Sydney Awards Categories

The annual Sydney Awards recognise the achievements of people whose impact drives Sydney to be a vibrant, thriving city. Nominations for 2024 are now closed, with winners announced at the gala dinner on 12 September.

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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

Celebrating a game-changing initiative, project or development by a team or organisation - a contribution that materially changes Sydney for the better.   

People’s Choice Award
Proudly sponsored by Coles

Selected from finalists from the above categories. The public will vote in a campaign supported by our Media Partner, The Daily Telegraph.

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 12 September 2024
  • 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 July 2019 – 30 June 2024) across any of the Committee for Sydney’s priority areas (Equity and Fairness, Resilience, Mobility, Planning, Economy and Culture). This includes initiatives and projects big and small, as long as they've made a real, lasting impact and mobilised the power of teamwork and collaboration to navigate challenges. They don't necessarily have to be a built environment project - they can also be a community or sporting group, independent grassroots collaboration, startup or charity, event, a tech innovation, etc

Nominee eligibility

  • Nominees must be Sydney residents
  • Awards will not be granted posthumously
  • All nominees must be at least 16 years of age on 12 September 2024
  • 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
  • Absolutely NO weight is given to the number of times a person is nominated

More info on nomination criteria