Noosa Biosphere Reserve - A celebration of community and environment.
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Congratulations Winners

View Finalists & Winners

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 closed 8 September.

Proudly presented by the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation. 
Supported by Noosa Council.  

council

Award Categories

Social Impact Award

Sponsored by Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa
Outstanding contribution by a business, group or organisation for achieving outstanding social outcomes for the Noosa community or marginalised groups within it.

Young Environmental Steward Award (under 30)

Sponsored by UniSC
Outstanding contribution to the environment by an individual aged between 10 and 30 years.

Environmental Steward Award

Sponsored by Sandy Bolton MP – Independent Member for Noosa

Outstanding contribution to the environment by an individual aged 31 and over.

Thriving Nature Award

Sponsored by Noosa4Sale
Outstanding contribution by a business, group or organisation for achieving outstanding environmental conservation outcomes for the Noosa community.

Smart Biosphere Award

Sponsored by Noosa Council Economic Development
Outstanding contribution by a business, group or organisation for achieving outstanding environmental or social outcomes for the Noosa community through the use of technology or creative innovation.

Sustainable Business Award

Sponsored by Tourism Noosa
Recognition of a business or organisation with an outstanding commitment to sustainable business practices, or outstanding environmental and social outcomes within the Noosa community.

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.

Noosa Biosphere Awards 2023 Winners

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.

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.

The individual, business or organisation must:

  1. Operate within the Noosa Shire; with activities benefiting the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
  2. 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.
  3. Read and agree to the awards entry rules.

Entries and nominations are open!

Entries close midnight, 8 September 2024.

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! 

  1. Download the Awards Entry Questions (pdf) to preview and draft your responses first.
  2. 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 and then copy/paste them into the online form. 

Submit An Entry
Nominate Someone

If you have questions about eligibility, how to enter, or a media or general enquiry, you can email us at awards@noosabiosphere.org.au

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. 

There are several ways you can support the ongoing success of the Noosa Biosphere Awards:

  1. Become a financial sponsor. There are multiple opportunities from Major Event Sponsor to low investment Table Sponsorships.
  2. In-kind/collaborative sponsorship. Have a service that could help us promote or deliver an exceptional event experience? We’d love to hear from you! Email hello@sagepr.au to discuss a partnership.
  3. Share the Awards with your network. We have a Communications Pack available to easily promote the Awards through your social media and newsletter channels. Email hello@sagepr.au for information.

Be part of an exciting Awards program that celebrates our Noosa Biosphere community and environment! Sponsor opportunities open.

Judging Panel

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 Cooke 
Paul Ryan 
Philip Moran

SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
Sponsored by Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa

Alsawha Estate
Noosa Landcare Training Program 
Veggie Village Community Gardens
Whalesongs Noosa 

THRIVING NATURE AWARD
Sponsored by Noosa4Sale

Bushland Conservation Management
Noosa Koala Habitat Restoration Program 
The Nature Conservancy Australia 
WIldlife Noosa

SMART BIOSPHERE AWARD
Sponsored by Noosa Council Economic Development

Energy Flex
Prestige Residential – On The Beach 
Provectus Algae
Zero Emissions Noosa 

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by Tourism Noosa

Boomerang Bags Noosa
Eastwell Farms
Silicon Coast 
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  

THRIVING NATURE AWARD
Sponsored by Noosa4Sale

Noosa Koala Habitat Restoration Program 

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

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Noosa Biosphere, the Kabi Kabi. Thank you for your enduring example of custodianship and care for the world we all are a part of and not apart from.

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