Nomination & Submission Guide
The Champions of Courage Awards celebrate those pivotal moments where ethical excellence shines through. Whether as an individual, team, or organisation, if you have demonstrated ethical leadership, courage, impact, or innovation, we invite you to share your story.
How to Nominate
Eligibility
Nominations are open to individuals, teams, and organizations who have demonstrated courage, impact, or ethical innovation in a meaningful way.
Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are encouraged. Self-nominees must provide an endorsement from a colleague, mentor, or leader who can attest to their impact.
We welcome submissions from diverse fields and backgrounds, as long as the nominee’s contributions align with the Champions of Courage Awards’ mission to recognise courage.
Award Categories (2026)
- Courageous Leadership – Recognising a leader who has demonstrated courage in action and influence, shaping decisions and direction with integrity.
- Courageous Changemaker – Honouring an individual who has sparked meaningful transformation through acts of courage that inspire and mobilise others.
- Courageous Innovation – Celebrating bold, creative action — reimagining systems, practices, or possibilities in ways that challenge the status quo.
- Courageous Impact – Recognising courageous contributions that have generated tangible, positive change in their communities or professional domains.
- Courageous Collective – Acknowledging the bravery of an organisation, community, or group that has acted together to stand firm, speak up, or create lasting change.
The Wendy-Ann Smith Champions of Courage Founder’s Award
In addition to the formal award categories, the Wendy-Ann Smith Champions of Courage Founder’s Award recognises individuals whose lives, actions, or contributions embody courage in ways that reflect the spirit and purpose of the Champions of Courage Awards.
The award is not automatically bestowed in every award cycle. A recipient may be identified by the Founder or proposed by the serving Champions of Courage Council, with final approval by the Founder.
Distinct from the nomination-based award categories, the Founder’s Award is not open for public nomination or submission.
Nomination Fee
A non-refundable nomination fee applies to support the ongoing work of the Champions of Courage initiative:
- €40 for each nomination in following categories:
- Courageous Leadership
- Courageous Changemaker
- Courageous Innovation
- Courageous Impact
- €70 for each nomination in the Courageous Collective category (team/organisation-based award)
A separate nomination fee applies to each nomination submitted.
All payments are securely processed via Stripe. No VAT is applicable.
Submissions
To begin your nomination, please review the following details and ensure all required documents are complete before submission.
1. Submission Period
~ Opens: 1 February each year
~ Closes: 30 June each year
2. Required Documents
~ Nomination Form (online submission – see form below)
~ Supporting Examples and Testimony: Include relevant testimonials, examples, case studies, or other supporting material that helps demonstrate the nominee’s contribution, impact, or courage in relation to the selected category.
~ Nomination Statement: Provide a concise summary (up to 500 words) outlining the nominee’s accomplishments and explaining how they align with the selected award category.
~ Nomination Fee: Payment required at the time of submission.
Submission Process
- Complete the Online Nomination Form
- Submit Required Materials via the Website Upload Portal
- Pay the non-refundable nomination Fee Securely via Stripe
- Ensure All Materials Are Submitted by 30 June each year
Submission Review Process
All nominations will be reviewed by the independent Champions of Courage Council using the published judging criteria and category-specific rubric. Nominations are scored on the story presented against those criteria; supporting examples and testimony help demonstrate the nominee’s story but are not separately scored. Final awardees will be approved by the Founder and notified by October of the year of nomination.
Judging Criteria
The current judging criteria can be downloaded below.
Privacy
All nomination information, including submitted stories, bios, and supporting materials, will be used solely for the purpose of review by the Champions of Courage Awards Council.
Awardee stories, bios, and selected nomination materials may be featured within Courage Chronicles and published across Champions of Courage Awards platforms to celebrate and honour their contributions.
Nominees and nominators are responsible for ensuring that all submitted materials are accurate and that appropriate consent has been obtained for any personal information included.
Important Notes
~ Self-nominations are encouraged. However, all self-nominations must include an endorsement from an individual who knows the nominee and can independently support the nomination.
~ One category per nominee. Each individual or team can only be nominated in a single award category. (If multiple nominations for the same person or team are received across different categories, the Awards Council reserves the right to determine the most appropriate category.)
~ Multiple nominations are allowed if they pertain to different nominees (e.g., nominating two different individuals or teams).
~ Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
~ Submissions received after the deadline are ineligible.
Questions?
For further details, consult the Awards FAQ or email us Contact
Recognition
Award recipients will be publicly recognised and celebrated through a combination of:
- A formal certificate
- Acknowledgment on Champions of Courage platforms
- Inclusion in future celebration events or publications
- Optional opportunities to share their story more widely
Details of recognition may vary slightly depending on the award and timing.
Ready to Nominate?
Click the button below to submit your nomination form and supporting documents.
Thank you for helping us honour those who lead with courage.