What are the iTnews Benchmark Awards?

For over a decade, the iTnews Benchmark Awards have given end user organisations, their IT leaders and teams an opportunity to gain recognition for their ambition, innovation and the value they have delivered to government, industry and the public.  This year we will be recognising both the projects and the people behind Australia's best IT initiatives.

The 2025 Benchmark Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner and conference on the 27th March at Doltone, House, Hyde Park Sydney

Agenda

3.00     Registration – The Hyde Park Ballroom

3.30     Welcome Address

3.40     Panels and conference

5.25     Closing Remarks

5.30     Networking drinks and media room – The Manhattan Room

6.30     Gala Dinner and Awards presentation – The Hyde Park Ballroom

10.00   Event concludes.

Why Enter?

• Join an alumni of IT leaders and teams responsible for some of Australia's most remarkable IT projects. This group will be invited to exclusive iTnews events.
• Finalists will be invited to attend the iTnews Benchmark Conference – a 2 hour event prior to the Awards ceremony
• Finalists’ projects will be featured by iTnews, which is read by tens of thousands of people every day. Coverage will include videos about the finalists' projects.
• Be recognised in front of your IT industry peers at our gala awards dinner in March, 2025 in Sydney’s CBD. All finalists are invited.
• Winners and finalists receive a promotional brand pack to use on social media, web sites, in email signatures and in other communications.

2025 Benchmark Awards Categories

Best Federal Government Project - Projects conducted by federal government departments or agencies that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.

Best State Government Project - Projects conducted by state government departments or agencies that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.

Best Local Government Project - Projects conducted by local governments that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.

Best Education Project – Projects conducted by or for educational institutions at all levels – from childcare to university to adult education – that delivered either internal efficiency or better experiences and outcomes for students.

Best Health Project - Projects conducted by any organisation that delivered health services which demonstrably improved staff productivity and/or service delivery to patients.

Best Finance (& Professional services)Project - Projects conducted by participants in the financial services industries that either improved internal operations or resulted in improved products and/or service delivery to corporate or retail customers.

Best Industrial & Energy Project – Projects conducted by any organisation in the Industrial (manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics) and energy, (energy, utilities and electricity) sectors that has delivered better experiences or outcomes for customers.

Best Not For Profit Project - projects conducted by NFPs that demonstrate the vital role that information technology plays in modern not-for-profit organisations, enabling improved service delivery to clients, enhanced fundraising capabilities, and increased efficiency.

Best Retail Project – Projects conducted by retailers that delivered internal efficiencies, innovation, customer engagement, sustainability and/or operational efficiency.

Best Telecommunications & Media Project – Projects conducted by telcos and media that demonstrate innovation, network advancement, customer experience enhancement, and technological excellence.

One project entered in these categories will be selected as The Australian Technology Project of the Year.

How do I enter the awards?

Nominations will open in September.

How much does it cost to enter the iTnews Benchmark Awards?

There is no cost to enter the iTnews Benchmark Awards

When is the deadline for entries?

Nominations will open in September.

What can you nominate for an award?

The awards focus on IT projects by large, end-user organisations, which are invited to nominate projects. Technology companies, partners, consultants and contractors can also nominate client projects, but they must have approval from their client to do so. This is an end user-focused awards program, focusing on the organisation’s challenges and how a project helped them. So the client must be prepared to accept an award and speak about their project publicly. The client will also be invited to attend the iTnews Benchmark Awards dinner if their project is a finalist.

Your project is eligible if any part of it occurred between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Judging will focus on achievements during that period. 

To be eligible your project must have been conducted by an Australian organisation or solely within the Australian subsidiary of a multinational organisation.

Pilot projects are welcome, if testing with actual end-users or customers has been completed.

You may submit multiple entries.

The judging process

The awards will be judged by a select panel comprised of the iTnews editorial team and guest judges. Sponsors have no involvement in the judging process.

Finalists are selected on the following criteria:

• The strength of the business case for the project.
   
• The project’s delivery – evidence of agility, creative applications of IT and competencies developed, whilst keeping within targeted scope, deadline and cost.
   
• Whether new ground was forged – in terms of innovation and new technologies or approaches, and how this risk was managed.
   
• Return on investment – anticipated or measured.

Announcement of finalists and winners 

Finalists in each category will be announced in February 2025

Winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner in the Sydney CBD in March 2025  

Questions?

For questions, clarification or to request an extension, please contact us by clicking here.