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What are the iTnews Benchmark Awards?

The iTnews Benchmark Awards give organisations, their IT leaders and teams an opportunity to gain recognition for their ambition, innovation and the value they have delivered to government, industry and the public. 

This year's enhanced program provides extensive networking opportunities including a conference session where finalists can share their success stories, leverage learnings and uncover insights from their peers, while sponsors lead and facilitate group discussions with their attendees.

In 2025 the iTnews Benchmark Awards will deliver its largest enterprise IT awards program yet, with 12 people awards. In 2025, the program not only recognises the best IT projects within Australia over the past year but also the people who have inspired the industry through growth, change and adversity. 

The 2025 Benchmark Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner and conference on the 27th March at Doltone, House, Hyde Park Sydney

Agenda

3.00     Registration – The Hyde Park Ballroom

3.30     Welcome Address

3.40     Panels and conference

5.25     Closing Remarks

5.30     Networking drinks and media room – The Manhattan Room

6.30     Gala Dinner and Awards presentation – The Hyde Park Ballroom

10.00   Event concludes.

Why Enter?

• Join an alumni of IT leaders and teams responsible for some of Australia's most remarkable IT projects. This group will be invited to exclusive iTnews events.
• Finalists will be invited to attend the iTnews Benchmark Conference – a 2 hour event prior to the Awards ceremony
• Finalists’ projects will be featured by iTnews, which is read by tens of thousands of people every day. Coverage will include videos about the finalists' projects.
• Be recognised in front of your IT industry peers at our gala awards dinner in March, 2025 in Sydney’s CBD. All finalists are invited.
• Winners and finalists receive a promotional brand pack to use on social media, web sites, in email signatures and in other communications.

What can you nominate for an award?

Project awards

The awards focus on IT projects by large, end-user organisations, which are invited to nominate projects. Technology companies, partners, consultants and contractors can also nominate client projects, but they must have approval from their client to do so. This is an end user-focused awards program, focusing on the organisation’s challenges and how a project helped them. So the client must be prepared to accept an award and speak about their project publicly. The client will also be invited to attend the iTnews Benchmark Awards dinner if their project is a finalist.

Your project is eligible if any part of it occurred between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Judging will focus on achievements during that period. 

To be eligible your project must have been conducted by an Australian organisation or solely within the Australian subsidiary of a multinational organisation.

Pilot projects are welcome, if testing with actual end-users or customers has been completed.

You may submit multiple entries.

People awards

The Benchmark Awards "People" category celebrates CIOs, CDOs, CTOs and senior tech leaders for their leadership and their work in driving effective technology teams.

The People finalists are selected on the following criteria:

• Execution and stakeholder buy-in of tech roadmap

• Value created for customers or end users

• Innovation and new ground forged

• Challenges overcome in 2024

• Utilisation of resources (including tech talent)

• Approach to people management and culture fostered in the team

Finalists in each category are chosen by the iTnews award-winning editorial team and expert advisors. Event sponsors have no involvement whatsoever in the judging process.

2025 Benchmark Awards People and Project Categories

Federal Government - Projects or technology leadership in federal government departments or agencies that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.

State Government - Projects or technology leadership in state government departments or agencies that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.

Local Government - Projects or technology leadership in local governments that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.

Education – Projects or technology leadership in or for educational institutions at all levels – from childcare to university to adult education – that delivered either internal efficiency or better experiences and outcomes for students.

Health - Projects or technology leadership in any organisation that delivered health services which demonstrably improved staff productivity and/or service delivery to patients.

Finance (& Professional services) -Projects or technology leadership in participants in the financial services industries that either improved internal operations or resulted in improved products and/or service delivery to corporate or retail customers.

Energy - Projects or technology leadership in any organisation in the energy, (energy, utilities and electricity) sector that has delivered better experiences or outcomes for customers.

Industrial – Projects or technology leadership in any organisation in the Industrial (manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics) sector that has delivered better experiences or outcomes for customers.

Not For Profit -Projects or technology leadership in NFPs that demonstrate the vital role that information technology plays in modern not-for-profit organisations, enabling improved service delivery to clients, enhanced fundraising capabilities, and increased efficiency.

Retail – Projects or technology leadership in retailers that delivered internal efficiencies, innovation, customer engagement, sustainability and/or operational efficiency.

Telecommunications & Media – Projects or technology leadership in telcos and media that demonstrate innovation, network advancement, customer experience enhancement, and technological excellence.

One project entered in these categories will be selected as The Australian Technology Project of the Year.

One person in these categories will be selected as The Australian Technology Leader of the Year.

How much does it cost to enter the iTnews Benchmark Awards?

There is no cost to enter the iTnews Benchmark Awards

When is the deadline for entries?

Entries are now closed.

The judging process

The awards will be judged by a select panel comprised of the iTnews editorial team and guest judges. Sponsors have no involvement in the judging process.

Finalists are selected on the following criteria:

• The strength of the business case for the project.
   
• The project’s delivery – evidence of agility, creative applications of IT and competencies developed, whilst keeping within targeted scope, deadline and cost.
   
• Whether new ground was forged – in terms of innovation and new technologies or approaches, and how this risk was managed.
   
• Return on investment – anticipated or measured.

Announcement of finalists and winners 

Finalists in each category will be announced in February 2025

Winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner in the Sydney CBD in March 2025  

Questions?

For questions, clarification or to request an extension, please contact us by clicking here.