AusIMM Awards
AusIMM Awards
Recognising excellence
For more than 80 years, AusIMM has proudly celebrated members who have made valuable contributions and shown outstanding leadership within the resources sector. The AusIMM Awards recognise the achievements, professional excellence and leadership of many of our talented members working in the resources industry. The annual awards program is an important platform to recognise excellence across a range of categories. AusIMM is committed to increasing diversity in the industry and welcomes nominations from all professionals regardless of discipline or background. 2023 Awards nominations have now closed, but you can express interest to nominate someone for a 2024 Award below.2024 Awards expression of interest
Know someone who deserves an Award? Let us know and we'll get in touch when nominations open.
Award category 1: Highest Honours
Our highest honour awards recognise outstanding senior or high-level service.
Institute Medal
Recognises eminent leadership in the resources sector or AusIMM. The highest honour conferred by AusIMM.
Honorary Fellowship
Recognises exceptional achievement, service or contribution to the resources sector.
Award category 2: Professional excellence
We celebrate those who achieve professional excellence.
Professional Excellence Awards (3)
Recognise significant contributions to the development of professional knowledge.
New Professional Award
Recognises the contribution by a new professional to the resources sector.
Technical Paper Awards (3)
Recognise technical excellence in published papers and a student paper prize for thesis / dissertation.
Award category 3: Outstanding service
We also celebrate outstanding service to AusIMM or the resources sector by AusIMM members (either as individuals or a group).
Institute or Resource Sector Awards (3)
Recognise consistent and significant service by AusIMM members.
AusIMM Awards criteria and guidelines
Recognise excellence in your network. Find out more about each award category.
“As committed professionals I know we all strive to make a difference in our chosen fields. To be recognised by our colleagues is more than simply another award or recognition, although always appreciated, it reflects an acknowledgement from those that have a deep appreciation of the challenges and complexities we confront in our professional roles. And so for me, there is no higher praise than to be acknowledged by your peers through the auspices of our peak and well respected professional organisation.”
Mark Cutifani
Institute Medal (2021)
Past AusIMM Award recipients
See the full list of past AusIMM Award Winners.
AusIMM Awards Rules and Guidelines
Nominations for all AusIMM Awards close on 30 September each year. To be accepted, submissions including the contributions of all referees as well as the original nomination, are required by that deadline.
Background to AusIMM Awards
The AusIMM Awards have been recognising contributions to the Institute and professional excellence in the resources sector for more than 80 years. First formally awarded in 1935, AusIMM Awards celebrate outstanding contributions to best practice professionalism. The awards help to promote and raise the overall standard of professional practice and send a clear message to our communities that we are committed to the highest standards.
Who can be nominated?
All AusIMM members are eligible to nominate and to be nominated for one or more awards. We encourage members to nominate individuals or groups to recognise and celebrate achievement of the highest professional standards and/or service to the Institute.
AusIMM members may nominate non-members for consideration for some awards. This provides the AusIMM the opportunity to recognise contributions to our Institute or industry from those in related sectors e.g. in the past, nonmember scientists, politicians etc. not in the industry directly, have been recognised for their contributions to the Institute and/or industry.
All rules and guidelines
- Our industry is relatively small and accordingly it is expected that nominators and/or referees will commonly have past or current professional and personal relationships with the nominee. Nominators and referees are asked on the forms to describe their relationship with the nominee for the sake of transparency and to ensure no potential Conflicts of Interests occur.
- Nominations are to be made through the completion of the online nomination form. If you require assistance with your nomination, please email awards@blackpussypicx.com.au.
- Best Paper Prize nominations come only from the conference committee organising committees. The GB O’Maley Medal and AusIMM Student Paper Prize nominations must be made by student authors’ supervisors who will provide a short explanation of why they think the paper has merit and including the date when the paper was submitted for final assessment.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
- The nominator must be an AusIMM member, referees preferably so. (Except student paper prizes.)
- All nominations are strictly confidential, and it is a requirement that nominees are not informed of their nomination.
- All accepted nominations will be considered by the Awards Committee. If required, a request for more information may be made of the nominator and/or referees.
- The Awards Committee will make recommendations regarding the Award recipients to the Board by mid-November, for the Board’s consideration at its December meeting.
- No name or names of people other than those recommended by the Awards Committee for an Award shall be reported to the Board.
- The Awards Committee and AusIMM Board are able to exercise discretion in awarding more or fewer than the awards noted in each category where there is a particularly high or low number or quality of nominations in a given year. This includes the option of no awards in any category.
- All unsuccessful nominations shall be reviewed at the beginning of the following year’s process and may be retained for further consideration or discarded.
- The presentation of the AusIMM Awards will be made at the Awards Dinner usually held in conjunction with AusIMM’s Annual Congress the following year.
Honours Information
Australian Honours
During the process undertaken by the Awards Committee, it may become evident that a nominee may fit with criteria established for Australian Honours. This is a different and potentially laborious process but necessary for the recognition of significant contributors. Accordingly, where a nominee is agreed to be worthy of Australian Honours consideration, a sub-committee may be formed to pursue this nomination outside of the AusIMM Awards Committee and its normal processes. This committee may be led by the AusIMM but may include non-members where relevant.New Zealand Honours
These would be led by NZ branch representatives with support from the Awards Committee and AusIMM Management.Other National Honours
The Awards Committee and AusIMM Management would support such initiatives but could not take a leading role.