Entries Open!
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.Â
Proudly presented by the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation.Â
Supported by Noosa Council. Â
Award Categories
Social Impact Award
Environmental Steward Award
Outstanding contribution to the Noosa Biosphere environment by an individual. Category defined between ages above and below 30 years.
Thriving Nature Award
Smart Biosphere Award
Sponsored by Noosa Council Economic Development
Outstanding contribution by a business, group or organisation for achieving outstanding environmental or social outcomes through the use of technology or innovation.
Sustainable Business of the Year Award
Recognition of a business or organisation with an outstanding commitment to sustainable business practices, or outstanding environmental and social outcomes in the Noosa Shire.
Entering the Noosa Biosphere Awards
2025 key dates
- Entries Open: Monday, 18 August 2025
- Entries Close: Sunday, 14 September
- Finalists Announced: Early October
- Winners Announced: Awards Ceremony, Thursday 13 November.
Noosa Biosphere Awards 2024 Sustainable Business of the Year Winner, Ben Clark, Sunshine Social with Sharon Raguse, Tourism Noosa
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
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.
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.
Eligibility
The individual, business or organisation must:
- Operate within the Noosa Shire; with activities benefiting the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
- Be able to demonstrate how their project or activities contribute to the objectives of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, through either:
- Conservation – of biodiversity, species and ecosystem services.
- Sustainable development – contributing to building a sustainable, healthy and equitable society, and thriving economy, in harmony with the biosphere reserve.
- Learning – through biodiversity and sustainability science and research, education for sustainable development (ESD), and/or sharing knowledge across networks.
- Climate – support mitigation and adaptation to climate change and other aspects of global environmental change.
- Read and agree to the awards entry rules.
How to enter
Entries open 18 August 2025!
Find out how you can enter the Noosa Biosphere Awards, prepare your submission, or nominate an individual or business.
Nominate someone
Anyone can nominate another person or business. We will notify the Nominee via email. It is up to the Nominee to determine if they are eligible and submit an Entry to the Awards. It’s easy to nominate – click the Nominate button below, provide their contact details and tell us why you think they are deserving of an Award.
Submit An Entry
We encourage entries from all community sectors. Entering is easy and there are only 3 questions!Â
- Download the Awards Entry Questions to preview and draft your responses first (when clicked, an editable Word doc will download to your computer).
- Submit your entry using the online Entry Form before the closing date.
Tip: you cannot save and come back to your entry, so we encourage you to pre-prepare your answers in the Word doc, and then copy/paste them into the online form.Â
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
Support the Awards
The Noosa Biosphere Awards are an initiative of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation, a non-profit charitable organisation. Your support helps us to deliver the Awards that aims to support, recognise and encourage excellence in the region’s environment, sustainability and innovation sector for the benefit of the Noosa Shire.Â
There are several ways you can support the ongoing success of the Noosa Biosphere Awards:
- Become a financial sponsor. There are multiple opportunities to become an Event Sponsor. Reach out to Anna Macklin, NBRF General Manager at the awards email below for an information pack.
- In-kind/collaborative supporter. Have a service that could help us promote or deliver an exceptional event experience? We’d love to hear from you!Â
- Share the Awards. Encourage those in your network to enter the awards, and share the Awards via your social media and newsletter channels. Simply visit our Facebook page to share a recent post or email us for some content for use – we’re happy to supply!
Email awards@noosabiosphere.org.au for more information.
Be part of an exciting Awards program that celebrates our Noosa Biosphere community and environment. Sponsor opportunities open!
Finalists and Winners
2024 Finalists
YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD AWARD (Under 30)
Sponsored by UniSC
Millie Toy
Spencer Hitchen
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD AWARD
Sponsored by Sandy Bolton MP – Independent Member for Noosa
Carolyn Lansdown
Nick CookeÂ
Paul RyanÂ
Philip Moran
SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
Sponsored by Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa
Alsawha Estate
Noosa Landcare Training ProgramÂ
Veggie Village Community Gardens
Whalesongs NoosaÂ
THRIVING NATURE AWARD
Sponsored by Noosa4Sale
Bushland Conservation Management
Noosa Koala Habitat Restoration ProgramÂ
The Nature Conservancy AustraliaÂ
WIldlife Noosa
SMART BIOSPHERE AWARD
Sponsored by Noosa Council Economic Development
Energy Flex
Prestige Residential – On The BeachÂ
Provectus Algae
Zero Emissions NoosaÂ
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Tourism Noosa
Boomerang Bags Noosa
Eastwell Farms
Silicon CoastÂ
Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort
Sunshine Social
2024 Winners
YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD AWARD (Under 30)
Sponsored by UniSC
Spencer Hitchen
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD AWARD
Sponsored by Sandy Bolton MP – Independent Member for Noosa
Philip Moran
SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
Sponsored by Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa
Noosa Landcare Training Program Â
THRIVING NATURE AWARD
Sponsored by Noosa4Sale
Noosa Koala Habitat Restoration ProgramÂ
SMART BIOSPHERE AWARD
Sponsored by Noosa Council Economic Development
Energy Flex
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Tourism Noosa
Sunshine Social
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 2024 sponsors
