Nominations now open for the 2025 BGS NZ Awards.
The Beta Gamma Sigma New Zealand Alumni Chapter is proud to launch our annual awards. It's a chance to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions, creativity, and impact of our members. These awards highlight the remarkable people across our network who are leading with purpose, uplifting communities, and innovating for a better future.We invite you to put forward individuals who have made a significant impact within their organisations and/or communities over the past 12 months. If this is you, feel free to nominate yourself too.
Nominations are open until 24 October 2025.
Award #1
Emerging Leader Award
Celebrating a young professional BGS NZ member who demonstrates exceptional leadership potential and purpose-driven impact. This person inspires others through their vision, initiative, and ability to influence positive change early in their career.
Who is this award for?
A young professional (typically under 35) who is already demonstrating outstanding leadership potential and has begun to make a meaningful impact in their field, workplace, or community.
The ideal nominee:
• Be in the early to mid-stages of their career or post-study journey• Show clear signs of initiative, courage, and purpose in how they lead• Be inspiring those around them through values-driven actions, not just titles• Have taken on projects, roles, or responsibilities that stretch their growth and demonstrate leadership in action• Have navigated challenges or change with maturity, self-awareness, and adaptability• Demonstrate a clear commitment to learning, evolving, and giving back
Award #2
Community Champion Award
Recognising a BGS NZ member who is actively building stronger communities through service, advocacy, or social impact. This award honours those who uplift others and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Who is this award for?
A BGS NZ member who is making a sustained, positive difference in their community through service, advocacy, or social leadership.
The ideal nominee:
• Be someone whose impact is felt on the ground — improving lives, opportunities, or wellbeing• Have demonstrated long-term commitment to a cause, group, or mission• Be working quietly or boldly to uplift others and make things more fair, inclusive, or compassionate• Use their time, skills, or platform to build belonging, break barriers, or create hope• Be admired for their integrity, empathy, and humility
Award #3
Inspiring Innovator Award
Recognising a BGS NZ member whose innovative work has inspired others through bold thinking, originality, and action. Their contribution - whether big or small - has sparked meaningful change and motivated others to think differently, act courageously, or dream bigger.
Who is this award for?
A BGS NZ member who has introduced a bold or creative idea that challenges the status quo and inspires others through the way they think, act, or lead change.
The ideal nominee:
• Be someone who brings fresh thinking to a challenge, process, product, or social issue• Have taken steps to turn their idea into action — even if it’s still evolving• Spark inspiration in others to think differently, solve creatively, or act with courage• Demonstrate values-led thinking and an openness to reimagine what’s possible• Be admired for their originality, courage, and ability to create momentum
Award #4
Sustainable Impact Award
Recognising a BGS NZ member who is creating long-term positive impact through environmental, social, or economic sustainability — in business, education, community, or innovation.
Who is this award for?
A BGS NZ member who is driving meaningful and measurable change through environmentally, socially, or economically sustainable initiatives — in business, education, innovation, or community leadership.
The ideal nominee:
• Be actively engaged in work that advances sustainability — through their organisation, startup, academic research, social enterprise, or community-based efforts• Apply sustainable practices in real-world settings — not just talking about it, but taking action• Focus on long-term thinking — building something that lasts and inspires others• Have a clear understanding of systems impact — they know how their work affects people, the planet, and future generations• Demonstrate resilience, courage, and leadership — especially when facing trade-offs or resistance• May or may not be in a traditional “sustainability” role — their work could show up in supply chain, finance, tech, agriculture, education, etc
Conditions of Entry – BGS NZ Awards 2025
We aim to keep this process simple, inclusive, and values-driven. Please review the following criteria before submitting a nomination.
Who Can Be Nominated?
• Nominees must be Beta Gamma Sigma NZ members inducted from either the University of Auckland (UoA) or Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
• Nominees must be aged 18 or over at the time of nomination.
• Nominees must have lived in New Zealand for at least two years prior to nomination.
People currently living overseas for work or study are still eligible. In exceptional cases, the judging panel may make allowances for New Zealanders whose work abroad meaningfully represents or uplifts New Zealand on the global stage.
• Nominees must be living at the time of nomination. Awards will not be granted posthumously.
• Elected politicians are not eligible for nomination.
• Public servants may only be recognised for work beyond their paid role, unless their impact is deemed extraordinary.
What Can Be Nominated?
• The contribution, work, or impact must be active within the past 12 months.
• Long-term efforts and ongoing projects are encouraged.
• Individuals can be nominated in more than one category, but will only be selected as a finalist or winner in one.
• Past recipients may not win the same category again but are welcome to be nominated in other categories in future years.
• Self-nominations and nominations by others are both welcome.
• Group or duo nominations (e.g. teams, couples, co-founders) are not accepted for 2025, unless an exception is granted by the judging panel.
How to Nominate
• Nominations open 24 August 2025 and close at midnight, 30 September 2025 (NZT).
• All entries must be submitted using the official online nomination form.
• Each entry must include:
** written submission of up to 500 words
** Optional supporting materials such as images, short video (max 90 seconds), testimonials, documents, or links
Judging & Selection
• Judges will consider both recent achievements (past 12 months) and long-term contributions.
• All nominations will be reviewed against published criteria for each award category.
• The judging panel may reallocate entries to more suitable categories if appropriate. Every effort will be made to inform nominators.
• The judging process is confidential. All decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Entries may be shortlisted by the BGS NZ Awards Office before reaching the final judging panel.
General Conditions
• There is no fee to enter.
• All submitted materials become the property of BGS NZ unless otherwise arranged.
• By entering, nominators agree that they, referees, and the nominee may be contacted for further information or promotional content.
• There is no limit to how many times a person can be nominated, but the volume of nominations will not influence judging outcomes.
• Nominees may be featured across BGS NZ’s digital channels. We encourage nominees and finalists to make themselves available (without cost) for any promotional opportunities before or after the awards announcements.
• BGS NZ reserves the right to remove nominees whose conduct is found to bring the awards or organisation into disrepute.
• Active judges may not submit nominations during their service on the judging panel.
• These Conditions of Entry may be updated at any time at the discretion of BGS NZ.
Judging criteria
All nominations will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected for their expertise and impartiality. Each nomination will be assessed against the published criteria (see below) for its award category. Judges will score based on the strength of responses and supporting evidence provided, and may also consider the potential, promise, or trajectory of a nominee in addition to past achievements.The judging process is designed to be fair, inclusive, and values-aligned — celebrating a diverse range of contributions across career stages, industries, and communities.Note: The decision of the judging panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Emerging Leader Award
| criteria | guiding questions for judges | points |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Inspiration | What makes this person stand out as an emerging leader? What about their story or achievements inspires recognition? | 10 |
| Purpose & Impact | Who benefits from their leadership? What meaningful outcomes have they helped create in their team, sector, or community? | 10 |
| Leadership in Action | How has the nominee uplifted others or fostered inclusion and belonging? What values do they embody? | 10 |
| Growth & Resilience | How has this nominee shown commitment to learning, developing, or overcoming challenges as a leader? | 10 |
| Potential for Future Impact | How is the nominee likely to evolve as a leader? What future contributions or growth do you see ahead? | 10 |
Community Champion Award
| criteria | guiding questions for judges | points |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Inspiration | What inspires you most about this nominee’s contribution to their community or cause? | 10 |
| Impact on Others | Who has benefited from their work? What difference have they made at a grassroots or systemic level? | 10 |
| Leadership & Inclusivity | How has the nominee uplifted others or fostered inclusion and belonging? What values do they embody? | 10 |
| Consistency of Service | How long have they been committed to this cause or community? What sacrifices or sustained effort have they made? | 10 |
| Legacy & Momentum | What ripple effects or longer-term changes are emerging from their work? What might their legacy be? | 10 |
Inspiring Innovator Award
| criteria | guiding questions for judges | points |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Inspiration | What excites or motivates you about this nominee’s innovation? What problem or opportunity are they addressing? | 10 |
| Originality & Creativity | How original is their idea or approach? What sets it apart from others in the same space? | 10 |
| Execution & Outcomes | How have they translated their idea into action? What evidence shows their innovation is working or gaining traction? | 10 |
| Scalability & Influence | Could this innovation grow, spread, or influence others? Has it already begun to shift thinking or practice? | 10 |
| Adaptability & Leadership | How has the nominee adapted, improved, or learned through the innovation process? What leadership qualities have they shown? | 10 |
Sustainable Impact Award
| criteria | guiding questions for judges | points |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Inspiration | What stands out most about the nominee’s commitment to sustainability? What inspired you about their approach or actions over the past 12 months? | 10 |
| Impact on People & Planet | What change has the nominee created — environmentally, socially, or economically? Who or what benefits from their work, and how meaningful is that change? | 10 |
| Sustainability in Action | How are they putting sustainable principles into practice — not just ideas or intentions, but action and execution? | 10 |
| Long-Term Thinking | Does the nominee take a future-focused, systems-thinking approach? How are they building momentum or driving change that lasts? | 10 |
| Adaptability & Leadership | How has the nominee shown courage, creativity, or resilience in their sustainability journey — especially when facing challenges or resistance? | 10 |
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