Nominations are now open for The Summit 2026 Awards, recognising outstanding leadership and achievement in Indigenous enterprise, employment and advocacy across New South Wales.
The Awards celebrate the businesses, individuals, government departments and agencies, industry partners and organisations creating stronger economic outcomes for Indigenous people and communities. If you know an individual or organisation making a genuine difference, now is the time to recognise their contribution.
Nominations are open across all eligible categories, with opportunities to acknowledge achievement in Indigenous enterprise, employment and career development, industry partnership, government procurement, sustainability, and advocacy. Nominations may be submitted for yourself, your organisation, or another eligible individual, business, organisation, government department or agency.
| Key Date | Milestone |
| Monday 24 August 2026 | Nominations open |
| Friday 18 September 2026 | Nominations close |
| Friday 25 September 2026 | Finalists announced publicly |
| Tuesday 3 November 2026 | Winners announced at The Summit 2026 Awards and Gala Dinner |
The Summit Awards recognise practical impact as well as achievement. Eligible nominations will be assessed on their contribution to stronger economic outcomes for Indigenous people and communities across NSW, including through the growth of Indigenous-owned businesses, engagement in government and industry supply chains, and the employment and career advancement of Indigenous people.
Award categories include Emerging Indigenous Enterprise of the Year, Indigenous Business of the Year for metro and regional businesses, Indigenous Business Woman of the Year, Indigenous Employee of the Year, Industry Partner of the Year, and NSW Government Department or Agency of the Year. Further categories recognise excellence in employment, training, education and careers; sustainability and environmental impact; NSW Government procurement; and Indigenous advocacy.
A nomination is an opportunity to recognise leadership, impact and achievement. It helps shine a light on the people and organisations strengthening Indigenous economic outcomes across NSW.
Before starting a nomination, please review the relevant category's eligibility and judging criteria. Nominators will need the direct contact details for the person or organisation being nominated, sufficient information to address the category-specific questions, and any supporting documentation they wish to include. The nominated person or organisation will receive an acknowledgement once the nomination has been submitted.
Please note that the Wuu-rri Vending: Empowering Indigenous Enterprise Award is determined separately through the Wuu-rri Vending program and does not accept public nominations.
NSWICC is also proud to introduce the experienced judging panel for The Summit 2026 Awards.
| Judge | Role and Experience |
| Narelle Anderson |
NSWICC Deputy Chairperson and Managing Director of Envirobank Recycling. Narelle brings leadership across Indigenous enterprise, sustainability, innovation and community impact. |
| Louise McGrath | Head of Industry Development and Policy at Ai Group. Louise brings extensive experience in industry policy, business competitiveness, innovation and global integration. |
| Bob Hawes | Chief Executive Officer of Business Hunter. Bob brings a strong background in regional advocacy, economic development, policy and sustainable growth. |
Together, the panel brings deep experience across Indigenous enterprise, industry policy, economic development, sustainability and regional leadership. All eligible nominations will be assessed against the published criteria. Judges are required to declare any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, and all nomination materials and judging deliberations will remain confidential.
Winners will be announced at The Summit 2026 Awards and Gala Dinner on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley, on Wonnarua Country.
Celebrate the people, businesses and organisations helping create stronger economic futures for Indigenous communities across New South Wales.
Explore the categories and submit your nomination: The Summit 2026 Awards