Judging Process
Judging Process
BANKSIA JUDGES
The NSW Sustainability Awards entries go through a three part judging process by Banksia’s team of judges. These judges are experts in their field and this expertise is matched to the relevant category for assessment. Judges absent themselves from judging any entry which may be a conflict of interest.
Final decisions are made and reviewed in an audit by the Awards Governance Committee, which is made up of a senior panel of judges. All judges sign and are bound by a confidentiality agreement.
The Banksia judges volunteer their time and are a valuable and valued part of the Banksia Foundation’s body of people who work towards Australia’s recognition of environmental excellence.
WE GET IT.
IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT WINNING!
IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT WINNING!
If you don’t make the shortlist, then our judges still help. Each entrant receives valuable feedback about their project because supporting you is another step towards positive, sustainable action.
THE JUDGING PROCESS: CATEGORY AWARD JUDGING
The judging process for the Banksia Category Awards involve three levels:
ROUND 1
JUDGING
Our expert panel of Judges read, score and give feedback on all entries based on criteria. From here the scores will indicate a shortlist of entries that will proceed to personal online interviews.
ROUND 2
JUDGING
From the shortlist, our expert panel of judges will conduct an interview with each successful entry, where a list of questions will be asked. Each category panel will then discuss each entry and recommend and nominate who the finalists and winners are.
AWARDS GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE REVIEW
All finalists’ entries and scoring results are reviewed by the AGC and a winner from each category is ratified based on the comments and scores made by both rounds of judging.
OUR JUDGES
Our judges bring rigour and integrity to the NSW Sustainability Awards. There are 3 rounds of judging per category.
Each category has its own panel of judges led by a nominated judge. There are over 30 judges for the NSW awards who are independent to the Banksia board and staff. The judges are all experts in their field. The judging panels are organised to match the judges’ expertise to the award category. All potential conflicts of interest are investigated, and results are audited by a senior panel of judges.
Banksia would like to acknowledge our Chair of the Awards Governance Committee, Jo Cain. Her commitment and support is invaluable and ensures that we maintain a viable, efficient and integrated judging process.
On behalf of the Banksia Foundation, we would like to thank the following individuals for giving us their time and providing their expertise to this year’s awards program.
If you would like to join the judging panel, please email [email protected]

Angela Crossland
Bruce Precious
Colin Barker
David Rowlinson
Emma Treadgold
Erandi Samarakoon
Garth Lamb
Kate Harris
Laura Hamilton-O’Hara
Megan Jones
Monica Richter
Parrys Raines
Robin Mellon
Tennant Reed
Tom Davies