Independent Judging Panel
Our panel of judges is made up of sustainability experts drawn from across the tertiary sector, government, and industry. Judges are selected for their knowledge, experience and commitment to advancing sustainability practice. Their independence is central to the credibility of the awards.
To uphold this, all judges:
- Declare any conflicts of interest
- Are disqualified from assessing any entries where a conflict arises
- Are not involved in ACTS governance or submissions
We are deeply grateful for the valuable time, insight and dedication our judges contribute to this process.
Two-Stage Judging
Stage 1: Shortlisting Finalists
Judges independently assess applications using a standardised scorecard, considering both category-specific and general judging criteria. Panels then meet via Zoom to finalise a shortlist of finalists. All applicants receive initial feedback, and finalists are provided with tailored follow-up questions to address in their Stage 2 submission.
Stage 2: Selecting Winners and Highly Commended
Finalists submit updated applications with responses to Stage 1 questions. Judges review these materials and reconvene for a final Zoom meeting to select the Winner and, where applicable, up to two Highly Commended entries per category.
Judges may choose not to award a winner if entries do not meet the required standard.
Judging Criteria
All entries are assessed based on a composite view of the application, including:
Category-specific criteria:
Each award category has tailored criteria relevant to its theme.
Core criteria applied across all categories:
All applicants are encouraged to address the following six areas in their submission:
- The Initiative
- Environmental and Social Benefits
- Leadership and Engagement
- Wider Societal Impact
- Graduate Employer Impact
- Significance to the Sector
These criteria reflect the broad and interconnected impacts of sustainability initiatives in tertiary education.
