Stormwater Awards Criteria
The annual Stormwater Awards Ceremony is one of the highlights in the industry’s calendar recognising people who are at the very top of their field or just starting out. This event celebrates the excellence of our stormwater practitioners, industry technical writing, and the outstanding commitment of the award winners.
The Stormwater Awards winners will be announced at the Stantec Conference Dinner on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Award nominations Now Open
How To Enter
Send your award nomination forms to Katrina Guy – Katrina.guy@waternz.org.nz.
Stormwater Professional of the Year
This award is to recognise an individual within the wider stormwater community who has made a significant contribution to the New Zealand stormwater industry.
The key attributes of a nomination that will be reviewed are:
- Contribution to industry leadership and advocacy that advances stormwater infrastructure and management within New Zealand.
- Demonstration of the ability to develop, articulate and implement changes in the stormwater industry.
- Contribution to the industry and displays a commitment to community or cross-sectoral outreach.
- Peer and wider recognition in relevant communities.
- Demonstration of high standards of ethical and personal behaviour.
The award is open to individuals with a minimum of five years’ work or research experience, and over 35 years of age on Tuesday, 24 March 2026. The candidate does not have to be a Water New Zealand member.
Nominations will be assessed based on the following information:
- Cover letter (1 page) as evidence of achieving the key attributes listed above.
- Curriculum Vitae (2 pages)
- Two supporting statements (500 words max each) written by peers of the candidate who work in the stormwater industry.
- Statement should reference back to the key attributes above.
- Ideally one statement from the employer of the candidate and the second statement could be from a colleague, a Water New Zealand board member, or client.
- Must include contact details of sponsors (phone and e-mail)
- Supporting documentation (optional) – may include articles, media, conferences presented and relevant websites. Limited to a maximum of six pages.
How To Enter
Send your award nomination forms to Katrina Guy – Katrina.guy@waternz.org.nz.
The Stormwater Awards winners will be announced at the Stantec Conference Dinner on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Young Stormwater Professional of the Year
This award is to recognise a Young Stormwater Professional within the industry that has made a significant contribution to the stormwater industry and the general community, and has also demonstrated exceptional achievement in the early stages of their career.
The Young Stormwater Professional of the Year is open to individual members who are under 35 years of age. The candidate does not have to be a Water New Zealand member.
The key attributes of a nomination that will be reviewed are:
- At least 12 months’ work or research experience.
- Exceptional achievement in his or her career.
- Outstanding communication skills.
- Contribution to the stormwater industry.
- Commitment to volunteer activities.
- Nominations will be assessed based on the following information:
- Cover letter (1 page) and CV demonstrating how the candidate achieves the key attributes listed above.
- One or two supporting statements (500 words max each) written by peers of the candidate who work in the water industry.
- Statement should reference back to the key attributes above.
- Ideally one statement from the employer of the candidate and the second statement could be from a colleague, a Water New Zealand board member, or client.
- Must include contact details of sponsors (phone and e-mail).
- Supporting documentation (optional) – may include articles, media, conferences presented at and relevant websites. This is limited to a maximum of five pages.
How To Enter
Send your award nomination forms to Katrina Guy – Katrina.guy@waternz.org.nz.
The Stormwater Awards winners will be announced at the Stantec Conference Dinner on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Stormwater Project of the Year Award
The Stormwater Project of the Year award provides recognition for excellence in delivering a stormwater project including the contribution by various parties – from conception to implementation – to achieve the final outcome. Applicants are invited to nominate projects primarily associated with addressing stormwater issues that highlight the projects technical expertise and the service provided to its clients and/or the community. We are looking for stormwater projects that demonstrate best practice in one or more of the following:
- Innovation & technical excellence
- Community/iwi involvement
- Improved sustainability / environmental outcomes
- Positive impact to the stormwater industry in the future
How To Enter
Send your award nomination forms to Katrina Guy – Katrina.guy@waternz.org.nz.
Stormwater Paper of the Year
This award is to recognise the contributions that individuals and collaborative partners
play in the stormwater industry. Papers submitted for presentation at the conference, that
meet the relevant criteria, are automatically considered by the stormwater committee.
A shortlist of 3-4 papers will be selected with the final review being undertaken by
independent industry leaders.
The key attributes that will be reviewed for the short-listed papers are as follows:
- Technical Content: is the technical content sound, does it have sufficient substance,
and does it increase available knowledge? - Practical Content: does it have practical application?
- Future Use: can it be used to assist future work?
- Clarity and logic of written presentation
- Originality: is there something new that is innovative?
The winner will be announced at the Stantec Conference Dinner on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Stormwater Poster of the Year Award
Posters are assessed by reviewers on the following criteria;
- Technical content
- Practical content
- Future use
- Clarity and logic
- Standard of the verbal presentation
The winner will be announced at the Stantec Conference Dinner on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
Stormwater Innovation Showcase Presentation and Award
Nominations for the Stormwater Innovation Showcase Presentation and Award are now open!
- Do you have a project with a unique solution you’d like to share?
- Have you had success in the engagement with stakeholders using new framework or tool?
- Do you have a new digital platform or process which aides in the analysis, communication, or operation of stormwater systems?
Are you presenting a paper on an innovative solution or project that you’d like share to a wider audience?
This year, the innovation showcase has been refreshed in order to celebrate any and all new ways of thinking or doing, that are aimed at improving stormwater outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Stormwater committee invite you to present your innovative project, process or idea to a wide audience of stormwater professionals at the conference Innovation Awards session. Your presentation will be no more than 5 minutes long, followed by up to 2 minutes of quick-fire questions from the panel of judges.
At the end of the presentations the judges and audience will cast votes for the Innovation which is judged to have the largest positive impact on the stormwater industry, best aligns with the conference themes, or is just simply the coolest.
The event is open to public and private organisations, including Local Authorities, research companies, academia, industry, businesses, contracts, consultancies, and individuals.
Essential Requirements:
- The entry must involve a new technology, application, programme, service, or process aimed at improving stormwater outcomes across Aotearoa.
- At least one presenter must be available to attend the presentation, being held at the Stormwater Conference & Expo 2026
- Entries/entrants must be prepared to provide documentation to validate any claims that are made concerning the intellectual property underlying their business plans, including any claims concerning the licensing of Third-Party IP.
Additional details on selection, and judging criteria will be provided.
Presentation of the Year Award
This award is to recognise the best presentation at the Stormwater Conference & Expo.
The award is open to all presenters presenting a paper or workshop (it does not include
keynote speakers).
The presenter does not have to be a Water New Zealand member.
This award is judged by selected industry professionals and the conference audience via
the conference app.
In considering the merits of presentation please consider:
- Visual aids – clarity, legibility, catches interest.
- Delivery – title, introduction, logical flow.
- Answering questions – confidence, completeness of answers and audience response.
- Content & actual content presented.