The judging sessions for the three new Contribution to Industry Awards are now complete with the winners to be announced at the 2024 Australian Drinks Awards ceremony on July 18 at the Hilton Sydney.
The award categories were refreshed in 2024 to align with emerging priorities and challenges facing the drinks industry and introduce a renewed focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, wellbeing, and sustainability.
Prior to the submission deadline, the Drinks Association hosted an information session for member company representatives who were interested in learning more about what the judges were looking for in this year’s entries.
In the session, Drinks Association CEO Georgia Lennon said: “We introduced our Contribution to Industry Awards seven years ago. The intent behind them is to recognise the amazing efforts our member organisations put into the areas of our people, the environment and the community. These are important areas that I don’t think we spend enough time celebrating.”
“Over the years these awards have evolved. We want to ensure we continue to reward and recognise the areas where members are putting effort and resource.”
Lennon also reinforced the idea that this year’s Contribution to Industry Awards applied to specific initiatives as opposed to broader organisational strategies.
During the session, Mia Lloyd, General Manager of Customer Loyalty at Coles Liquor and third-time Contribution to Industry Awards judge, graciously took the time to outline in detail what the judges look for in submissions, how they critique the submissions and the judging panel’s approach to selecting a winner
Lloyd reiterated to participants: “Having clear impact evidence and metrics of effectiveness within the submission is crucial. It’s not enough to just talk about what the initiative was, we also need to understand, as judges, the tangible results that were achieved, and the extent of which the initiative has addressed the challenge that it aimed to tackle.”
She added: “We’re not just judging one submission; we are looking at all of them. We give each one the time and detailed investigation that it requires. The judges take the time to discuss, debate and advocate for what we believe are great submissions.”
Lloyd strongly recommended that member companies consider Impact, Metrics and Outcomes throughout every component of the award submission process.
The three new Contribution to Industry Awards are:
Best Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative Award - Sponsored by Coles Liquor
Formerly Most Improved Gender Equity and Most Inclusive & Diverse Workplace Awards
- Recognises organisations that prioritise diversity and equity and recognise the value of an inclusive workplace for individuals and their organisations.
- Recognises initiatives which successfully address a workforce challenge for the organisation relating to diverse or marginalised cohorts of employees or the wider community.
- This initiative is judged alongside demonstrated continued focus and progress with reference to gender equality.
Best Wellbeing Initiative Award - Sponsored by BevChain
New Award
- Recognises organisations that prioritise the health and wellbeing of their people.
- Recognises initiatives which prioritise the promotion and support of the health and wellbeing of the workforce, embedding health and wellbeing into organisational plans, policies and processes, and show the direct impact health and wellbeing has on organisational objectives.
Best Environmental Sustainability Initiative Award - Sponsored by Endeavour Drinks Group
Updated from Corporate Social Responsibility Award
- Recognises organisations’ leading the way in environmental sustainability, reducing their impact on the planet and improving the livelihoods of those affected by their business.
- Recommended for organisations who demonstrate excellence in initiatives facilitating an environmentally responsible organisation including but not limited to: climate action, sustainable packaging and circular economy, waste reduction, water stewardship, biodiversity and land use, clean energy production.
A total of 17 submissions across the three award categories were judged by our panel this year.
The Drinks Association would like to extend its thanks to its generous sponsors for this year’s event.
