The Circle
Awards
AUS&NZ
2022
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The Circle Awards celebrate and unite those leading the way to a better future.

Better? A future in which the planet, people and economies can all thrive, not just survive.

The awards recognise the local businesses, organisations, projects, and people having a positive environmental and social impact.

Together we’re building a passionate community and fostering a culture of collaboration and collective action to inspire others to be better.

The Circle Awards AUS & NZ 2022 is proudly presented by…

2022 Winners

Great Wrap
The Swag
Hello
The Very Good Bra

Meet some of our past winners

Entries are open to Australia or New Zealand registered businesses and organisations of all sizes; from startups and B Corps, through to not-for-profits and large corporations. Our unique judging criteria enables a wide range of different entry types to be evaluated on their own merit regardless of budget, size of project, or scale of resources.

Categories (14)

  • Architecture & Construction
  • Art & Design
  • B2B
  • Community, Education & Events
  • Fashion
  • Food & Drink
  • Health & Beauty
  • Home Garden & Utilities
  • Local Government Area’s (New)
  • Lifestyle & Technology
  • Materials & Processes
  • Research (New)
  • Under 19 (New)
  • Transport, Tourism & Travel

Accolades (4)

  • Judges Choice
    Presented by

    The overall winner selected by the judges, across the category winners, as the entry they collectively feel best exemplifies the ethos of The Circle Awards.

  • People's Choice
    Powered by
    and

    Awarded to the entry that receives the most valid votes in the People’s Choice public vote.

  • One To Watch
    Presented by

    Awarded to the entry that best captures our imagination and gets us excited us for their journey ahead.

  • Shape Shifter
    Presented by

    Awarded to the individual making significant contributions to shaping a better future for everyone.

Judging Judging Judging Judging
Judging Judging Judging Judging

Our jury is composed of a diverse mix of representatives, each bringing a unique perspective and experience, all focused on creating a better tomorrow for everyone.

Each category will be judged by at least 3 judges, with only the Judges Choice award being judged by the full judging lineup.

Judges Judges Judges Judges
Judges Judges Judges Judges
Elena Antoniou
Elena Antoniou
Founder of New Future Folk
Ttobie Arowobusoye
Ttobie Arowobusoye
Co-Founder of August Inc.
Beyhad Jafari
Beyhad Jafari
CEO of Electric Vehicle Council
Cr HY William Chan
Cr HY William Chan
Lord Mayoral team with City of Sydney
Alison Covington
Alison Covington
Founder of Good360 Australia
Lottie Dalziel
Lottie Dalziel
Founder of Banish
Shelin David
Shelin David
Founder of CFOWorx
Mike Davis
Mike Davis
Creator of Humans of Purpose
Luke Dean-Weymark
Luke Dean-Weymark
Co-Director at Compass Studio
Beau De Belle
Beau De Belle
Cultural VC Indigenous Pre-Doctoral Fellow at RMIT University
Stephanie Devine
Stephanie Devine
Founder of The Very Good Bra
Kirsty De Garis
Kirsty De Garis
Editor of Dumbo Feather
Steven De Pasquale
Steven De Pasquale
Senior Development Manager for Pavilions Residences at MIRVAC
Chris Freel
Chris Freel
CEO of UnLtd
Dan Gammell
Dan Gammell
Investor at First Light
Nicole Garofano
Nicole Garofano
Head of Circular Economy Development at Planet Ark
Nina Gbor
Nina Gbor
Founder of EcoStyles
Lisa Green
Lisa Green
Head of Comms & Marketing at TerraCycle ANZ
Yasmin Grigaliunas
Yasmin Grigaliunas
Co-founder of World's Biggest Garage Sale
Chris Hay
Chris Hay
CCO at St Baker Energy Innovation Fund
Ross Harding
Ross Harding
Principal of Finding Infinity
George Hedon
George Hedon
Founder of Pause Fest
Bonnie Herring
Bonnie Herring
Director of Sustainability at Breathe
Joanne Howarth
Joanne Howarth
Founder of Planet Protector Packaging
Dr David Ireland
Dr David Ireland
Director at The Growth Drivers
Jared Ingersoll
Jared Ingersoll
Climate Action & Sustainability Strategist
Sam Johnson
Sam Johnson
Head of Polestar Australia
Shahrzad Kahrobai
Shahrzad Kahrobai
Founder of THESPOTBEAUTY
Jordy & Julia Kay
Jordy & Julia Kay
Founders of Great Wrap
Christie Kamphuis
Christie Kamphuis
Co-founder of Bettercup
Declan Keir-Saks
Declan Keir-Saks
Senior Sales Manager at Square Australia
Sanaya Khisty
Sanaya Khisty
Chief Strategy Officer at Beyond Zero Emissions
Anna Jane Linke
Anna Jane Linke
Founder of Seaside Scavenge
Andy Marks
Andy Marks
Sustainability Leader, Social Entrepreneur, Artist
Julie Mathers
Julie Mathers
Founder of Flora & Fauna
Robyn McLean
Robyn McLean
Co-Founder of The Hello Cup
Emily Medbury
Emily Medbury
Executive Creative Director at Fungi Solutions
Anna Minns
Anna Minns
Co-founder of Boomerang Labs
Jaine Morris
Jaine Morris
COO at Coreo
Jennifer Nielsen
Jennifer Nielsen
Founder of ekko.world
Rik Olthuis
Rik Olthuis
Footwear Design and Innovation at YY Nation
Dr Miles Park
Dr Miles Park
Senior Lecturer & Researcher at UNSW
Heidi Peuten
Heidi Peuten
Co-Founder of Ulu Hye
Peita Pini
Peita Pini
Founder of The Swag
Sara Rickards
Sara Rickards
Founder of Futuregiving
Jenny Ringland
Jenny Ringland
Co-founder of Green + Simple
Dr Kate Ringvall
Dr Kate Ringvall
Technical Director Circular Economy at GHD
Anaita Sarker
Anaita Sarker
Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Packaging
Kelley Sheenan
Kelley Sheenan
Founder & Editor-In-Chief of Peppermint Magazine
Tim Silverwood
Tim Silverwood
Co-Founder of Ocean Impact Organisation
Naomi Tarszisz
Naomi Tarszisz
Founder of RePlated
Sophie Treasure
Sophie Treasure
Sustainability Manager at Tourism Australia
Matt Whiley
Matt Whiley
Founder of Re–
Danling Xiao
Danling Xiao
Co-founder at ReCo
Phoebe Yu
Phoebe Yu
Founder of ettitude
Maggie Zhou
Maggie Zhou
Writer & Producer at Refinery29

Judging criteria

Better is a direction, not a destination.

We’re looking for entries that are making progress towards a better future, not just those who are doings things perfectly.

Entries are judged against the following six criteria:

01 Innovation

Does it break conventions and unlock opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be possible?

02 Impact

Is it currently delivering a positive impact at a significant scale?

03 Efficiency

Is it delivering impact that’s disproportionate to the resources available to the team?

04 Circularity

How effectively is it implementing circular/regenerative practices to achieve the positive outcome?

05 Accreditation

Have standards been verified by independent third-party accreditations or certifications?

06 Vision

Is there an ambition beyond the current manifestation and a clear plan for how it will be achieved?

The Circle Awards AUS & NZ 2022 is proudly presented by…

TMRRW™

TMRRW™ is a creative studio connecting businesses, organisations, government and consumers; inspiring and empowering everyone to make a positive impact on the world.

Polestar

Polestar is a design-focused electric performance car brand. We’re determined to improve the society we live in by accelerating the change to a climate-neutral future.

In partnership with…

Dumbo Feather is a global media organisation that shares stories of people building a hopeful future. 

Through its tri-annual print publication, fortnightly podcast and online platforms, Dumbo Feather seeks to nourish and support a generation of change.

Hero Packaging is an Australian owned retailer of bright and fun sustainable packaging for e-commerce, aiming to completely eliminate single-use plastic from online retail.

Square provides payment solutions that help businesses of all sizes shape their future.

Purpose is an immersive, two day event for the purpose-driven business community. Hosted at Carriageworks, Sydney on 19 - 20 Oct.

JOLT provides free, fast EV charging. Rolling out across Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada and the UK to accelerate the shift to zero-emissions.

The Bravery is a PR and Communications agency dedicated to positive social and sustainable change.

Birchal is an Australian equity crowdfunding platform, empowering forward-thinking businesses to build communities of engaged supporters and shape the future we all want to see.

Become a Partner

Help us make the world go round: The Circle Awards exist to accelerate the adoption of better practices across businesses and organisations of all sizes, while increasing demand for better from consumers.

If you’re a brand who shares our vision and values and you want to help us make an even greater impact we’d love to chat about partnership opportunities.

About The Circle Awards

The Circle Awards launched in 2021 as a way of recognising and showcasing the local businesses and organisations creating positive environmental and social impact to inspire others to take action.

After returning to Australia in 2020 following over a decade in the UK, I discovered so many exciting things happening locally that demonstrated the positive impact more conscious leadership practices can have, not only in terms of the environment and societal benefits, but also in driving commercial success.

I set out to find a way to celebrate those leading the way and share their stories as inspiration and education to empower others to adopt a more purpose-driven approach within their businesses and organisations. The goal was simple: create an annual awards program that grows a community of passionate individuals and fosters a culture of collaboration and collective action, not competition.

With the support of the Something™ team, the creative studio I’m a co-founder of, The Circle Awards were born.

As The Circle Awards AUS & NZ enter their second year I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieve so far, but also very much looking forward to the big plans we have for the future.

This is just the beginning – watch this space.

Nick Hoskin,
Founder of The Circle Awards

TMRRW™ acknowledges that the land we operate on is the traditional lands of the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present, as well as to all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people & celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories.