Congratulations to our winners! Click on each one to watch their story.
David Gonski has shaped Australian public life through more than four decades of board leadership across business, education, the arts and government.
Born in Cape Town and migrating to Australia as a child, Gonski grew up in Sydney and went on to study commerce and law at UNSW. Decades later, he became the first UNSW alumnus to become the university's Chancellor. Gonski's contributions to education have been significant, most notably he is known for the Gonski Review.
‘The chairman of everything’. Over a career spanning more than 40 boards at its peak, Gonski became one of the most prominent chairmen in Australia having chaired several organisations including ANZ, ASX, Coca-Cola and Sydney Airport.
He has also been a lifelong patron of the arts, and his contributions include President of the Art Gallery of NSW, and Chairman of the Sydney Theatre Company and NIDA. He is also closely associated with Schools Plus, a not-for-profit he has championed for connecting philanthropic donors with under-resourced schools.
Founder and CEO of We, Future Leaders – an education and wellbeing organisation dedicated to ensuring all Australian children have access to stable and supportive education, regardless of their life circumstances.
Growing up in foster care, Darian experienced deep instability throughout her schooling – changing schools 26 times before graduating high school in 2014. That disruption, and the lack of consistent support she encountered along the way, left a lasting impression and an understanding of how easily a child's education and life trajectory can be derailed by circumstances outside their control.
What started as a grassroots effort to tutor and mentor a handful of local students has since scaled into a structured organisation that offers tutoring, mentoring and life skills to students, and has formed partnerships with organisations including the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Now, her ambition is to reach 1 million young Australians by 2040 through her work.
Erin’s work with people experiencing homelessness began as a nurse at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney’s Homeless Health Service, where she led a clinical team providing outreach healthcare to people experiencing homelessness.
She now serves as St Vincent’s Health Australia’s inaugural National Director of Homelessness, first role of its kind for an Australian healthcare organisation, focused on strengthening health’s role in preventing and ending homelessness.
Throughout her career, Erin has worked to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are not invisible: giving them a platform to speak for themselves and advocating on their behalf when no one else would.
A 6km shared walking and cycling corridor through Sydney's Inner West, linking the Cooks River at Earlwood to the Parramatta River and the Bay Run at Iron Cove. For most of its length it runs alongside the Inner West Light Rail corridor passing through Dulwich Hill, Summer Hill, Lewisham, Haberfield and Lilyfield.
The completed corridor has opened more than 3 hectares of public space and integrates eight site-specific public artworks, alongside parks, playgrounds, bushcare areas, foreshore access and cafés into a single metropolitan-scale destination.
The Greenway is a case study in sustained community advocacy: a project conceived by residents in the late 1990s that took roughly 25 years, several changes of government, and repeated funding reversals to complete.
One of the most significant infrastructure projects in Australia, reshaping the economic geography of Greater Sydney.
As Australia’s first major greenfield international airport in more than 50 years, WSI will unlock jobs, investment and connectivity for Western Sydney communities and represents a generational shift in how the city grows and connects globally.
The airport sits at the heart of the broader Western Sydney Aerotropolis – a planned economic zone spanning aviation, manufacturing, logistics, education and advanced industry. WSI is designed as a full-service, 24-hour, curfew-free airport.
At launch, WSI is expected to serve up to 10 million passengers annually, with a scalable master plan design to grow toward 82 million passengers per year by the 2060s.
Congratulations to all of our finalists! Click on each one to learn more about their story.
Chief Executive of Powerhouse, Australia's largest museum group. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, she has become one of the most prominent figures in Australian arts and cultural leadership, known for revitalising major institutions and expanding their audiences, and for her long-standing focus on bringing cultural infrastructure to Western Sydney.
Havilah has led Powerhouse since 2019, and her appointment centred on delivering Powerhouse Parramatta, a new state museum planned as the first NSW state cultural institution to be built in Western Sydney. The project is one of the largest cultural infrastructure projects undertaken in Australia since the Sydney Opera House, at roughly 30,000 square metres. The museum has also achieved a 6-Star Green Star design rating, reportedly a first for a public building in Australia, and is intended to open with net-zero emissions.
Ahmed al Ahmed is a Sydney fruit and convenience store owner, born in a village near Idlib, Syria, who emigrated to Australia in 2006. On December 14, 2006, he was present at Bondi Beach when two gunmen opened fire on a Hunukkah gathering at Archer Park, killing 15 people and wounding more than 40 others.
During the attack, al Ahmed took cover behind parked cars before running at one of the gunmen from behind, wrestling the weapon from him and forcing him to retreat. He was shot several times in the shoulder by the second attacker during the struggle and was hospitalised for multiple surgeries at St George Hospital.
His actions were widely praised, including by Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and both visiting him in hospital. More than 43,000 people donated over $2.5 million to a fundraiser set up in his honour.
Co-founder and co-CEO of Relevance AI, a Sydney-born platform that lets businesses build and deploy their own teams of AI agents without needing an engineering team to do it.
Since founding the company in 2020, Koh has helped raise more than US$37 million in venture funding, grown the business across offices in Sydney and San Francisco, and become one of the most visible young voices in Australia's AI sector – a role that has earned him a place on Forbes' 30 Under 30 lists for both Australia and Asia.
Creator of Building Beautifully, a YouTube channel that has become one of Australia's most recognisable independent voices on urban planning, public transport and housing. Since launching the channel, Sharath has turned dense, technical planning debates into accessible, visually engaging content for a young, digitally native audience.
What began as a personal passion project has since drawn coverage from major Australian media outlets, appearances on radio, invitations to speak at schools and formal submissions to the NSW Parliament.
Lecturer of English and Writing at the University of Sydney.
For close to a decade, alongside his academic role, he has run creative writing and moral philosophy workshops for incarcerated men and women across NSW correctional facilities, building some of the first formal bridges between the University of Sydney and the state's prison system.
For seven years, Evans ran a weekly creative writing workshop for incarcerated men at Parklea Correctional Centre, a maximum-security facility in Western Sydney. Hundreds of men on remand – unsentenced, awaiting trial or sentencing – passed through the program; a population that is routinely excluded from prison education and programming because their custodial status is unresolved.
By opening the workshop to this group, Evans gave writing and reflection to people who had, in most cases, never been offered any structured program at all. Initially, the workshop ran on Evans's own time, built session-by-session with prison staff, custodial officers, and participants.
One of Australia's most influential First Nations screen executives, with a career spanning more than two decades across public broadcasting, government screen agency leadership, streaming and independent production.
A Maramanindji woman from the Northern Territory, she has built a reputation as a champion of authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling, shaping the development and production of many of the defining Indigenous-led film and television projects of the past twenty years.
In January 2024, Smallacombe was appointed Head of Scripted at Blackfella Films, the influential First Nations-owned production company. Now in its fourth decade of producing content that has screened at Sundance, Berlin, Toronto and Series Mania, Smallacombe leads Blackfella's scripted slate, building on its legacy of Indigenous-led storytelling in film and television.
An Australian-first model designed to strip away the fragmented approvals, multiple agencies and lengthy red tape that have traditionally stood between a good idea and a lively street.
The policy consolidates what were once separate, complex approval pathways for busking, street art, outdoor dining, parklets, temporary activations, shopfront improvements, wayfinding, vacant space activation and bookable streets into a single, streamlined system spanning ten programs.
L2P organises its activations into ten distinct, pre-approved pathways:
- Busking: simplified, fast-tracked permits for street performers
- Burwood Urban Street Art Wall: a dedicated public gallery/laneway mural program
- Extended Eats: expanded outdoor dining permissions
- Temporary Terrace Parklet Program: converting parking spaces into social/dining parklets
- Streets Alive: activation of streets for community life
- Bookable Streets: a system for reserving street space for events
- Street Appeal: funded shopfront improvement grants
- Vacant to Vibrant: art and creative installations in empty shopfronts
- Art Front: artistic vinyl wraps for vacant shops
- Burwood Waysign/Destination Wayfinding: illuminated, business-boosting signage.
Yirran Miigaydhu, meaning "many women weaving" in Dharawal language, is a weaving program for Aboriginal women based at Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Established in 2015, the group meets each month at to share knowledge, stories and culture, with workshops designed specifically for Aboriginal women living in South-West Sydney.
The group's practice is inseparable from Country and language. Its members work with materials such as white clay and lomandra fibres drawn from the lands between the Nepean and George Rivers, and the group's presence at CAC has become part of a broader ongoing relationship between the Centre and the Dharawal community and the Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council. Beyond exhibitions, the group functions as a space for wellbeing and cultural continuity – a monthly meeting point where Aboriginal women connect through conversation, interweaving women's business and wellbeing with creativity, and reflecting on relationships between Country, plants, seasons, rivers and ocean.
A world-class waterfront destination that combines retail, dining and working fish market operations in the heart of Blackwattle Bay.
The site spans 3.6 hectares and is the first project delivered by Infrastructure NSW as part of the broader urban renewal of Blackwattle Bay. It has improved public access to the harbour while supporting tourism and a key industry, and the market hall is twice the area of the previous site, accommodating 12,000 square metres of fishmongers, restaurants, cafés and specialist vendors.
It is expected to attract more than six million visitors a year, up from roughly three million a year at the old Pyrmont site.
The building was designed by architects 3XN together with its innovation unit GXN, in association with BVN Architecture and landscape architects ASPECT Studios. Rather than separating the working market from the public, the building is structured around visual permeability, with circulation routes and gathering spaces allowing visitors to view the wholesale market's operations.
Delivers pre-approved, architect-designed housing templates for low- and mid-rise homes, paired with a fast-tracked planning pathway.
Led by Government Architect NSW, it is designed to unlock Sydney's "missing middle" – terraces, townhouses, manor homes and mid-rise apartments – the types of housing largely forgotten about after decades of building detached houses and high-rise towers.
With Sydney ranked among the top three least affordable cities for property ownership for 15 years running, and a NSW Productivity Commission report finding Sydney is losing twice as many young people as it is gaining, the Pattern Book has been designed to help alleviate acute housing stress.
Congratulations to our winners! Click on each one to watch their story.
Founder and CEO, AirTrunk
Robin is the founder and CEO of AirTrunk, a leading data centre platform that has helped position Sydney as a key player in the global digital economy.
Under his leadership, AirTrunk has expanded across the Asia-Pacific, supporting the infrastructure behind cloud computing and AI.
He is also a committed philanthropist, recently donating $100 million to the University of Sydney to fund a 20-year program designed to increase the participation of young women, particularly from Western Sydney, in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.
Senior Policy Officer, NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
Kodie is a proud Dharawal, Ngarigo, and Dunghutti woman and dedicated advocate with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), committed to advancing Aboriginal education and cultural understanding.
She has played a pivotal role in promoting inclusive curriculum development, community engagement, and student empowerment.
Through her leadership, Kodie supports the integration of Aboriginal perspectives in schools, fostering stronger connections between educators and Aboriginal communities.
Her work continues to inspire educational equity and cultural pride across New South Wales.
CEO, Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre
Nicole is CEO of the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC), and is a passionate advocate for ending gender-based violence and homelessness.
Under her leadership, WAGEC has expanded its crisis and transitional housing services, implemented trauma-informed care, and championed prevention initiatives.
Nicole’s commitment to social justice drives systemic change, empowering women and children to rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and support in communities across New South Wales.
By We Are Studios, Blacktown
We Are Studios in Blacktown is a pioneering, 100 percent disability‑artist‑led creative studio empowering Western Sydney artists with lived disability experience through accessible studio space, inclusive mentorship, and professional development.
As a fully disability-led initiative, its board and team are all artists and professionals with disability, ensuring the studio is designed by and for the community it serves.
Through exhibitions, workshops, and tailored programs, they amplify disabled voices and foster creative equity.
By Pont3 and Destination NSW
The TCS Sydney Marathon’s Make Sydney a Major Campaign has successfully elevated Sydney’s profile as a world-class marathon destination.
By attracting elite international athletes and thousands of participants, the campaign boosts tourism, the local economy, and community engagement. It promotes health and inclusivity while showcasing Sydney’s iconic landmarks.
The initiative has strengthened Sydney’s global sporting reputation, fostering pride and inspiring active lifestyles across diverse communities.
Congratulations to all of our finalists! Click on each one to learn more about their story.
Founder, Plate It Forward
Shaun is the founder of Plate It Forward, a social enterprise using food to drive social change.
Since 2020, he’s built restaurants and training programs that employ and empower refugees, asylum seekers, and people facing disadvantage.
Profits fund food relief and community initiatives, delivering hundreds of thousands of meals. Shaun is a passionate advocate for inclusion, using hospitality to create pathways to employment, connection, and lasting opportunity.
Parents of Joe Massa
Elouise and Danny Massa, grieving parents of infant Joe Massa whose passing deeply impacted the Northern Beaches community, have since become powerful advocates for bereavement support and hospital safety reform.
Their campaigning has catalysed major healthcare policy reform - “Joe’s Law” and the revamped REACH protocol dubbed “Joe’s Rule” - and a broader push for accountability in NSW’s health system.
Their courage and commitment have led to greater awareness of family grief needs, sparked community solidarity, and prompted critical discussions around maternity and neonatal care standards.
CEO, Full Stop Australia
Karen is the CEO of Full Stop Australia, a national leader in responding to and preventing sexual, domestic, and family violence.
Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded trauma-informed counselling, advocacy, and training.
Karen is a strong voice for systemic change, shaping national conversations on gender-based violence, consent, and survivor support. Her work champions a future where everyone can live free from violence and abuse.
Founder and Managing Director, Mental Fitness Collective
Through the Mental Fitness Collective, Hunter Karam has championed youth mental health by creating innovative programs that build resilience, emotional intelligence, and peer support networks.
His work empowers young people to prioritise mental wellbeing and seek help without stigma.
Hunter’s leadership has influenced schools and communities across Australia, fostering open conversations around mental health and equipping youth with lifelong tools for emotional strength and self-awareness.
Registrar, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Dr Jessica Luyue Teoh is a domestic violence (DV) advocate and 2023 Churchill Fellow – one of only 2 women under 30 in Australia to receive this honour.
Jessica works as an obstetrics and gynaecology registrar (doctor) at Sydney’s RPA Hospital and leads the Grants Committee at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter, securing over $100,000 in grants last year.
As a clinical associate lecturer at the University of Sydney, she inspires future doctors.
Jessica’s Churchill Fellowship took her to 6 countries, where she advocated for DV detection and intervention in pregnancy. In Australia, she is implementing DV screening in early pregnancy clinics, aiming for policy changes in the NSW public healthcare system.
Director, The Hive
Rubie Ireson, a dedicated community leader at The Hive in Mt Druitt, has driven impactful change through grassroots collaboration and advocacy.
Passionate about empowering local families, she works to improve early childhood outcomes and strengthen community connections.
Rubie’s leadership has fostered trust, inclusion, and long-term partnerships between services and residents, helping to create a thriving, resilient community where children and families are supported to reach their full potential.
Leader, "Conscious" program, Campbelltown Arts Centre
Sukhdeep leads the “Conscious” program at Campbelltown Arts Centre, a groundbreaking hip-hop and youth development initiative.
Designed to empower young artists from Western Sydney, “Conscious” provides mentorship, creative workshops, and performance opportunities focused on storytelling, identity, and social justice.
Under Sukhdeep’s leadership, the program nurtures emerging talent, amplifies diverse voices, and fosters a strong sense of cultural pride and community through the power of hip-hop.
By Cooks River Alliance
Our Backyard River, led by the Cooks River Alliance, is an award-winning community engagement program reconnecting people with the Cooks River through culture, storytelling, and environmental stewardship.
The project celebrates Aboriginal knowledge, local history, and community voices, fostering a deep sense of place and care for the river.
Through art, education, and collaborative events, Our Backyard River inspires action to restore and protect this vital urban waterway for future generations.
By Blacktown City Council with CHROFI, JMD Design, and FORGE
Dawson Park is a transformative community space that celebrates local culture and biodiversity.
The project prioritises safety by designing inclusive, well-lit areas that create safer spaces for women and families.
Integrating sustainable design, native landscaping, and accessible recreation, Dawson Park fosters social connection, environmental education, and community pride, revitalising Mt Druitt’s urban landscape.
By Canterbury Bankstown Council
Lakemba Nights During Ramadan is Australia’s largest Ramadan street festival, attracting over 1.57 million visitors in 2024.
Held on Haldon Street, Lakemba, this month-long event features more than 60 food stalls and cultural displays, transforming the area into a vibrant global food bazaar every Thursday to Sunday evening.
It serves as a significant cultural gathering, fostering inclusivity and community spirit. The festival supports local businesses and has become a key event in Sydney's multicultural calendar.
By the NSW Government
The NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program is a transformative initiative aimed at addressing the housing crisis by promoting high-density, mixed-use development around key transport hubs.
The program targets over 170,000 new homes across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra, Hunter, and Central Coast regions.
This initiative focuses on rezoning land within 400 meters of 37 key metro and rail stations to facilitate mid-rise and mixed-use developments.
Congratulations to our incredible winners! Click on each one to watch their story.
Medical student and author, My Strong Heart
At 24, Alexia Paglia is a fierce advocate for children’s health education. Currently a Doctor of Medicine student at University of Wollongong, she blends her rigorous training with a passion for community service, aiming to bridge the health literacy gap in Australia.
Her work as a clinical trials researcher in oncology at UNSW led to a significant review on survivorship care for young cancer survivors, underscoring her dedication to impactful healthcare delivery.
But it’s her bestselling children’s book on heart health, "My Strong Heart," that sets her apart. Sparked by her motivation to make medical environments less intimidating for children, Alexia has used her book to facilitate free lessons at Sydney Children’s Hospital School, and host reading sessions at local libraries.
Co-Chair, Impact 100 Sydney
A true champion for Sydney’s underdogs, Corinne works tirelessly to foster community-driven philanthropy and entrepreneurship for underrepresented groups.
Volunteering as the Co-Chair of Impact100 Sydney, she organises 100 donors to contribute to a $100,000 annual collective grant, and works with them to decide which charities to support. Kemp's commitment has led to raising over $250,000 for Impact100 last year alone.
An inclusive and collaborative leader with a knack for identifying people's strengths and harnessing them for collective impact, Corinne is also the co-founder of Migrant Women in Business. Here, she connects migrant women entrepreneurs with a support network, resources and opportunities to help them succeed in their ventures.
Former Vice Chancellor of Western Sydney University, and current Jobs and Skills Australia Commissioner
Professor Barney Glover AO has transformed Western Sydney University (WSU) as their former Vice Chancellor – as well as the region as a whole.
He strategically developed high-rise campuses in key areas like Parramatta, Blacktown, and Bankstown, drawing government and corporate investment and sparking urban renewal. Under his leadership, WSU’s rankings, research outputs, student numbers, and community engagement surged.
Now, as the first Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, Glover provides expert advice on Australia's skills needs, guiding workforce studies and collaborations.
Glover’s work is widely respected, particularly his contributions to education, community engagement, and support for First Nations Australians.
Student advocate and Project Officer, Muslim Women Australia
Khadijah couldn't wait to finish school and start studying to be a teacher, so instead of doing year 11 and 12, she worked out she could fasttrack it with a bridging course, and is now at university studying a Bachelor of Primary Teaching while many of her peers are still working their way through high school.
A proud Australian Muslim of Lebanese Palestinian background dedicated to advocating for her community. During Covid-19, she helped form the Muslim Women Australia’s Youth Advisory Committee to help address the issues young people were facing in the extended lockdown, particularly in Southwest Sydney.
A certified swim instructor, Khadijah also teaches swimming to women who have escaped domestic violence, contributing to their healing process. Across her various community roles, she mentors young girls using culturally and religiously inclusive mental health and leadership strategies.
The Sydney Metro City and Southwest project, developed over a decade, is set to transform Sydney’s public transport and reshape the city.
The team grappled with so many complex challenges to make it work – including tunneling below Sydney Harbour and skyscrapers, and building a new metro station beneath Central Station. Then there was Covid-19 and a change in government.
It couldn’t have been achieved without deep and sustained collaboration among the thousands of people working on the project, over that time, particularly from the core organisations including Sydney Metro, Northwest Rapid Transit, MTR Corporation and Metro Trains Sydney.
The project is already serving as an immediate catalyst for new housing around metro stations. It will be a huge economic enabler by boosting productivity, reducing road and rail congestion and encouraging business densification, as well as driving culture by providing better access to key nighttime economy centres.
By Football Australia
The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 was more than a major sports event, it was a landmark project that demonstrated the power of sport to transform society.
Over the course of a month, two million fans attended games, with a global audience of two billion. The World Cup pumped $1.3 billion into the state’s economy and helped turn the Matildas into the nation’s leading sporting brand.
The event was spearheaded by Football Australia, which envisioned the tournament as an opportunity to inspire a generation, shift expectations around women’s sport, and reinforce Australia’s standing on the global stage. It shifted the culture of sport in Australia on its axis, driving a huge upsurge in women and girls playing sport and a fanbase for the Matildas and women’s sport in general.
Since the Women's World Cup, participation by women and girls in soccer increasing from 21% to 26% since 2021. Programs like MiniTillies have already seen a substantial increase in registrations, indicating a shift towards greater inclusivity and support for women’s football.
Meet our 2024 highly commended finalists for each category. Congratulations to all!
Student advocate and Project Officer, Muslim Women Australia
Khadijah couldn't wait to finish school and start studying to be a teacher, so instead of doing year 11 and 12, she worked out she could fasttrack it with a bridging course, and is now at university studying a Bachelor of Primary Teaching while many of her peers are still working their way through high school.
A proud Australian Muslim of Lebanese Palestinian background dedicated to advocating for her community. During Covid-19, she helped form the Muslim Women Australia’s Youth Advisory Committee to help address the issues young people were facing in the extended lockdown, particularly in Southwest Sydney.
A certified swim instructor, Khadijah also teaches swimming to women who have escaped domestic violence, contributing to their healing process. Across her various community roles, she mentors young girls using culturally and religiously inclusive mental health and leadership strategies.
CEO, Australian Museum
In 2014, Kim McKay AO became the first woman and non-scientist to lead the Australian Museum in its 190+ year history.
Under her leadership, the museum’s annual visitation soared from 340,000 to 1.5 million in FY23-24. Kim also brought the Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs exhibition to Sydney, which hit records as the highest museum attendance in Sydney since the 1970s. Kim has also shaped the museum’s programming to advocate for climate solutions, highlight First Nations voices, and increase cultural outreach in the Pacific.
She champions equitable access to culture, providing free entry for close to 4500 students from schools in lower socioeconomic areas through the 'Day at the Museum' program. Kim has also significantly diversified the museum’s leadership, with women now making up two-thirds of the executive team, board of trustees, and staff.
CEO, City of Sydney
Monica’s almost two-decade tenure as CEO of the City of Sydney Council has been a transformative era for the city.
As well as overseeing major urban projects including Tramsheds and the pedestrianisation of George Street, Monica drove the 'Sustainable Sydney 2030' strategy that led City of Sydney to become the first government in Australia to achieve carbon neutral accreditation. She also played a key role in the renewal of Green Square, which includes constructing $550 million dollars of public infrastructure, parks and active transport.
Managing nearly 2000 staff is no easy feat – yet Monica’s strategy to advance women in leadership and promote full participation and pay equity has transformed City of Sydney into a high-performing employer of choice with a thriving culture of equity. Under her guidance, the City of Sydney has a gender pay gap of 7% in favour of women.
Project manager and PhD candidate, Sydney Seahorse Project, Sydney Institute of Marine Science, UTS
Mitchell Brennan, a 29-year-old scientist and PhD candidate, leads the Sydney Seahorse Project, which achieved a world record by releasing the highest number of baby seahorses into Sydney Harbour.
Brennan’s meticulous research has significantly improved the survival rates of captive-bred seahorses, contributing to the conservation of the endangered White’s seahorse. His research has been pivotal in developing evidence-based conservation methodologies, installing seahorse hotels, and restoring natural habitats. Brennan’s efforts extend to engaging the public and students, fostering the next generation of marine conservationists.
Additionally, Mitchell has played a key role in community engagement, leading public outreach efforts, organising community events, and involving citizen scientists in monitoring.
Founder & Director, Welcome Merchant
Marjorie launched Welcome Merchant in 2020 as an Instagram directory spotlighting refugee businesses. Despite limited funding and juggling it with a full-time job, she grew Welcome Merchant into a full-fledged social enterprise – hosting events like refugee-powered markets and dining pop-ups, leading a volunteer team, hosting skill-building workshops, and fundraising for new entrepreneurs.
Under her leadership, Welcome Merchant has raised $80,000+ for refugee business partners (many of them being small businesses in Sydney), donated $28,800+ to charities, and sold hundreds of hampers with products made by refugees.
She is a fierce mentor and advocate for the many entrepreneurs she works with, and continues to fight for social justice and the rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Group Leader – Molecular Viral Hepatitis Group, Westmead Institute for Medical Research
At 14, Dr Thomas Tu was diagnosed with chronic Hepatitis B (HBV), an incurable viral liver infection that kills a million people every year. Now 38, he’s transformed his personal struggle into a driving force behind his dedication to find a cure for HBV.
As a researcher at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, his groundbreaking work includes understanding how the virus persists in the liver and linking viral forms to liver cancer risk. He also founded HepBcommunity.org, a global online platform providing support and mentorship, and Hepatitis B Voices Australia, an advocacy group amplifying HBV-affected voices.
Thomas' approach is shaped by both extensive scientific training and deep engagement with people affected by HBV, particularly in underserved communities. His work aims not just to increase scientific understanding but also to address the social stigma associated with HBV, advocating for a holistic approach to health equity.
White Bay has the subject of so many conceptual plans, none of which resulted in action, from Disneyland to a Googleplex.
However, a joint effort between Placemaking NSW and the Biennale of Sydney brought together experts in event planning, heritage conservation, urban planning and community engagement, to transform the long abandoned site.
This plan, which has preserved White Bay’s historical integrity while adapting it for the modern era, has culminated in its launch with the Biennale of Sydney. It showcased the site's potential as a premier venue, highlighting the successful partnership between Placemaking NSW and the Biennale of Sydney.
White Bay Power Station is now a focal point for the transformation of the Bays West precinct into a connected and vibrant new area for living, working and recreation.
The Sydney Metro City and Southwest project, developed over a decade, is set to transform Sydney’s public transport and reshape the city.
The team grappled with so many complex challenges to make it work – including tunneling below Sydney Harbour and skyscrapers, and building a new metro station beneath Central Station. Then there was Covid-19 and a change in government.
It couldn’t have been achieved without deep and sustained collaboration among the thousands of people working on the project, over that time, particularly from the core organisations including Sydney Metro, Northwest Rapid Transit, MTR Corporation and Metro Trains Sydney.
The project is already serving as an immediate catalyst for new housing around metro stations. It will be a huge economic enabler by boosting productivity, reducing road and rail congestion and encouraging business densification, as well as driving culture by providing better access to key nighttime economy centres.
Congratulations to our winners! Click on each one to watch their story.
Over two decades, William has forged a global profile as a performer and composer in the classical musical world, from the Philharmonic Orchestras of London and Berlin to historic events at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day 2019, Anzac Cove and the Beijing Olympics. With his prodigious musicality and the quiet conviction of his Kalkadunga heritage, he has vastly expanded the horizons of the didgeridoo — and the culture and landscape it represents. The Global Sydney Award is supported by ISPT.
Over the past 15 years, Sarah and Geoff have shifted the balance of Sydney to the west, through sophisticated land use, transport and economic planning with the Greater Sydney Commission and Western Parkland City Authority, spurring a transformational wave of infrastructure construction and cultural change. Proudly supported by McDonald Jones Homes. The City Visionary Award is supported by McDonald Jones Homes.
Leading the largest council in the state, Kerry serves more than 415,000 residents. Under his leadership, Blacktown is delivering a city shaping program of infrastructure and facility construction, as well as delivering an extraordinarily broad service of high quality. His passion for the area is infectious, he’s a natural choice as Western Sydney Champion. The Western Sydney Champion is supported by Endeavour Energy.
Fiona has been instrumental in transforming Sydney into a proactive cycling city for a broad cross-section of the community, from kids to seniors and people living with disability. Through her championship spanning more than two decades, Fiona has brought together the ideas, people, technical expertise and excitement to get cycling firmly on the agenda in local, state and federal government. The Unsung Hero Award is supported by Uber.
Cheryne left a budding career in law to dedicate her efforts to improving the lives of others facing challenges in Australia and abroad. Already she has inspired many with her strategic leadership in the development of sustainable programs that are directly impacting social issues like poverty, malnutrition, access to healthcare and homelessness due to domestic violence in Sydney. Cheryne manages teams in Australia and Cambodia, and coordinates programs in 10+ different countries from an office in Yagoona. The Emerging Leader Award is supported by KPMG.
Congratulations to our winners! Click on each one to watch their story.
Artistic Director, Bangarra Dance Theatre. Over more than three decades, he has led Bangarra to become Australia’s leading First Nations performing arts company, touring with more than 130 dancers to 60+ cities globally. He choreographed over 25 works for the company, as well as major pieces for the Sydney and Atlanta Olympic Games, and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The Global Sydney Award is supported by ISPT.
CEO, Sydney Opera House. As steward of the greatest building of the 20th century, she has overseen a $300 million, 10 year renewal, including upgrades to the Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre, the new Centre for Creativity and Yallamundi Rooms function centre, upgraded entry foyers and a vehicle-free forecourt, to reposition and reinvigorate this icon for a new century. The City Visionary Award is supported by Mirvac Design.
CEO, CommUnity Construction. A former refugee from Afghanistan, he was about to commence a PhD in forensics, when he had the idea for the business to help other refugees and asylum seekers get work in construction. Over the past five years, his business has trained and employed more than 75 refugees, completing 130+ projects – and two trainees have gone on to found their own businesses. The Western Sydney Champion is supported by Aurecon.
Founder and CEO, Story Factory. Over the past decade, she has led a program to inspire and encourage kids in underresourced communities to learn the love of writing. Nearly 45,000 young people have come through the program since, going on to careers as novelists, journalists, planners and all kinds of other jobsThe Unsung Hero Award is supported by Coles.
Co-CEOs and founders, Humanitix. They have taken part of our life that is very transactional – buying tickets – and turned it into something that’s transformational, making a difference in the world. They are on track for their vision of being a ‘social unicorn,’ with the site doubling every six months. The Emerging Leader Award is supported by KPMG.
Congratulations to our winners! Click on each one to watch their story.
Founder and CEO, Muslim Women Australia. A strong advocate for the rights of women and particularly Muslim women, Maha is a powerful champion for a unified Sydney, and although she’s well known in certain circles, when you look at the impact she’s had on the city, she’s the essence of unsung. The Unsung Hero Award is supported by Coles.
Co-founders and Co-CEOs, Atlassian. From bootstrapping their startup on credit cards, they’ve built a global company, serving millions of users, and driving the growth of Sydney’s tech sector. They are also passionate about sustainability and leading on the road to greener future. The 2021 Global Sydney Award was supported by Investment NSW.
Co-founder and CEO, Catalysr. Getting passed over for job after job was the inspiration for Usman’s pre-accelerator, which has since supported 520 migrapreneurs, or high-performing migrant and refugee entrepreneurs, to launch 175 enterprises. The 2021 Western Sydney Champion was supported by DXC Technology.
Outgoing Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. Liz Ann secured the financial future of the museum, changed the way Indigenous art is shown around the world, and dramatically increased the museum’s relevance across the city, making MCA the world’s most visited modern art museum. The 2021 Global Sydney Award was supported by Investment NSW.
Former CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia and Infrastructure Australia. A green building gamechanger, Romilly has been recognised for her pragmatic approach in establishing Australia as a leader on sustainability. The City Visionary Award is supported by Mirvac Design.
Curator, Writer and Educator and incoming Director, First Nations at the Powerhouse Museum. One of those people we should all watch, Emily’s influence is seen in major public art commissions such as the City of Sydney’s Yananurala harbour walk, in the way people connect with Country, and even in the way the city’s cultural leaders speak about Aboriginal culture.
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