Rising Star of the Year (1)

Recognising Australia's Rising Star in digital and technology.  This award recognises an ambitious innovator who has demonstrated an outstanding level of initiative and leadership as a digital specialist early in their career. Please note that from 2026, eligibility for this award has changed - nominees must be under the age of 25 at the time of their award submission 

Eligibility Criteria

The person eligible for this award must:

  • Identify as She/Her, She/They, or They/Them

  • Reside in Australia

  • Be under the age of 25 at the time of their award submission.

     

Assessment Criteria

 What we are looking for in the entry:

  • Clear and concise communication of the significant achievements to date within your role, organisation and/or the digital community

  • Clear ambition for a career in the digital sector

  • Demonstrated future potential in leadership, innovation and digital expertise

  • Involvement and initiative within the digital community

  • Resilience in the face of challenge

  • Concise yet sufficiently detailed answers

Tip: When responding to questions, please provide as many numerical measures as possible - quantifying your success will help contextualise your submission for the industry judges.

 

Nomination Questions
  1.  Full Name (first and last name)

  2. Role Title

  3. Organisation

  4. LinkedIn URL

  5. Bio (150 words)

  6. What made you pursue a career in the digital industry, and what drives your passion for it? (150 words)

  7. Describe your current role or studies, along with your greatest achievement in the digital industry so far. What are you most proud of, and why? (300 words)

  8. Share an example of a time when you faced a challenge or difficulty in your career. How did you overcome it, and what did you learn? (250 words)

  9. How would others describe your work ethic, passion, and contributions to the digital industry? (Tip: Include a testimonial if possible!) (200 words)

  10. Complete the following sentences: In the next three years, I am working to achieve… (100 words) My ultimate career goal is… (100 words)

  11. What would winning this award mean to you? (100 words)

  12. Describe any additional contributions you have made to the Australian digital industry, such as guest speaking, mentoring, or other initiatives. (150 words)

  13. Please provide a link or testimonial that highlights your contributions to the tech industry or gender equity.

Nomination Fee 
 To continue growing and elevating the Women in Digital Awards, this year we have introduced a fee of $199 per award nomination. If you are a Women in Digital Member, you receive one free nomination as part of your membership benefits! To access this benefit, entrants must be a confirmed Women in Digital member at the time of submission. You can find your exclusive discount code in the Member Portal. Not a member? Join today!

Previous Winner
Inano Knowles

 Inano Knowles 

Founder and President
QUT The Emerging Coders Hub

Key Dates

Nominations Open
27 May 2026 at 09:00 AM
Nominations Close
19 Jul 2026 at 11:30 PM
Finalist Judging Day
13 Aug 2026 at 09:00 AM
Finalists Announced
2 Sep 2026 at 09:00 AM
Winners Announced
6 Nov 2026 at 05:30 PM
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