Future Thinker of the Year 2026 - get ready!

We’re currently preparing for the 2026 Future Thinker of the Year Awards, with submissions expected to open in April 2026.

If you’re a student or early-career professional working to create a more sustainable built environment - or you know someone who is -start thinking about your entry now. We’re looking for the next generation of leaders who are challenging ideas, driving innovation, and shaping the future of our industry.

Keep an eye on this page and our newsletters for the official call for submissions.

What the judges look for

Our judging panel looks for individuals who are driving meaningful change in Aotearoa’s built environment through their ideas, actions, and leadership.

Strong submissions typically demonstrate:

• Innovation – new ideas, research, technologies, or approaches that challenge conventional thinking
• Impact – evidence of how the work contributes to sustainability outcomes in the built environment
• Leadership – the ability to inspire others, influence change, or bring people together
• Commitment to sustainability – a clear passion for creating a low-carbon, climate-resilient future
• Potential – a strong vision for how their work could shape the future of the industry

Whether through research, advocacy, entrepreneurship, or project delivery, we’re looking for future leaders who are helping transform how we design, build, and operate our buildings and communities.

Judging process

The Future Thinker of the Year awards are judged over two stages:

Stage 1: Written submission
Applicants complete an online submission form with guided questions outlining their work, ideas, and contribution to sustainability in the built environment.

Stage 2: Video submission (shortlisted applicants)
Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a short elevator-pitch style video. This allows judges to better understand the applicant’s communication style, passion, and ability to influence and inspire others within the industry.

This two-stage process helps ensure judges can assess both the strength of the work itself and the individual behind it.

Congratulations to our 2025 Winners

 In August 2025, at the Green Property Summit, we proudly announced this year’s Future Thinker of the Year and Emerging Leader in front of an audience of over 250 professionals from across Aotearoa’s built environment sector. The awards were presented by Mott MacDonald, long-time supporters of the Future Thinkers programme. It was a moment to celebrate the next generation of changemakers - people not only thinking about what’s possible, but actively shaping a more sustainable, climate-conscious future for our industry. 

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