Banksia Awards, Graz van Egmond Executive Director

It is heartening to witness how each year the Banksia Award winners continue to be an example of the ingenuity and enthusiasm taking place around Australia. But do we take this all for granted? Do we just expect people to keep on excelling to solve some of the problems that we continually come up against?

Human endeavour is amazing and what the Banksia Awards does is bring this to the forefront. But we need to actually learn about what these amazing, passionate people are doing - take the challenge and go to our website to read about them. Why not send them an email of congratulations, I am sure they would be thrilled. But more importantly tell people who may not be aware of these achievements, to learn a little more about each winners' unique story.

To the 2011 Banksia Award Winners we commend you for all your efforts and we thank you for trying to make our world so much better,

As Executive Director of Banksia Environment Foundation I have a myriad of people and organisations to thank in supporting Banksia going forward, and being able to provide the positive outlook in regards to our sustainable future. Each sponsor, each judge, each collaborator is such a key element of what we do and I thank you for your support and encouragement.

I would like to thank all those people out there, and you know who you are, for continually responding to my requests, to my favours and my crazy ideas. You are what makes Banksia what it is today. I don't want to miss this opportunity to thank all those who enter the awards for there ongoing support.

Of the 58 finalists representing 10 category awards, Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year Award, Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Award and the Mercedes-Benz Australian Environmental Research Award the following winners were awarded.

2011 Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year Award winner
(supported by the Australian Government)
Bill Thomas PSM, Head of Sustainable Practice Bentleigh Secondary College

2011 Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Award winner
(supported by the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities)
Lindsay Soutar, 100% Renewable Community Campaign, NSW
Building a grassroots movement for Australia's renewable energy future

2011 Origin Gold Banksia Award winner
(supported by Origin)
Gippsland Water Factory - A New Way to Care for Water
Gippsland Water, VIC

2011 Mercedes-Benz Australian Environmental Research Award recipient
(supported by Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific)
Peak Phosphorus: the Next Global Food Crisis?
Institute for Sustainable Futures, NSW

2011 Banksia Community Grant recipient
(supported by The GPT Group)
SustainAbility Stars
E.W. Tipping Foundation, VIC

2011 Banksia People's Choice Award winner
(supported by Australia Post)
Don't Palm us Off
Zoos Victoria

2011 Education Award - Raising the Bar winner
(supported by Publishers National Environment Bureau)
The Vortex Centre - Water Wonders in a Building that Teaches
Gippsland Water, VIC

2011 Indigenous Award - Caring for Country winner
(supported by Australian Government Caring for Our Country)
West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement Partnership: a 140% Success
Warddeken Land Management for WALFA partners, NT
In partnership with Jawoyn Association Aboriginal Corporation, Bawinanga Aboriginal Coporation, Mimarl and Adjumarlarl Rangers

2011 Land and Biodiversity Award - Preserving Our Ecosystems winner
(supported by Closed Loop Recycling)
Fox-Free Phillip Island Victoria, Australia
Phillip Island Nature Parks, VIC

2011 Water Award - Our Most Precious Resource winner
(supported by GWA Group Limited)
Gippsland Water Factory - A New Way to Care for Water
Gippsland Water, VIC

2011 Agriculture and Food Award - From Paddock to Plate Sustainably winner
(supported by Australian Food & Grocery Council)
Gaia Banana Farming: for Healthy Soils, Wetlands and Great Barrier Reef
Gaia farms, QLD

2011 Built Environment Award - Harmonious Manmade Landscapes winner
(supported by BECA)
Hepburn Community Wind Farm
Hepburn Wind, VIC

2011 Leading in Sustainability Award - Setting the Standard for Large Organisations winner
(supported by the Office of Environment and Heritage NSW)
Sustainability is Good for Business
Fujitsu Australia

2011 Leading in Sustainability Award - Setting the Standard for Small to Medium Businesses winner
(supported by Amcor)
Greening The Wharf
Sydney Theatre Company, NSW

2011 Clean Technology Award - Harnessing Opportunities winner
(supported by Banksia Environmental Foundation)
BlueGen - Clean Power for your Home
Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd., VIC

2011 Transportation, Warehousing & Logistics Award - Mindful Movement winner
(supported by Banksia Environmental Foundation)
Making Electric Cars Make Sense
Better Place Australia, ACT