2027 iTnews Benchmark Awards - Project Categories

The iTnews Benchmark Awards recognise Australia's leading IT projects

For 15 years, the iTnews Benchmark Awards have given end user organisations, their IT leaders and teams an opportunity to gain recognition for their ambition, innovation and the value they have delivered to government, industry and the public.

The 2026 Benchmark award winners were presented at a gala dinner at Doltone House Hyde Park, 3/181 Elizabeth St, Sydney, and included the City of Sydney, Department for Education, South Australia, ATO, University of Sydney, Hume Rural Health Alliance, Westpac, Suntory Oceania, Woolworths and Uniting. The full photo gallery can be found here.

How much does it cost to enter the Benchmark Awards?

There is no cost to enter the Benchmark Awards.

Why enter?

• Join an alumni of IT leaders and teams responsible for some of Australia's most remarkable IT projects. This group will be invited to exclusive iTnews events.
• Finalists will be invited to attend the iTnews Benchmark Conference – a 2 hour event prior to the Awards ceremony
• Finalists’ projects will be featured by iTnews, which is read by tens of thousands of people every day. Coverage will include videos about the finalists' projects.
• Be recognised in front of your IT industry peers at our gala awards dinner on 24th March, 2027 in Doltone House Hyde Park, 3/181 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000.

When is the deadline for entries?

The deadline for entries is 11pm, 12th December 2026 ... so get in quick!

What can you nominate for an award?

The awards focus on IT projects by large, end-user organisations, which are invited to nominate projects. Technology companies, partners, consultants and contractors can also nominate client projects, but they must have approval from their client to do so. This is an end user-focused awards program, focusing on the organisation’s challenges and how a project helped them. So the client must be prepared to accept an award and speak about their project publicly. The client will also be invited to attend the iTnews Benchmark Awards dinner if their project is a finalist.

The Award categories

You can submit entries in 11 categories:

1. Best Federal Government Project - Projects conducted by federal government departments or agencies that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.
2. Best State Government Project - Projects conducted by state government departments or agencies that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.
3. Best Local Government Project - Projects conducted by local governments that resulted in either internal efficiencies or improved citizen services.
4. Best Industrial (Manufacturing construction, transport & logistics) Project - Projects conducted by any organisation in the manufacturing, construction, transport and logistics sectors that has improved operations, efficiency, and/or productivity for customers.
5. Best Education Project – Projects conducted by or for educational institutions at all levels – from childcare to university to adult education – that delivered either internal efficiency or better experiences and outcomes for students.
6. Best Health Project - Projects conducted by any organisation that delivered health services which demonstrably improved staff productivity and/or service delivery to patients.
7. Best Finance (and professional services) Project - Projects conducted by participants in the financial services industries that either improved internal operations or resulted in improved products and/or service delivery to corporate or retail customers
8. Best Energy Project (including utilities) - - Projects conducted by any organisation in the energy, utilities and electricity sectors that has delivered better experiences or outcomes for customers.
9. Best Retail project - Projects conducted by retailers that delivered internal efficiencies, innovation, customer engagement, sustainability and/or operational efficiency.
10. Best Telecommunications project - Projects conducted by telcos that demonstrate innovation, network advancement, customer experience enhancement, and technological excellence.
11. Best Not For Profit Project - Projects conducted by NFPs that demonstrate the vital role that information technology plays in modern not-for-profit organisations, enabling improved service delivery to clients, enhanced fundraising capabilities, and increased efficiency.

One project entered in these categories will be selected as Australian Technology Project of the Year.

You may submit multiple entries.