Sydney Awards Categories

The annual Sydney Awards recognise the achievements of people whose impact drives Sydney to be a vibrant, thriving city. Nominations for 2025 open on Monday 28 April, with winners announced at the gala dinner on 24 September.

Sydneysider of the Year
Proudly sponsored by ISPT

Celebrating someone who has made an extraordinary contribution over the past year to making Sydney the best city in the world (considering people from across the many sectors that make our city tick, including planning, mobility, economy, resilience, culture and equity). 

Young Sydneysider of the Year
Proudly sponsored by KPMG

Celebrating an up-and-coming Sydney leader aged 16-30 who is already making a significant impact on our city.

Unsung Hero
Proudly sponsored by SXSW Sydney

Celebrating the people who go under the radar, yet play an essential role in making Sydney the best city in the world.    

Project of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Aqualand

A transformative project that shifts how Sydney functions at scale – across transport, housing, technology, sustainability, culture, equity, or systems of governance. These projects shape the future of the city and its people, often impacting multiple suburbs, regions or sectors.

Local Project of the Year

A community-driven project that improves everyday life at the neighbourhood, precinct, or suburb level. These projects are rooted in local identity and respond directly to the needs, values, and voices of the people who live there.

Sydney Awards eligibility

  • You can only nominate someone for one category
  • The finalists from all categories will be considered for the People’s Choice Award
  • The Young Sydneysider of the Year Award category is open to people aged 16 – 30 as at 24 September 2025
  • Project of the Year is given to a team or organisation that has made a remarkable and measurable impact on Greater Sydney in the past five years (1 April 2020 - 30 June 2025) across any of the Committee for Sydney’s priority areas (Equity and Fairness, Resilience, Mobility, Planning, Economy and Culture). This is a transformative project that shifts how Sydney functions at scale – across transport, housing, technology, sustainability, culture, equity, or systems of governance. These projects shape the future of the city and its people, often impacting multiple suburbs, regions, or sectors.
  • Local Project of the Year is given to a team or organisation that led a community-driven project that has improved everyday life at the neighbourhood, precinct, or suburb level in the past five years (1 April 2020 - 30 June 2025). These projects are rooted in local identity and respond directly to the needs, values, and voices of the people who live there.

Nominee eligibility

  • Nominees must be Sydney residents
  • Awards will not be granted posthumously
  • All nominees must be at least 16 years of age on 24 September 2025
  • Sitting state and federal politicians and current vice-regal officers are not eligible
  • Retired politicians and vice-regal officers will be considered for work undertaken in addition to their official duties
  • Former award winners cannot receive a second award in the same award category, but can be considered for recognition in a separate category in following years, for example Young Sydneysider of the Year and then Sydneysider of the Year
  • Unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated in subsequent years
  • Current members of the Committee for Sydney Executive Committee, or related Sub-Committees are not eligible
  • No weight is given to the number of times a person is nominated

What we're looking for

While specific instructions on what to include in the application are outlined in the nomination form, see below for a general summary.

When selecting our 2024 Sydney Awards winners, our judges will consider the nominees’ achievements in the year immediately prior to receiving the award, as well as their past achievements and ongoing contribution to making Sydney the best city in the world – a smart, vibrant, globally connected city.

We are looking for people who have made a significant difference to our city, whose efforts have improved future outcomes for those who will be living, working and playing here in the next 10, 20, 30 years...or more. What obstacles have been overcome? What wins have been celebrated? How have they made an impact?

Our judges will also consider significant achievement (personal, academic, professional), contribution to benefit others, demonstrated leadership, innovation, and creativity, community involvement and personal interests, challenges overcome, voluntary work, and public good (nature and length of activity or service).

How to nominate

Nominations are completed through a Google Form, which asks for contact details and longform responses about the nominee. There is an opportunity to provide links, documents, and referees. The nomination form will be published here on Monday 28 April.

Enquiries

Any enquiries about the awards and the nomination process can be sent to committee@sydney.org.au.

Enquiries