Leadership in Government Awards
Recognise and celebrate excellence in accounting and finance in the Australian public sector.
The Leadership in Government Awards, hosted by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), are prestigious awards that recognise and celebrate outstanding leadership of members working in or with the government public sector across all levels of government in all regions. These awards aim to acknowledge and honour individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and made significant contributions to the public sector.
Award categories
There are two award categories that current CA ANZ members can be nominated for.
Emerging Leadership Award
The Emerging Leadership Award has been developed to recognise an individual who shows potential as a future leader of the public sector by using initiative and driving innovation in their organisation.
The prize for the Emerging Leadership Award is a bursary to the value of A$10,000.
Outstanding Contribution to the Public Sector Award
The Outstanding Contribution to the Public Sector Award has been developed to recognise a senior level professional who has made an outstanding contribution to the public sector; their contribution can be demonstrated by evidence that they are leading by example and have achieved a step change for the benefit of the Australian public through their public service.
The prize for the Outstanding Contribution to the Public Sector Award is a bursary to the value of A$20,000.
Eligibility
Nominees must be full members of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand in good standing, but do not need to be direct employees of the public sector to be eligible for a Leadership in Government Award.
Criteria
When choosing the recipients of the Leadership in Government Awards, regard is given to a nominee’s achievements in their work within the public sector that demonstrates:
- innovative and transformative leadership, and
- the ability to attract, build and retain skills, expertise, and talent
- actions and behaviours as a “Difference Maker”
- actions and behaviours leading system change.
Nomination forms
Key Dates
| 1 August 2025 | Nominations open |
| 22 September 2025 | Nominations close 5.00pm AEST |
| 26 September 2025 | First round judging |
| 3 October 2025 | Shortlist contacted for supplementary evidence (1 week to respond) |
| 29 October 2025 | Final judging decision |
| 25 November 2025 | 2025 Leadership in Government Awards ceremony - Date & venue TBC |
Submit your nominations
Submit hereMore information
2024 Leadership in Government Awards
Ketvi Roopnarain CA and Natalia Cowley CA discuss the work that earned them the 2024 CA ANZ Leadership in Government awards.
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