Entries Open 29 July 2024
About the Awards
The Noosa Biosphere Awards celebrate our community and the environmental champions in our region.
The annual Noosa Biosphere Awards celebrates the people, businesses and organisations championing social inclusion, environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Noosa Shire. Entries open Monday 29 July 2024.
Proudly presented by the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation.
Categories include:
- Social Impact Award
- Young Environmental Steward Award (under 30)
- Environmental Steward Award
- Thriving Nature Award
- Smart Biosphere Award
- Sustainable Business Award
Entering the Noosa Biosphere Awards
2024 key dates
- Entries Open: 29 July 2024
- Entries Close: midnight, Sunday 8 September
- Finalists Announced: 30 September
- Winners Announced: Awards Ceremony, Wednesday 6 November 2024, Sunshine Beach SLSC.
Why enter?
There are multiple benefits to entering the Noosa Biosphere Awards:
- Meaningful recognition of your contribution to sustainability in the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, by the Noosa Shire community.
- Celebrate your achievements with your team, peers and community at the Noosa Biosphere Awards.
- Opportunity to network with like-minded business leaders, sponsors and community members at the Awards event (tickets not included/guaranteed).
- Build your brand profile through the promotion of your organisation or cause.
- Winners and Finalists will receive an official logo for use in their marketing.
- Winners and Finalists will be listed on this website.
- Winners and Finalists will receive promotion in the lead-up to the Awards ceremony, and following announcements.
Awards purpose
Noosa is recognised globally for its outstanding biodiversity and rich cultural history. In 2007, the Noosa Shire was designated an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in recognition of the ongoing efforts of our community to manage Noosa’s land, waters and wildlife sustainably.
The Noosa Biosphere Reserve is one of only five UNESCO biosphere reserves in Australia and part of a network of more than 700 sites worldwide under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) all working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The MAB Programme aims to establish a scientific basis and support for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments. Biosphere reserves are ‘living labs’. They are learning places seeking to develop and test local solutions to the global challenges of sustainable development and biodiversity health.
The Noosa Biosphere Awards celebrates the people, businesses and organisations making a difference in our community who are leading the way in progressing Noosa towards a healthy, happy and inclusive community and environment.
Eligibility
2024 eligibility criteria coming soon
The individual, business or organisation must:
- Operate within the Noosa Shire; with activities benefiting the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
- represent at least one of our four priority areas of Land, Water, Wildlife and People & Economy.
- have undertaken actions in one or more of the important Noosa Biosphere Reserve values under the UNESCO MaB Programme:
- Safeguarding and/or restoring natural or managed ecosystems and biodiversity (flora or fauna).
- Promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are environmentally sustainable.
- Providing new scientific-based knowledge that can lead to enhanced best practices relating to natural assets.
- Enhances the relationship between people and their environment including education and social/cultural engagement.
- demonstrate how the project or initiative aligns with at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal
How to enter
Nominations and entries open 29 July 2024. Check back here for entry criteria and how to enter.
Nominate someone
Anyone can nominate a person or business. We will notify the Nominee. It is up to the Nominee to determine if they are eligible and submit an Entry to the Awards. Simply complete the Online Nomination Form and tell us why you think they are deserving of an Award.
Enter yourself or your business
Download the Awards Entry document to view the application questions and draft your responses before completing the online entry form. To enter, complete the Online Entry Form by the closing date
Have a question?
If you have questions about eligibility, how to enter, or a media or general enquiry, you can email us at awards@noosabiosphere.org.au.
Be part of an exciting Awards program that celebrates our Noosa Biosphere community and environment! Sponsor opportunities open.
Judging Panel
Jarrah Small
Noosa Biosphere Award Winner 2022 (Young Eco Leader)
Cr Karen Finzel
Noosa Council
Cr Amelia Lorentson
Noosa Council
Benjamin Derrick
Environmental Services Manager, Noosa Council
Judy Castledine
Former Director, Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation
Rex Halverson
Former Chair, Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation
Finalists and Winners
2023 Finalists
LAND CATEGORY
Sponsored by International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Alsahwa
Eastwell Farms
NICA (Urban Wildlife Gardens)
Rosecliffe Boutique Farm Cottages
WATER CATEGORY
Sponsored by UniSC
Alison Foley (Ten Little Pieces)
Richard Howard (NICA)
Sally Jensen (‘Pontoon’ film)
WILDLIFE CATEGORY
Sponsored by Land & Sea Brewery
Bushland Conservation Management
UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation
Wildcare Australia – Noosa Team
Wildlife Noosa
YOUNG ECO LEADER CATEGORY
Sponsored by Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club
Jarrah Small
Millie Toy
Spencer Hitchen
Taylor Ladd-Hudson
PEOPLE & ECONOMY (INDIVIDUAL/NOT-FOR-PROFIT) CATEGORY
Sponsored by Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa
Noosa Regional Gallery (Floating Land: Us and Them)
Noosa Environmental Education Hub (Noosa Youth Advocacy Group)
Tourism Noosa (Tread Lightly)
Zero Emissions Noosa (Community Battery/EV Expo)
PEOPLE & ECONOMY (BUSINESS) CATEGORY
Sponsored by Tourism Noosa
Eco Cottages
Mayan Farm
Provectus Algae
RACV Noosa Resort
2023 Winners
Congratulations to:
LAND CATEGORY
Sponsored by International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
NICA (Urban Wildlife Gardens)
WATER CATEGORY
Sponsored by UniSC
Alison Foley (Ten Little Pieces)
WILDLIFE CATEGORY
Sponsored by Land & Sea Brewery
UniSC Detection Dogs for Conservation
YOUNG ECO LEADER CATEGORY
Sponsored by Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club
Taylor Ladd-Hudson
PEOPLE & ECONOMY (INDIVIDUAL/NOT-FOR-PROFIT) CATEGORY
Sponsored by Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa
Zero Emissions Noosa (for their Community Battery/EV Expo initiative)
PEOPLE & ECONOMY (BUSINESS) CATEGORY
Sponsored by Tourism Noosa
Eco Cottages
2022 Finalists
Land Category Finalists
Rosecliffe Boutique Farm Cottages
Eastwell Farms
Permeco Inc.
Young Eco-Leader Award Finalists
Sponsored by Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club
Jarrah Small
Spencer Hitchen
Water Category Finalists
Sponsored by UniSC
NICA – Waterwatch Team
NICA – Get Your Wetlands Project (Peter & Alex)
Noosa World Surfing Reserve Stewardship Council
Wildlife Category Finalists
Sponsored by Tourism Noosa
Meghan Halverson
Kanu Kapers
People & Economy Category Finalists
Sponsored by Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa
Plastic Free Noosa
Zero Emissions Noosa Inc
Noosa Lakes Resort
RACV Noosa Resort
2022 Winners
Congratulations to:
Land Category (Sponsored by NBRF)
Rosecliffe Boutique Farm Cottages
Water Category (Sponsored by UniSC)
NICA – Waterwatch Team
Wildlife Category (Sponsored by Tourism Noosa)
Meghan Halverson
People & Economy Category (Sponsored by Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa)
Plastic Free Noosa
Young Eco Leader Category (Sponsored by Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club)
Jarrah Small
Spencer Hitchen
2021 Finalists
Land Category Finalists
Sponsored by University of the Sunshine Coast
PermEco Inc.
Dangerbridge Nature Reserve
Noosa & District Landcare – Keeping it in Kin Kin project
Water Category Finalists
Sponsored by Tourism Noosa
Land & Sea Brewery (Can for a Cause)
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association
Noosa World Surfing Reserve.
Wildlife Category Finalists
Sponsored by International Fund for Animal Welfare
Meghan Halverson
Rachel Lyons
Dr Romane Cristescu
People & Economy Category Finalists
Sponsored by Noosa Council Economic Development
EarthTech
Noosa Environmental Education Hub
Plastic Free Noosa
2021 Winners
Land Category Winner
Noosa & District Landcare (Keeping it in Kin Kin project)
Water Category Winner
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association
Wildlife Category Winner
Rachel Lyons
People & Economy Winner
Noosa Environmental Education Hub
Thank you to our 2023 sponsors
