal sustainability roles. This award celebrates creativity, initiative, and effectiveness in implementing sustainability initiatives. Applications should showcase effective leadership or championing practices that engage and inspire others.

Judges will assess the scope and impact of projects undertaken, innovative approaches to sustainability challenges, and collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve sustainability goals, and will favour applications that demonstrate quantifiable outcomes, illustrating the tangible results of the initiatives.

Sustainability Student Champion

This award is open to any student within an ACTS member institution, who deserves recognition for sustainability-related activities undertaken. Candidates for this award are evaluated based on their ability to initiate and implement innovative sustainability projects, engage with peers and diverse stakeholders, and mobilise support for sustainability initiatives.

Judges will be looking at the scope and impact of sustainability efforts, leadership and collaboration skills and will favour applications that demonstrate quantifiable outcomes, illustrating the tangible results of the initiatives.

Individuals apply themselves but should be formally nominated by a manager or peer (within or outside the sector). Please ensure the application is written in the first person (ie. “I did”). Individuals that have won previously can reapply after 2 years.