Impact 25 Awards: Shine the spotlight on a leader creating positive change
28 November 2019 at 8:00 am
Australians are being urged to nominate people in the sector working to make the world a better place
Nominations have opened for Pro Bono Australia’s 2019 Impact 25 Awards, giving people the chance to nominate their picks of this year’s most influential people in the social sector.
The year has been marked by the ongoing fight to raise the rate of Newstart, the start of the disability royal commission, enduring problems with the National Disability Insurance Scheme, continued growth in the social enterprise sector, and children taking action on climate change.
Meanwhile, the Morrison government was re-elected and appointed the first ever NDIS minister and first ever assistant charities minister.
Through it all, there has been an emergence and growth of strong and innovative leaders in the sector, and Pro Bono Australia is now calling for the public to cast their votes to recognise new and established talent in 2019.
Pro Bono Australia founder and CEO Karen Mahlab AM said: “At this time the world needs activists working with the intention to improve our collective good.
“Over the past five years of running the Impact 25 Awards we have unearthed many motivated, passionate and determined people working in our communities.
“They do what they do because they see something they strongly feel needs to change. They want to make an impact.”
She urged readers to nominate those working to make the world a better place.
“Many won’t put up their own hand to be recognised but we encourage them to do so, and for others around them to nominate those they see working not just for themselves but to improve the world around them,” she said.
Previous Impact 25 recipients include anti-domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty AO, Justice Connect chair Professor Gillian Triggs, and esteemed humanitarian lawyer Julian Burnside AO QC.
Last year’s awards saw 337 individuals nominated, with more than 32,000 votes received.
Due to the overwhelming number of nominations received, Pro Bono Australia will this year curate a list of 150 nominees from the pool of all nominations to present to the public for voting.
The 25 nominees with the most votes will be crowned the Impact 25 Award winners.
From the final 25 award winners, a panel of judges will choose a winner for each of the following three categories: Innovator, Influencer, and Collaborator.
Nominations are now open, and will close on 12 December. Nominate your top picks for 2019 here.
