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UQ Ally Award

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About the award

Since 2004, the UQ Ally Network has worked to create positive change for inclusion across the university. Our allies are people work to make the university a more accepting, positive, diverse, and inclusive space for work and study.

This award celebrates the contributions made by our allies. Recipients are people who have worked to create and promote a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for sex, gender and sexuality diverse people.

2025 Ally Award Nominations Now Open

Nominations for the 2025 Ally Awards are now open. Submit your nominations using our online form.

We look forward to reading your nominations.

Award criteria

This award recognises and celebrates the work of LGBTQIA+ allies at the University of Queensland. Recipients are people who have worked – as an individual or as a team – to create and promote a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for sex, gender and sexuality diverse people. 

Nominees might have undertaken action of a personal level by, for example, serving as a mentor and advocate for LGBTQIA+ students and staff, or acting as a role model for other allies by demonstrating approaches and methods for being an active ally.

They might also have taken public action by, for instance, developing a project or program for LGBTQIA+ students and staff, organising a significant event, or working with the broader LGBTQIA+ community on a project that addresses their needs.

Individuals and teams may be nominated.

Eligibility

All UQ allies are eligible to be nominated. This includes professional and academic staff (continuing, fixed-term and casual) employed at UQ. Allies can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else (who doesn’t have to be a UQ Ally). To check if someone is a UQ Ally, you can review the UQ Ally Listing. 

Nominations should specify

  • Full names and contact details
  • Position at UQ
  • The reason for nomination, ideally with specific mention of measurable outcomes or impact for the LGBTQIA+ community within and without of UQ

Selection committee

The winners will be judged by a selection committee. Results will be announced alongside UQ Awards for Excellence.

Prize

UQ Award winners receive a certificate of recognition and a media profile highlighting their contribution to the Ally Network and to LGBTQIA+ inclusion at the University of Queensland.

Commendations

Nominees whose nomination is considered to be of a very high standard but who are not endorsed as the winner may receive a commendation on the recommendation of the selection committee. This is at the discretion of the UQ Ally Action Committee.

Congratulations to the 2024 Ally Award winner Krystian Choros

Krystian has made extraordinary contributions to LGBTQIA+ inclusion at UQ. He is the Co-Chair of the Ally Action Committee. Krystian is also a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Management Committee, the Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology (EAIT) EDI Committee, and the EAIT Ally Working Group. Additionally, Krystian established and runs a monthly Ally Network catch-up at St Lucia. Krystian also liaises with the project team for the Student Preferred Names initiative. Krystian actively participated in a Student Staff partnership about student perceptions of queer experiences at UQ, and coordinated UQ’s participation at Brisbane Pride 2023.

Previous Winners

2024: Krystian Choros

2023: Brooke Szucs

2022: James Fowler

2021: Elias Blanch

2020: Dr Rebecca Olive