English Australia has announced their 2025 English Australia Award finalists with eight awards in the Awards Program for 2025.
English Australia and their awards sponsors believe it is important to recognise individuals and organisations who make outstanding contributions to raising the professionalism of the English language sector of international education in Australia and to celebrate their achievements, their dedication and their inspiration.
“Being selected as a finalist is a significant achievement, particularly given the high calibre of nominations received for our awards this year,” said Sophie O’keefe, English Australia’s General Manager – Operations.
“These individuals and organisations have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the ELICOS sector, and we commend each of them on this outstanding achievement,” she said.
The winners will be formally announced at the English Australia Conference Gala Awards Dinner on 28 August at Pullman Brisbane.
The list of finalists is:
Innovation Award Finalists
- Gabriel Azpilcueta, University of Adelaide ELC for the Academic Integrity Ambassador Program
- Kate Fennessy, RMIT UP for their TikTok account
- Pamela Humphreys, Kieren Wallis, Alejandra Vazquez, Jose Lara Herrera & Alice Tierney, Macquarie University College for their English Medium Instruction Centre
- Kourosh Langarizadeh, ILSC for the English through AI course
- Debora Lima, ILSC for Student Connect Service Hub
- Tristan Quigley, Discover English for Daborra-ma: Creating Cultural Connections and Belonging through Storytelling and Sport
Academic Leadership Award Finalists
- Gilder Davila Alvarez, Flinders University Academy
- Brooke Donnelly, UNSW College
- Paula Dimmell, University of Adelaide ELC
- Samuel Ng, Universal English College
- Grant Packer, ILSC Adelaide
- Tristan Quigley, Discover English
Action Research Award Finalists
- Jamina Coyne & Matthew Knowles, Navitas Perth
- Diana Gitman & Ameila Mercieca, UNSW College
- Karen Kim, EF Brisbane
- Martin Sanchez Lagos, Torrens University Language Centre
- Natasha Sarooshi, University of Adelaide ELC
- Ruby Zhuang, Centre for English Teaching, The University of Sydney
John Gallagher Award for ELICOS Sector Contribution Finalists
- Snezhana Chernova, TAFE Queensland
- Philip Godber, UTS College
- Aparna Jacob, UNSW College
- Gabriela Lawson, Monash College
Christine Bundesen AM Management Grant Finalists
- Matthew Canning, Monash College
- Andrew Jackson, Macquarie University College
Contribution to Professional Practice Award
Finalists for this award will be announced at the Gala Dinner awards ceremony. For more information about this award, please click here.
The Koala congratulates the award finalists and wishes them luck on 28 August, 2025, as the winners are announced.







