Humanitarian Innovation Awards

Professor Ron Johnston Prize in Humanitarian Innovation Winner (Prize: Medal, $2,500, Cardno internship and automatic entry into hackathon)

"Team Orinum"

• Vanathy Arudselvan (University of Sydney)
• Yeeun Cho (University of Sydney)

Runner Up (Prize: GHD internship and automatic entry into hackathon)

"The Double A Team"

• Ally Moodie (Queensland University of Technology)
• Adele van der Winden (Queensland University of Technology)

• International and national university students, domiciled in Australia and studying at any Australian University;
• Students studying in any discipline but preferably “STEM-capable participants” studying for degrees in engineering and/or computer science; the reason for this preference is because of the emphasis on “engineering” innovations;
• Students must be studying an undergraduate degree to participate –  full-time and part-time students are welcome;
• Entry may be made by groups of 2 to 4 individuals working as a team;
• Entrants will be required to provide evidence of their eligibility under these rules as a part of their submission.

Latest rules will be communicated soon.

1. Complete the EOI
2. On completion, you will receive an email with the rules and the link to submit your Pitch application. You or your team can complete the EOI
3. Form a team of 2-4 undergraduate students
4. Decide on a Humanitarian issue based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals
5. Formulate an Innovative idea - check out previous winners
6. Create a video 3- 4 minutes (check rules and FAQs to identify what the judges are looking for)
7. Complete the submission form. This will be sent to you via email once you have completed your EOI

• Identify by research a real problem in a humanitarian or a developing country context;
• Preferably with a connection to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;
• Especially those solutions that address needs which do not fit conventional commercial finance driven markets and are therefore “orphans” to traditional market solutions;
• Especially solutions aimed to alleviate or address needs of disadvantaged communities or
• Groups that may be overlooked by traditional engineering and technology projects.

Open Wednesday 3 March and close Sunday 18 April 2021

Evaluation criteria will include but not be limited to the degree to which the humanitarian engineering innovation:

• uses engineering skills, knowhow and technologies;
• is original;
• is novel;
• is inventive;
• is environmentally sound and sustainable;
• is practical for the target community or persons;
• addresses a real and pressing problem;
• an actual demonstration or other proof of practicality will be highly considered.

In 2020, winners were awarded:

• The Professor Ron Johnston Prize in Humanitarian Innovation,
• a total of $2,500 in cash prizes,
• an internship on a Pacific Islands engineering project with consulting engineering firm Cardno Ltd, and
• travel stipends for the Humanitarian Innovation Hackathon, held in Sydney.

First Prize: RedR Ron Johnston Rapid Response Prize (Prize: Medal and $5,000)

"H2ArchipelagO"

• Alex Hofmann (Monash University)
• Allan Soo (University of Technology Sydney)
• Ben Hofmann (Australian National University)
• Emily Unewisse (University of Adelaide)
• James Hurst (Australian National University)

Pacific Telecommunications Council / Beyond Essential Humanitarian Internship Appointent

"Winter is not Coming"

• Katia Moors (University of Sydney)
• Thomas Sau (Macquarie University

Pacific Telecommunications Council First Prize for Best Humanitarian Digital Innovation

"Greys Humanity"

• Alida Fois from (University of Melbourne)
• Celina Dhobbie (Monash University)
• Charvi Mamidi (University of Sydney)
• Portia Sihvola (Queensland University of Technology)

Pacific Telecommunications Council Second Prize for Best Humanitarian Digital Innovation

"Fortitude"

• Avanish Shrestha (University of Sydney)
• Isabella Notarpietro (University of New South Wales)
• Rafe Skidmore (University of Sydney)
• Meg Phillips (University of Tasmania)
• Syed Emaad Rizwan (Macquarie University)