• Emerging Leaders Award – For an individual under the age of 30 demonstrating leadership, initiative and practical contribution to northern development.
• Allan Dale Trailblazer Award - Recognising practical place-based innovation shaped by northern Australia’s unique conditions, delivering real outcomes for people, industry and/or environment.
• First Nations Leadership Award - Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders creating lasting outcomes for people, Country and communities across northern Australia.

• Open to residents of Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia who are based in northern Australia, which is defined as all of the Northern Territory and those parts of Queensland and Western Australia that intersect with the Tropic of Capricorn, including the Indian Ocean Territories of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Refer https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions/regional-australia/office-northern-australia

• An engraved award
• Conference registration
• Return economy flights
• Two nights’ accommodation

Submissions open on 5 May 2026 and will remain open until 2 June 2026. Winners will be announced and celebrated at the conference networking function on Thursday 6 August.

Recognise your achievements, share your story, and be part of a movement shaping a stronger, more connected northern Australia.

You can nominate yourself or someone else for a DNAC26 Award. Please complete all relevant fields and answer the questions in the form below.

Awards will be judged by an independent panel of northern Australian representatives. Nominations will be assessed against the criteria, considering leadership, collaboration and the tangible outcomes delivered for people, place and industry across the north.