Cast your vote for Pro Bono Australia’s 2022 Impact 25 Awards

“I encourage everyone to nominate people they know who are making the world a better place so we can celebrate their years of achievement” 

Do you know someone who is shaping the world to be a better place? Now is your chance to shine a light on their extraordinary impact, with nominations open for Pro Bono Australia’s 2022 Impact 25 Awards.

These awards recognise the year’s most influential people from across the entire social economy – including from charities and not for profits, philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, impact investors and those in the corporate world doing good.

Pro Bono Australia is calling on the public to cast their votes and honour the nation’s changemakers with an Impact 25 nomination.  

Karen Mahlab AM, Pro Bono Australia founder and CEO, said this was a great way to honour social sector leaders who often don’t get the recognition they deserve.

“2021 has been another difficult year, shaped by the ongoing COVID pandemic and lockdowns. But throughout, motivated, passionate and determined people in our communities have continued to work in the face of it all,” Mahlab said.

“This extraordinary work often goes unnoticed and unthanked, which is why it is so vital to recognise their positive influence through the Impact 25 Awards.

“I encourage everyone to nominate people they know who are making the world a better place so we can celebrate their years of achievement.”

Previous Impact 25 winners include Australian Council of Social Service CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie, Blue Knot Foundation president Dr Cathy Kezelman AM, and Anglicare Victoria CEO Paul McDonald. 

Another previous winner is Greg Mullins AO AFSM, a councillor on the Climate Council and the former commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW.

He urged Australians to nominate those who were making a difference in the community.

“The people who do this work don’t do it to seek accolades. They’re the sort of people who just get on with it very quietly,” Mullins said.

“And I think it’s a great thing that there’s this framework for people to nominate the unsung heroes out there. We know there’s so much great work going on and it’s wonderful to see it recognised.”  

Due to the overwhelming number of nominations received in recent years, Pro Bono Australia will curate a list of 150 nominees from the pool of nominations to present to the public for voting.

The 25 nominees with the most votes will be crowned the 2022 Impact 25 Award winners.

From these winners, a panel of judges will also choose a winner for each of these categories: Innovator, Influencer, and Collaborator. 

Nominations will close on 3 November. You can find out more information here.

This year’s awards are sponsored by Equity Trustees.