Annual Awards

The WESSA100 Conservation Leadership Awards

 

The prestigious annual WESSA Awards celebrate the remarkable efforts of individuals, groups, and institutions who have gone above and beyond to advance environmental conservation and education in South Africa. In 2026, WESSA marks 100 years of People Caring for the Earth. To honour this milestone, WESSA will expand its prestigious Annual Awards into a special centenary platform: 100 WESSA100 Conservation Leadership Awards recognising those who have shaped South Africa’s environmental landscape from 1926 to 2026.

The WESSA100 Conservation Leadership Awards will acknowledge the outstanding contributions to the South African environment and conservation over the past 100 years. Among the categories honoured are those that recognise the vital contributions of youth who are shaping the future of conservation, individuals whose dedication and passion inspire change, and corporates making significant strides toward sustainability. Additionally, groups and educators are acknowledged for their collaborative efforts and innovative approaches to environmental education respectively.

The WESSA100 Awards also pay tribute to those whose lifelong commitment and impact have left an indelible mark on the landscape of environmental conservation—a recognition of lifetime achievement in the field.

Additional Award categories for WESSA’s centenary include acknowledging Rising Stars in the field of environmental education and conservation – those making significant and innovative contributions in their start-up phase. WESSA Members & Staff over the past century who have made remarkable contributions to WESSA’s mission and impact will be awarded for the first time through an internal process. And special CEO Awards will honour impact, service and environmental leadership. These new categories expand the scope of the WESSA Annual Awards to more fully honour the past, present and future 100 of conservation champions in South Africa.

We invite you to nominate deserving candidates for the 2026 WESSA100 Conservation Leadership Awards. This is your chance to recognise sustainability champions who are doing exceptional work to protect our planet and promote sustainable development.

 

Call for Nominations

 

1. To recognise the people, groups or institutions who passionately advance the cause of environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa in an exceptional and sustained manner.

2. To increase public awareness of local or national achievements in environmental conservation and/or education. Main criteria for the WESSA Awards is: “Any individual, corporate/organisation, community group, educational group, conservation or environmental group who have done outstanding and sustained work for the benefit of environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa.”

Note:

    1. The above contribution can be made at a local level, but it should be of national significance or be able to be replicated at a national level.
    2. In exceptional cases, the WESSA Awards Committee may consider submissions where the activity has not been on a sustained basis.
Who can nominate?

 

Anyone can nominate a deserving candidate, however, WESSA staff are not eligible through the public nominations process.  For the WESSA100 Awards, nominations of previously awarded recipients will be considered, especially if their exceptional service for the environment extended beyond the time of their previous award and have continued to demonstrate outstanding work in service of the environment. Nominations can be submitted to the WESSA Awards Committee using the link provided below.

 

 

Nominations Timeline

Nominations via the online link, close at 5pm on 31st July 2026.  Thereafter the Awards Committee of independent judges will adjudicate the submissions and select the winners in each category. Late submissions outside this period will not be considered.

The final decision by the Awards Committee is based entirely on the contents of the submission. As a rule, the committee will not undertake further research into the achievements of the nominees, nor the veracity of the claims made. Nominations must therefore be both substantial and substantiated. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Successful candidates will be notified by 28th August 2026 that they are in-line to receive an award. The top winner from each category will be presented with their award in person at WESSA’s 100th AGM and Awards Ceremony on 3 October 2026, with various media releases concerning the winners planned. All other award winners will be invited to participate in the Awards Ceremony virtually and via video submission, will receive their award via email, and various media releases concerning the winners planned.

Procedure for WESSA Awards nominations

WESSA reserves the right to alter or cancel the awards at its discretion. By participating in the awards, the nominees and winners agree to publication of their name and where possible photographs for marketing and promotional purposes.

Nominations must be submitted in writing via the linked Form and should include:

  1. Select which Award category you are nominating the person or organisation for [Drop-down filter].
  2. Full name of person or organisation being nominated (nominee).
  3. Nominee’s or their representative’s telephone and email contact details. If posthumous, information of the representative to accept the award on their behalf is needed. Include their contact details and relationship to the nominee.
  4. Full name of person’s proposing the nominee (proposer) and their telephone and email contact details.
  5. Full motivation for the nomination in which the nominee’s exceptional and (where appropriate) sustained contribution(s) to environmental conservation and/or education are described, with a specific focus on outcomes and achievements.
  6. Optional links to any web-based information about the nominee and/or their work for which they are being lauded for may be included at the end of the motivation.
  7. Submission of a photo of the nominee if available that can be used for publicity purposes. The photo can highlight the work of the nominee. If there is more than one person in the image, then please indicate which is the nominee in the photo caption line on the Form. There is an option to submit a video or a link to a video that showcases the nominee and/or their work being nominated for.

Click here to submit your nomination for a WESSA Award

 

Click here to submit your nomination for a WESSA Award

Award Categories

WESSA AWARD FOR INDIVIDUALS
This is WESSA’s premier award to an individual. The person nominated must be considered to have made an outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa over a sustained period of time and at a national level.  “Outstanding contribution” in this context is understood to be a contribution over and above what would normally be expected from their work.

WESSA AWARD FOR YOUTH
Youth are increasingly taking on environmental issues and making them their life’s work.  In the Youth Award category WESSA would like to acknowledge a young person, under the age of 35 years, who has committed themself to environmental conservation and/or education. This individual should be making an “outstanding contribution” that is having positive outcomes at a national level.

WESSA AWARD FOR CORPORATES
This award is made to corporations or institutions for outstanding contributions to environmental conservation, sustainability, and/or education in South Africa over a sustained period of time and at a national level.

WESSA AWARD FOR GROUPS
This award is made to any group of volunteers (e.g. community, educational, environmental) who have done outstanding work for the benefit of environmental conservation and/or education over a sustained period of time.  Such contribution could be in their local area but should be of a national significance or be able to be replicated nationally. 

WESSA AWARD FOR EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
This award celebrates the unique contribution of educators that are a part of WESSA’s Education Programme and honours their commitment to improving the quality of environmental education in the South African school curriculum and enriching the lives of their students. 

WESSA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award honours a person who has made an outstanding contribution to environmental conservation and/or education in South Africa, over their lifetime and at a national or international level. 

RISING STAR AWARD *NEW
The Rising Star Award identifies and honours the next generation of environmental leaders. These can be individuals, small enterprises, community groups and projects which have shown outstanding environmental impact and innovation in their first 5 years. WESSA wishes to honour and encourage these Rising Stars as they represent the next century of People Caring for the Earth.

The intention is that roughly 10 awards be made in each category, the principal award and 9 runner-ups, with a total of 100 WESSA100 Leadership Conservation Awards.  However, there is no restriction on the Awards Committee to limit awards made in each category.  Furthermore, should no suitable candidate/s be nominated, the Awards Committee reserves the right to make no awards or call for more nominations.

WESSA CEO AWARDS *NEW
The WESSA CEO will award two individuals with a track record of going above and beyond in their role, showing a commitment to their community and environment, and demonstrating service within their organisations. Awardees will have to be nominated and selected by the WESSA CEO.

(INTERNAL) WESSA SABLE AWARD FOR STAFF & MEMBERS *NEW
In honour of WESSA’s 100 years, we will honour individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to WESSA. These can be past or present WESSA members or staff who have demonstrated high levels of service and commitment to the organisation’s mission of conservation, environmental education, and advocacy. *The nominations process for this category will be held internally, amongst WESSA members and staff.

Any questions or clarification about the WESSA Awards should be addressed to Morgan Griffiths at awards@wessa.co.za

Click here to submit your nomination for a WESSA Awards.