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Alumni Award nomination guide

Nominations for the annual Alumni Awards are submitted by the peers, colleagues, friends and family of our alumni community.  

How to submit a nomination

Kelly McJannett (MBA '19), CEO of Foodladder and winner of the 2025 Alumni Award for Service to Humanity.

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1. Check the award categories and eligibility criteria.

Nominations for the Alumni Awards and Graduate Medals must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Nominations must come frome a third party - we don't accept self-nominations.
  • Nominations must be for individuals, with the exception of the John C Hasanyi Medal for Innovation, which can be awards to an individual or group. If two or more people are integral to an activity or program, individual nominations must be submitted.
  • Nominees must not be current members of the Senate or its sub-committees, members of the Alumni Council, faculty deans or staff at the Advancement Portfolio.
  • Nominees must not have previously been the recipient of an Alumni Award. Read the full list of past recipients here.
  • Posthumus nominees must have been deceased for no more than 10 years at the time of nomination.

2. Create a profile and start your application

All nominations must be submitted online. The form will ask you to provide nominee information, responses for selection criteria questions, supporting documents and nominator information.

You can save your progress in the online nomination form and come back to it at any time.  

Create your online profile

3. Attach your supporting documentation.

Nominations must include supporting documentation, including two reference letters and up to 5 supporting files or web links.

  • Reference letters should be no more than 700 words and can come from peers, colleagues or friends - anyone (other than the nominator) who can vouch for the impact of the nominee.
  • Supporting documentation will only be accepted in PDF format.
  • We recommend keepting the file size under 5MB.

4. Submit your nomination.

Nominators will receive an automated response email with a copy of your nomination once you submit the form. Please keep this for your records. If you experience issues submitting an online nomination form, please contact the Alumni Office - alumni.office@sydney.edu.au.

Start your nomination

Selection process

  • Submissions are reviewed against the selection and eligibility requirements to create a shortlist.
  • A selection panel comprising of expert alumni and staff determine the recipients for each category.
  • Recipients are then notified and announced to the public ahead of the Alumni Awards Gala Dinner.
  • Only winners and their nominators will be informed of the outcome.  

Winners of the annual Alumni Awards are celebrated at a gala dinner in the Great Hall.

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Frequently asked questions

As part of the nomination you will be asked to submit short statements in response to the following questions:

  • Please tell us why you think the nominee is a worthy recipient of the (Award category) - 250 words.
  • In what ways did the nominee's experience at the University of Sydney contribute to their success today? - 100 words.
  • Please include details of particular circumstances which would be helpful for the selection committee to know - for example, any challenges that the nominee has overcome. - Optional, 250 words.
  • Any additional information you would like us to consider. - Optional, 100 words.  

A well-written nomination is clear and concise. Your responses should align closely with the selection criteria. Answer the questions in the nomination form clearly and specifically to provide a succinct overview of who your nominee is, why they are exceptional, and how they have made a significant impact.

We recommend that you use real life examples to support your information statements. of your nomination by collecting evidence to support your information statements and providing personal anecdotes and examples that demonstrate their achievements.

The strongest nominations also include multiple letters of recommendation. Make sure you give referees plenty of notice and guide them to include their personal observations of the nominee. 

Your (up to) five supporting documents should relate directly to the reason for the nomination. They can include things like awards, media articles and publications.  For Graduate Medal nominees, the documents should be relevant to their activities and achievements during their period of study.  

Whatever the material, it should illustrate and enhance what is in the written nomination.  

References should help the judging panel to understand the nominee’s achievements and impact and should discuss specific examples of both. The referee should make their connection with the nominee clear and include their full contact details, including phone and email.

References can be written by professional or academic colleagues – anyone who can speak to your nominee’s outstanding impact. We recommend including at least two references.

No. As the nominator, you will have been asked to supply your own reference statement for your nominee. Reference letters are designed to provide additional support for your nomination. However, as a nominator you can endorse for a different nominee by being their referee.