Nominations for the 2025 ACE Aotearoa Annual Awards have now closed. We look forward to announcing our 2025 recipients at the ACE Conference dinner on Wednesday June 11 in Ōtautahi.
The ACE Aotearoa Annual Awards are an opportunity to recognise excellence in teaching, programme innovation, sector service and leadership. Recipients of our annual awards are colleagues who have demonstrated best practice and a thorough understanding of ACE Teaching Standards. They are focused on self determination for learners and building strong communities.
Conditions of Entry
- Anyone from the Adult and Community Education sector can be nominated for an award.
- Definitions of Adult and Community Education vary across Aotearoa. By “community-based” we refer to organisations that have both adult education and community development amongst their core aims.
- Nominations must be supported by one other person (nominator and seconder) currently working either in a paid or volunteer capacity in the adult and community education field/s who have read the application and endorse its contents.
- Nominations should be made using the forms provided. No additional information is required.
- Nominations must address all of the selection criteria for the nominated award.
- Nominations may be used for promotional purposes, however permissions will be sought prior to this occurring.
- Multiple nominations are acceptable, but each nomination must be made on a separate, fully completed nomination form.
- Received nominations will be considered by an external panel of judges. Nominations close March 31, 2025
Award categories
- ACE Aotearoa Educator of the year Tangata Whenua
- ACE Aotearoa Community Based Programme of the year Tangata Whenua
- ACE Aotearoa Leader of the year Tangata Whenua
- ACE Aotearoa Educator of the year Tangata Tiriti
- ACE Aotearoa Community Based Programme of the year Tangata Tiriti
- ACE Aotearoa Leader of the year Tangata Tiriti
ACE Aotearoa Educator of the Year Tangata Whenua
This award recognises Māori educators for outstanding service in, and contribution to, the development and delivery of adult and community education (for Māori). It is intended to be a tribute for outstanding work in teaching, training, administration, or a combination of these.
Nominees for these awards will have demonstrated a sound knowledge of the ACE Teaching Standards in their approach to teaching and learning.
ACE Aotearoa Community Based Programme of the Year Tangata Whenua
This award recognises an adult learning programme for Māori learners that has achieved outstanding learning outcomes through innovative programme development, creative implementation and sound evaluation.
Programmes nominated for these awards will reflect adult learning andragogy and the ACE Sector Teaching Standards.
ACE Aotearoa Leader of the Year Tangata Whenua
This award recognises an ACE Māori leader for outstanding service in, and contribution to, the development and delivery of adult and community education (for Māori). It is intended to be a tribute to outstanding work in governance, policy development, training, administration, or a combination of these.
Nominees for these awards will have demonstrated consistent leadership in any level of the Adult and Community Education sector.
ACE Aotearoa Educator of the Year Tangata Tiriti
This award recognises an individual for outstanding service in, and contribution to, the development and delivery of adult and community education. It is intended to be a tribute for outstanding work in teaching, training, administration, or a combination of these.
Nominees for these awards will have demonstrated a sound knowledge of the ACE Teaching Standards in their approach to teaching and learning.
ACE Aotearoa Community Based Programme of the Year Tangata Tiriti
This award recognises an adult learning programme that has achieved outstanding learning outcomes through innovative programme development, creative implementation and sound evaluation.
Programmes nominated for these awards will reflect adult learning andragogy and the ACE Sector Teaching Standards.
ACE Aotearoa Leader of the Year Tangata Tiriti
This award recognises an ACE leader for outstanding service in, and contribution to, the development and delivery of adult and community education. It is intended to be a tribute to outstanding work in governance, policy development, training, administration, or a combination of these.
Nominees for these awards will have demonstrated consistent leadership in any level of the Adult and Community Education sector.
Meet our 2025 Judges
This year’s ACE Aotearoa Awards nominations will be judged by a panel of sector representatives with a deep knowledge of ACE and what constitutes excellence in programmes and practice
Anne Cave
Anne is Director of Selwyn College Community Education in Tāmaki Makaurau which offers a huge array of courses for all ages. She has been especially innovative in catering for the needs of new migrants. Anne and her team have been recipients of a Programme of the Year Tangata Tiriti Award.
Anne Troy
Anne has been involved in the ACE sector for over a decade. She has an extensive background in TESOL teaching and leadership, and coordinates the Wellington High School Community Education funded courses as well as tutoring in ESOL. She was elected to the ACE Aotearoa Board in 2024.
Heidi Renata
Heidi is co-founder and CEO of INNOV8HQ, a multi award winning enterprise dedicated to empowering leadership and entrepreneurship through an indigenous lens, and works both nationally and globally as an Indigenous advocate and advisor.
