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In Partnership with

Honouring Unsung Heroes

18 September 2025 | Doltone House Hyde Park Sydney/Warrane

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Event overview

Third Sector Awards is the largest and most prestigious Awards ceremony recognising excellence within the
Not-for-Profit sector. Developed and hosted in partnership with the Centre for Social Impact (CSI), Third Sector
Awards is back to provide the opportunity for organisations of all sizes to celebrate their much needed work and
contributions to society.

Register your Interest

Third Sector Awards Categories

Nominate Now

CEO of
the year

First Nations Leader of the year

Collaboration Excellence Award

Fundraising
Excellence Award

Marketing Excellence Award

Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Award

Social Innovation Award

Volunteer of the year

Small Charity of
the year

Emerging Leader of the year

Timeline

May 14th, 2025
Nomination Opens
May 14th, 2025
June 27th, 2025
Nominations Closes
June 27th, 2025
August 4th, 2025
Finalists Announced, Public Voting Opens
August 4th, 2025
August 29th, 2025
Public voting closes
August 29th, 2025
September 18th, 2025
Awards Night
September 18th, 2025

Third Sector Awards Judges

Dr. Lyndsey Mckee
National Industry Director
Centre for Social Impact
Fiona Austin-Webber
Member Relations Director
Diversity Council Australia
Arminé Nalbandian
Chief Executive Officer
Centre for Social Impact
Jamie Crosby
Chief Executive Officer
Families Australia
Josh Hickford
CA ANZ Councillor
Chartered Accountants
Chief Executive
Australia and New Zealand
Taranaki Foundation
Carmel Molloy
Chief Executive Officer
For Purpose Alliance
David Crosbie
Chief Executive Officer
Community Council Australia
Elfa Moraitakis
Chief Executive Officer
SydWest Multicultural Services
Georgi Macdiarmid
National Communications Director
Centre for Social Impact
Chloe Jesson
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Queensland Mental Health Alliance

2024 Winners

Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Award Winner

Chinese Australian Services Society Ltd

First Nation Leader of the Year Winner

Karinda Taylor (First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing)

Workforce Excellence Award Winner

Zonta House Refuge Assocation (Zonta House)

Campaign / Marketing Executive of the Year Winner

Brittiny Edwards (Share the Dignity)

Collaboration Excellence Award Winner

Education Benalla Program (Tomorrow Today)

Emerging NFP of the Year Winner

Gender and Disaster Australia

CEO of the Year Winner

Henry Nan Hung Pan (Chinese Australian Services Society Ltd)

Digital Innovation Award Winner

Digital Inclusion Pilot Project (The Benevolent Spociety)

Fundraising Excellence Award Winner

Miracle Babies Foundation

Sustainability Leadership Award Winner

Chinese Australian Services Society Ltd

Testimonials from past winners

Good360
Young Leader of the Year, 3Bridges Community.

Now I have the amazing opportunity for third sector, to extend that greater for all the young people, and that's why I do it.

Melanie Raymond OAM
Board Director of the Year, Youth Projects

I can’t believe I’m standing here, I honestly can’t. These projects are amazing and what we do and the courage that it’s taking. So thank you very very much, I’m truly blown away. Thank you so much and congratulations to everyone.

Geoff Nyssen
Volunteer of the Year, Snowdome Foundation.

So humbled to have received the award. I spent some time reading the bios of all of the other nominees and just so thoroughly impressed by what some of the wonderful people of which there's around table here you guys are doing, because it takes a lot of people to do a lot of great things. I'd like to thank Snowdome Foundation for nominating me. And I'd also like to thank myleoma Australia. WEHI, and also Peter Mac. It's an honour to be able to represent those organisations and do work with them in the great work of trying to keep people alive.

Gavin Merlin and Sally Irwin
Social Entrepreneur of the Year, The Freedom Hub.

I just like to start by firstly saying that thanking the organisers and the other charities that are here representing tonight and the social sector for the incredible thing they bring to society. I reflected on this a few times, and it's what the not for profit sector brings to society actually makes the society worth being. And I just congratulate that others have performed at night on the various things everyone brings to this sector.

Dr Nicky Howe
Influencer of the Year, Southcare

What an honour to hear this amazing news. Thank you. And what's equally exciting is the program celebrates ten years this year, ten years of getting young professionals onto aged care and community boards in our sector, the third sector. And while I'm speaking of the third sector, I want to thank you very much for supporting this award and also to Australian ethical.

Let's look back at some 2024 Third Sector Awards Highlights

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