I’ve been nominated as a Finalist in not one… not two… but THREE categories in the 2021 Australian Institute of Training and Development Excellence Awards!! :)
1. L&D Professional of the Year
2. Best Diversity and Inclusion Program – Women at Work
3. Best Blended Learning Program – Women at Work
Wahoo!
A HUGE shout out to my current client, IRI Australia, who allowed me to use them as a case study for the two learning awards. They have achieved truly outstanding results with the Women at Work program over the last 12 months and achieving a finalist nomination is testament to that effort and commitment. These awards are RIGOROUS!!
Oh, and check out the other finalists below – some heavy hitters for sure. We are up against major organisations with lots of deep expertise, resources and manpower to throw at this stuff.
We have done exceptionally well to make it to the finals (if I do say so myself).
Dr. Alastair Rylatt Award for L&D Professional of the Year
Anneli Blundell
Ameena Leah Payne
Giovanna Romeo
Best Diversity and Inclusion Program
Anneli Blundell and Information Resources (Australia) Pty Limited | Women at Work
Engineers Australia, Currey & Co Consulting and Shaping Change | Engineers Australia's Gender Equality in Engineering Program
Origin Energy, The ID Crowd, Mirri Mirri, Ctrl Creative and Pendula | Cultural Awareness - Origin Energy
Redland City Council | Indigenous Cultural Awareness - Look, Listen & Understand On Country
Best Blended Learning Solution
Anneli Blundell and Information Resources (Australia) Pty Limited | Women at Work
Australian Bureau of Statistics | Delivering leadership programs during COVID times
EY and Jack Morton Worldwide | EY Transformation Realised Learning Summit
Guild Insurance and Guild Group | Guild Insurance - Pet Insurance Blended Training Program 2021
Guroo Producer and Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW | Blended Virtual Learning Programs
Hummgroup, Bendelta and Elenta | Leader as Coach
Optus | Optus U
Optus | Optus Virtual Assisted Learning (OVAL)
Protech Group (Aust) Pty Ltd | Protech Operational Excellence Program
Social Media College | Diploma of Social Media Marketing
Spring Point and RMIT University | RMIT Service Connect Training Program
Training Force, Royal Australian Navy | Clinical Manager's Course Futures Program
Training Force, Royal Australian Navy | ADF Instructor Course – Delivery Method Amendment
Weber-Stephen Products Co (Australia) Pty Ltd, RedSeed and DBusiness Events | Weber ANZ New Product Hub
Woolworths | Woolworths Supermarkets Learning Pathways
A few reflections on these awards…
My clients are amazing – I’m honoured to work with the most committed, dedicated and impressive professionals
My team are amazing – I could not deliver the value I do, without the incredible support of my talented team
I am amazing – Yes I said it. Why? Cos I am proud of myself for entering these awards despite feeling out of my league against the big players, AND because I teach women to BACK THEMSELVES… so I better walk my talk, right? :)
(And on another note, I am personally glad that spending a month of my life, nearly 8,000 words, pages and pages of surveys, statistics and testimonials from clients, has been time well spent. :) )
And just in case this is as far as my journey takes me in these awards, here is a taste of how I answered the final question on why I should win L&D professional of the year… I hope you enjoy it.
I should be recognised for this award, because my cat would be so proud. We had many long conversations about whether I should enter this award, whether I’m qualified enough, have done enough, am deserving enough… and she thought I was. And who can argue with a cat?
That’s right. Only crazy people. Soooo, I should win this award because maybe I’m just crazy enough to hope I can. :)
But seriously…
Delivering exceptional L&D is not enough to deserve this award, (regardless of what my cat might think). There are many impressive professionals in this space already.
To be truly great at the craft, to serve your customers and represent your profession, you need to embody a learning and development mindset (and perhaps the courage to go to parties with constant texter on your hands and flip charts in your boot!)
To be a great L&D professional you need to live it, breathe it and embrace your freak flag for it. :)
This is not just something I do, it’s who I am. It’s who I’ve always been.
P.S. Final winners will be announced at the AITD conference 27/28 October 2021. Fingers crossed peeps!