The Australian Scholarships Foundation (ASF) proudly announced the winners of their inaugural awards at a ceremony in Sydney last night, shining a light on organisations, teams and individuals who have demonstrated excellence and courage in their leadership.

Louisa Graham, CEO of the ASF, said the calibre of the entries was very impressive. “It is a great honour to be recognised in the awards, and it was definitely a difficult task for our hardworking judges,” she said. “Our winners are selected on merit and judged by their peers. They should be commended for their courage, and your organisations should feel proud of your achievements.”

For-purpose staff continue to support their communities through demanding times, amid cost-of-living pressures and natural disasters. Ms Graham said: “Recognising outstanding leadership encourages best practice, builds capabilities and leads to organisational growth. In a sector where salary is not the primary career motivation, it is crucial to reward excellence.”

One of the many organisations recognised for their contribution to for-purpose leadership was Youth Projects, which won awards in four categories: Outstanding Emerging Leader in the over $3 million category, Outstanding Scholar, Outstanding Leadership in Talent Growth and Outstanding Leadership in Wellbeing Governance.

The judges said Youth Projects’ dedication to Wellbeing Governance was demonstrated through “the commitment to psychological safety, the high engagement with EAP, the value placed on lived experience, the provision of additional wellbeing leave, and the board’s understanding of the organisation’s people through activities such as shadowing”.

Shaun Christie-David, Founder of Plate It Forward, was named Outstanding Leader in the under $3 million category. The judges said the impact he has created was “meaningful and long lasting, not only for disadvantaged people but also for the environment”.

The award for Outstanding Leader in the over $3 million category went to Tanya O’Shea, Managing Director of IMPACT Community Services. The judges said: “Her organisation’s growth and innovation are to be applauded in service delivery and outcomes, social enterprise projects, staff development and leadership.”

Louisa Graham thanked the judges for their commitment and contribution to the 2023 Awards. Each category was assessed by a different panel of judges and each entry was assessed on its merits. “The dedication of the judges ensures the integrity of the program,” she said. “We stipulate strict conflict guidelines so that judges are not assessing applications from their own organisations or those they work with.”

You can find out more about the judging process and criteria for entry on the ASF website.

Ms Graham encouraged those who did not enter to be part of the Leadership Awards next year. Entries open in March 2024.

“Our winners are truly inspiring for-purpose leaders and it is exciting to celebrate their achievements,” she said. “Together we can create a stronger and more effective not-for-profit sector that is better equipped to address key social and environmental challenges important to us all.

“We would like to thank all our partners who have championed these inaugural awards through their sponsorship, particularly The NonProfit Alliance.”

2023 Not-For-Profit Leadership Awards Winners

OUTSTANDING LEADER

Supported by the Australian Scholarships Foundation  
Winner: Outstanding Leaders currently working with organisations with annual revenue of under $3 million

Read more about the winner here.

OUTSTANDING LEADER

Supported by The NonProfit Alliance 
Winner: Outstanding Leaders currently working with organisations with annual revenue of over $3 million

Read more about the winner here.

OUTSTANDING EMERGING LEADER

Supported by the Australian Scholarships Foundation
Winner: Outstanding Emerging Leaders currently working with organisations with annual revenue of under $3 million

Read more about the winner here.

OUTSTANDING EMERGING LEADER

Supported by Leadership Space
Winner: Outstanding Emerging Leaders currently working with organisations with annual revenue of over $3 million

  • Trent Miller, Executive Manager of Employment, Training, and Social Enterprise, Youth Projects

Read more about the winner here.

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN TALENT GROWTH

Supported by Clayton Utz 
Winner: Demonstrates best practice leadership, has an employee focus, has built strong relationships, and has demonstrated innovative strategies.

Read more about the winner here.

OUTSTANDING EDUCATION PROVIDER

Supported by AGSM at UNSW Business School  
Winner: Demonstrates the impact and relevance of their programs for promoting outstanding professional development opportunities in the not-for-profit sector. Entrants could be educational institutions or private/for-profit organisations.

Read more about the winner here.

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN WELLBEING GOVERNANCE

Supported by The Social Sector Wellbeing and Resilience Hub, an initiative of The Xfactor Collective Foundation 
Winner: Demonstrates exceptional leadership in governing for strong wellbeing outcomes for their staff and volunteers.

Read more about the winner here.

OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR

Supported by the Australian Scholarships Foundation
Winner: An Australian Scholarships Foundation alumni scholar who has made a significant contribution to their organisation following their studies.

Read more about the winner here.

Thank you to our judges

We sincerely thank all the hard-working judges who donated their time this year.

  • Josephine Buontempo, Kasali Migration Australia, and Chair of ASF Assessment Panel
  • Justine Butler, Corporate Giving Specialist
  • Tara Castle, Queensland Community Foundation
  • David Crosbie, Community Council for Australia
  • Petrina Fraccaro, Cystic Fibrosis Queensland
  • Anne Frankenberg, Musica Viva Australia
  • Julia Keady, The Xfactor Collective
  • Ric Leahy, XEd Space
  • Rachael McLennan, People for Purpose
  • James Montgomery, AFL SportsReady
  • Kylie Pussell, Miracle Babies Foundation
  • Katherine Raskob, Fundraising Institute Australia
  • Leisa Sadler, Dress for Success
  • Mary Spongberg, Southern Cross University
  • Leonard Vary, The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund
  • Ben Vasiliou, Youth Projects
  • Beth Weatherly, Kilfinan Australia

The Australian Scholarships Foundation is a registered charity that works with not-for-profit groups to develop inspirational leaders. In the past 14 years, it has partnered with experts to offer education in leadership, governance, finance and project management to more than 5,000 people from a wide range of not-for-profit organisations.

CONTACT DETAILS

T: 1300 248 675
W: scholarships.org.au

#NFPleadershipawards
@ScholarshipsNP

Media enquiries: Leona Spencer, [email protected]
Awards enquiries: Lauren Dixon, [email protected]