The largest and most prestigious Awards ceremony recognising excellence within the Not-for-Profit sector announces finalists for this year’s Third Sector Awards.  

In partnership with the Center for Social Impact (CSI), Third Sector Awards will return on September 13 2023.  

Categories include CEO of the Year, Board Director of the Year, Campaign / Marketing Executive of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Social Entrepreneur of the Year, First Nations Leader of the Year, Young Leader of the Year, Emerging Leader of the Year, Small Charity of the Year and Emerging NFP of the Year.  

Third Sector’s panel of recognised judges comes from a broad industry cross-section to assure accurate, fair, and unbiased conclusions. The nominees were judged based on their social impact, outcomes measurement, social innovation, collaboration, leadership and systems thinking. 

CEO of the Year

• Kelda Oppermann – Zonta House Refuge Association  
• Marius Smith – Vacro  
• Rosy Walia – Multicultural Care  
• Keren Ludski – Red Nose Australia  
• Tony Kelly – First Nations Legal and Research Services  
• Asha Bhat – Southern Aboriginal Corporation  
• Tanya Hall – Hearts4Heart  
• Mick Garnett – Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT  
• Paul Higginbotham – Earbus Foundation of WA  
• Kirsty Robertson – Caritas Australia  

Board Director of the Year

• Richard Boele – Boccia Australia  
• Jacqui Grinzi – Q Music  
• Christina Chun – Consent Labs   
• Nigel Harvey – Independent Living Australia  
• Andrew Rasby – Miracle Babies Foundation  

Campaign / Marketing Executive of the Year

• Amelia Lawrence and Stephanie Cowan  – Dress for Success Sydney
• Emma Jayarajah – World Vision Australia
• Roberto Pietrobon – Reimagine Reconciliation with Red Dust
• Ingunn Goodman -Cure Cancer
• Michael Van Outdshoorn – Activ Foundation

Volunteer of the Year

• Brenda Hennessy – 3rd Space
• Fran Sheahan – Jesuit Social Services
• Michelle Power – Lighthouse Foundation
• Sally Johns – Share the Dignity
• Linda Yacoob – Multicultural Care

Social Entrepreneur of the Year

• Kylie Wallace – Seedling Giving
• Zara Torre De Souza  – Small Change Big Impact/the Difference
• Amy Rowe – Project Potential Adelaide
• Marjorie Tenchavez – Welcome Merchant
• Tom Dawkins – StartSomeGood and LendForGood

First Nations Leader of the Year

• Rohan Collard – Palmerston Association
• Brad Draper – Aboriginal Sustainable Home
• Ashlee Donohue – Mudgin-Gal Women’s Organisation/Women’s Place
• Stephanie Harvey – Community First Development
• William Gordon – 3Bridges Community

Young Leader of the Year

• Rooan Al Kalmashi – SSI
• Bek Lasky – Ngarrimili
• Ava Reggo – The Oaktree Foundation
• Oliver Heys – Surf Life Saving NSW

Emerging Leader of the Year

• Simon Crabb – Social Ventures Australia
• Kate Sowden – Work + Stay
• James Maskey – Fortem Australia
• Joseph Kolapudi  – Solve Squad
• Mark Papinczak  – I80 Degrees Consulting

 Small Charity of the Year

• The Reconnect Project
• Cystic Fibrosis Australia
• National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Warrior Woman
• Love Mercy Foundation

 Emerging NFP of the Year

• Housing Hub
• Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service
• The Man Up Initiative Incorporated (MAN UP)
• Good Neighbours Australia Inc.
• Be My Koorda Aboriginal Corporation

The Third Sector Awards night set on the 13th of September is part of Third Sector Live, a 2-day conference that brings together the main players of the NFP sector in a unique opportunity for Australia’s sector leaders. 

Want to book a seat and support your peers? Click here!