2023 Ministry of Sport Awards shortlist announced
In the realm of sports business in Australia, 2023 has unquestionably been a year of high achievement, rising stars, groundbreaking events and innovation, as well as monumental progress in the fields of wellness, technology, and diversity and inclusion.
The third annual Ministry of Sport Awards will celebrate the elite in sports business, recognising the year’s industry leaders, creative talents, bar raisers, trailblazers and barrier breakers.
Australian sports business’ best and brightest have been nominated across eight categories: Best Sports Event, Best Sports Marketing, Innovative Sports Technology, Best Wellness Initiative in Sports, Best Sports Sponsorship, Diversity and Inclusion Advocate in Sports, Sports Industry Newcomer and Administrator of the Year.
A panel of 40 independent judges from a diverse range of industries have run the rule over an abundance of blue-chip nominations, producing a list of worthy finalists for each prestigious honour.
The 2023 Ministry of Sport Awards finalists are:
BEST SPORTS EVENT
2023 NRL Magic Round – National Rugby League
60 Years of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – World Surf League
FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 – Basketball Australia
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – KOJO
Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2023 – Australian Grand Prix Corporation
UFC 284: Makhachev vs Volkanovski – Ultimate Fighting Championship
BEST SPORTS MARKETING
Catch & Keep – Westpac
Matildas ‘Til It’s Done campaign – Football Australia
Recognising the Trailblazers of Female Football: The PUMA OGs – PUMA Oceania
This is Footy Country – Telstra
Western Sydney Wanderers: The fabric of this club is all around us – Chisel
Heart of Brisbane – The Brisbane Broncos
INNOVATIVE SPORTS TECHNOLOGY
AFL Gather Round 2023: Mixed Reality Welcome to Country – KOJO
Apple Pay Ticketing Payment Integration – INTIX Ticketing Pty Ltd
Apple Watch and WSL Surfer App – World Surf League
The Mastercard Sonic Trophy – FutureLabs and Made By Doing
Revolutionising the future of sports technology through Stadia Media – MKTG Sports and Entertainment Australia
Sports Tech College – Sports Tech College
BEST WELLNESS INITIATIVE IN SPORTS
AFLW Workplay – AFL
Goanna Academy – Rich Digital
Mental Health and Wellbeing Technology for Young Athletes – Inspiretek
Pick Fresh, Play Fresh – Woolworths
BEST SPORTS SPONSORSHIP
Athletics for the Outback and Rio Tinto Raise the Bar Programs – Rio Tinto
Gold Coast Titans x Griffth University – Gold Coast Titans
Liberty A-League Pass – Australian Professional Leagues
Pick Fresh, Play Fresh – Woolworths
Telstra & NRL – Telstra
Westpac gets “un-banky” with Rugby League – Westpac
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ADVOCATE IN SPORT
Empowering Diversity and Inclusion: A Visionary Advocate in Sports – Griffith University
It’s our diversity that unites us! – Wests Bulldogs Rugby
Optus Sport presents… A diverse and inclusive coverage and product experience – Optus Sport
Rugby League ‘Dollar-for-dollar’ Partnership – Westpac
This is Greatness – FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
WSL: Equality by Nature – World Surf League
SPORTS INDUSTRY BEST NEWCOMER
Rachel Condos-Fields (Wattlenest)
Ally Kirkwood (Gemba)
Sam Waring (Gemba)
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Caroline Carnegie (Melbourne Victory Football Club)
Damien McDowell (Dolphins NRL)
Nick Ryan (Essendon Football Club)
Andrew Stark (World Surf League)
Ministry of Sport thanks the judges for their conscientious efforts and consideration in assessing this year’s high-quality batch of nominees and congratulates each of the category finalists.
The Grand Electric in Surry Hills, Sydney, will play host to the 2023 MOS Awards – where excellence meets recognition – on Thursday, November 23.
It promises to be an unforgettable night of appreciation and revelry, accompanied by a splash of glamour befitting the occasion courtesy of a performance by the all-star international cast of Blanc de Blanc, the runaway burlesque success from cabaret maestros Strut & Fret that has captivated audiences across the globe.
Tickets are still available for the Australian sport business’ night of nights, which gets underway at 6.30pm – $249 for an individual, $219 per person for groups of four of more, and extra tickets for Ministry of Sport members for $199.
