Tech Awards Will Open Peer Nomination Program for 2027
Tech firms can now nominate colleagues for expanded industry categories in the upcoming 2027 awards cycle.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Remote Work
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The Women Leading Tech Awards have opened entries for their 2027 program, introducing a peer-based nomination system to broaden candidate reach. The initiative invites participants from the technology sectors in Australia and New Zealand to compete across expanded industry categories.
Why it matters
The shift toward peer-led nominations aims to ensure that high-performing individuals who might not self-nominate receive recognition for their contributions. Expanding categories to include sectors like EdTech and PropTech reflects the broadening scope of tech-driven business operations across the region.
The 2027 program features four new industry categories, including EdTech, HealthTech, HR & Recruitment Tech, and PropTech & Construction Tech. These additions follow the 2026 awards where Maddie King was named Woman of the Year.
The players
Atlassian
A global software company that develops products for software developers, project managers, and other software development teams.
Maddie King
The recipient of the 2026 Woman of the Year award.
Melanie Perkins
The top-ranked leader on the 2026 Power List.
The details
The updated process allows colleagues to submit nominations accompanied by a statement of support, which then invites the nominated individual to complete a formal entry. By moving away from purely self-driven applications, organizers hope to capture a more diverse pool of tech talent. Eligible candidates include women, non-binary people, and gender-diverse professionals operating within Australia and New Zealand.
Timeline
28 January 2027: Standard entry deadline
4 February 2027: Late entry deadline
11 February 2027: People's Choice Poll launch
4 March 2027: Finalists announcement
19 March 2027: Awards night ceremony at Sydney Town Hall
Market Landscape
The introduction of a peer-led nomination system follows a broader industry trend of refining recognition models to better capture high-value work. This approach marks a departure from traditional self-nomination protocols used in many legacy professional awards.
Operators looking to highlight team achievements should prepare their supporting statements before the 28 January 2027 deadline. Managers should review the four new industry categories to identify candidates who fit the criteria for EdTech, HealthTech, HR & Recruitment Tech, or PropTech.
The takeaway
Peer-nomination models provide a structured mechanism for leaders to recognize internal talent without waiting for self-driven participation. Organizations should calendar the 28 January 2027 deadline to ensure team members are eligible for the upcoming industry awards.
Further reading
For more on industry talent development, visit Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by B&T.
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