The Kooya Local Engagement Excellence Award recognises exemplary initiatives that demonstrate strategic, place-based collaboration between organisations and their local communities. It highlights how local councils, businesses, and not-for-profits work in partnership with grassroots organisations, residents, and community leaders to co-create sustainable, inclusive outcomes.
The Award values cross-sector cooperation, shared ownership, and the ability to navigate complex community dynamics through trusted relationships and innovative local action.
While the broader Corporate Social Impact Award recognises large-scale change or organisation-wide commitments, this award celebrates the quality of collaboration and depth of local engagement. It is for initiatives where success depends not just on resourcing, but on trust, coordination, and authentic partnership at the community level.
In preparing entries, organisations should include details of one or more major local engagement initiatives, for example:
In determining the winner of this Award, judges will consider the extent to which initiatives described:
Each Award category will comprise of a judging panel of between six to eight business leaders with expertise relevant to the Award. The judges will consider entries against the stated judging criteria and produce a shortlist prior to determining the category winner. For more information click here.
The recipient of this Award will receive leadership and management training to the value of $20,000 to donate to a charity of their choice*, as well as an engraved Pinnacle trophy.
*Refer to the Eligibility Criteria and Terms and Conditions.