NSW Environmental Education Awards
Celebrate the outstanding achievements of environmental educators in NSW
The 2026 NSW Environmental Education Awards are now CLOSED. Thank you to all who nominated.
Award winners will be announced on Thursday 29th October at our special 50 years of Environmental Education NSW Golden Gala event at Camperdown Commons in Sydney’s Inner West. The evening will be a very special occasion where we will combine the presentation of our 2026 Annual Awards and a commemorative presentation marking 5 decades of incredible work and amplifying the achievements of nature guardians.
Please join us to celebrate in person!
The Award categories to be celebrated in 2026 are:
- Environmental Educator of the Year
Recognising an individual who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to environmental education in NSW. - Emerging Environmental Educator of the Year.
Recognising an individual (with less than 5 years experience) who has made an outstanding contribution to environmental education in NSW. - Sustainable Schools NSW Teacher of the Year.
Recognising a primary or secondary school educator who has demonstrated excellence in embedding sustainability in line with the values of Sustainable Schools NSW. - Early Childhood Educator of the Year.
Recognising an early childhood educator who is embedding sustainability into the early years and inspiring the next generation. - Return and Earn Program Leader of the Year
Recognising a student, educator or parent who has excelled in embedding the Return and Earn program into their school
Recent award recipients
NSW Environmental Educator of the Year
Highly Commended – Alana Rooney, Blacktown City Council
Winner – Christine Freeman, Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre
Early Childhood Educator of the Year
Highly Commended – Amanda Ford, KU ANSTO Children’s Centre
Winner – Aimee Madden, Kensington Castle
Sustainable Schools NSW Teacher of the Year
Highly Commended – Lucy Barbuto, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Helensburgh
Winner – Jenny Henson, Caddies Creek Public School
Return and Earn Program Leader Award
Highly Commended – Joanne Rice, Kearns Public School
Highly Commended – Lynne Graham, Toybox Early Learning (Mascot)
Winner – Carol Rowe, Bennett Road Public School
NSW Emerging Leader in Environmental Education
Highly Commended – Granton Lee, Berrima Public School
Winner – Monique Bailey, Hawkesbury Regional Council
NSW Environmental Educator of the Year
Highly Commended – Beth Riolo, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong
Winner – Abbie Mitchell, Jane Goodall Institute Australia
NSW Emerging Leader in Environmental Education Award
Highly Commended- Amy Naicker, Sydney Zoo
Winner – Yasmin Andrews, Reverse Garbage
Return and Earn Program Leader Award
Highly Commended – Loretta Rapa, Catholic Schools Broken Bay
Winner – David Bateman, Dapto High School
Sustainable Schools NSW School of the Year
Highly Commended – Ascham School
Highly Commended – Fisher Road School
Winner – Mumbulla School for Rudolf Steiner Education
Sustainable Schools NSW Teacher of the Year Award
Winner – Shane Roberts, Belltrees Public School
Highly Commended – Rebecca Daniell, Cudgegong Valley Public School
Sustainability Connect Business of the Year Award
Highly Commended – Jane Goodall Institute Australia
Winner – Sydney Zoo
Return and Earn Program Leader
Highly Commended – Scott Thompson
Winner – Christian Maait & Meg Thomas
Sustainable Schools NSW Teacher of the Year
Highly Commended – Aaron Parker
Winner – Daniel Levitt
Sustainable Schools NSW School of the Year
Highly Commended -Quirindi Public School
Winner – Redlands
Sustainability Connect Business of the Year
Winner – Mememe Productions / DirtGirlWorld
Winner – Kids Connecting Nature
NSW Emerging Leader in Environmental Education
Highly Commended – Sally Giblin
Highly Commended – Jess Menendez
Winner – Sally Eriksen
NSW Environmental Educator of the Year
Highly Commended – Graham Valentine
Highly Commended – Peter Rutherford
Winner – Julia Barnes
Award Winners and Highly Commended Nominees
Sarah Jantos, Green Hereos, Overall Winner – NSW Environmental Educator of the Year Award
Sarah Jantos, Green Heroes. Winner – Community Educator of the Year Award
Darren Martin, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Highly Commended – Community Educator of the Year Award
Christian Eckardt, Greater Sydney Parklands. Winner – Government Educator of the Year Award
Margaret Gleeson, Keiraville Community Preschool. Winner – Early Learning Educator of the Year Award
Ann-Kathrin Kiehn, St Columba Anglican School. Winner – Sustainable Schools NSW Teacher of the Year Award
Shannon Kelly, The Nature School. Highly Commended – Sustainable Schools NSW Teacher of the Year Award
Belltrees Public School. Winner – Sustainable Schools NSW School of the Year Award
Rose Everingham, Regentville Public School. Winner – Return and Earn Program Leader Award
Rebecca Hoad, St Ignatius College, Riverview. Highly Commended – Return and Earn Program Leader Award
Greening the Green. Winner – Sustainability Connect Business of the Year Award
ReCollect. Highly Commended – Sustainability Connect Business of the Year Award
Jane Smith, Central Coast Environmental Education Centre, Community Educator of the Year
Lisa Siegel, Centre for Ecological Learning, Community Educator of the Year
Liana Kay, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Government Educator of the Year
Lisa Seigel, Southern Cross University, Tertiary Environmental Educator of the Year
Jayne Alba, Oxley Park Public School, Sustainable Schools Teacher of the Year
Aldavilla Public School, Sustainable School of the Year
OzHarvest, Sustainability Connect Business of the Year
Lesley Hughes, Overall Environmental Educator of the Year
Lesley Hughes, Tertiary Educator of the Year Award
Guido Verbist, The Bower Reuse & Repair Centre, Community Educator of the Year
Julia Strykowski, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Government Educator of the Year
Ashleigh Spillane, Bradman Road Early Education Centre, Early Childhood Educator of the Year Award
Christopher Yates, Sustainable Schools Teacher of the Year
Andrew Fitzsimmons, Dapto High School, Sustainable School of the Year
Tanya Leishman, Seaforth Public School Take Me Outside NSW Excellence Award
Julie Rogers, Lucas Heights Community School, Return and Earn Program Leader Award