Awards & Grants
The SMAANZ Awards & Grants programme celebrates the people, ideas, and collaborations that strengthen sport management across Australia and New Zealand. Together, these awards recognise excellence in research, learning and teaching, industry engagement, leadership, and service, while supporting the continued development of our members and the broader sport management community.
Whether you are an HDR student presenting your first conference paper, an educator developing innovative learning experiences, an established researcher, or a member who has made a lasting contribution to SMAANZ, our Awards & Grants provide opportunities to recognise achievement, support new initiatives, and celebrate the diverse ways members contribute to the Association and the profession.
View list of previous winners here
The submission deadline has been extended for all Awards & Grants to
Friday, 31st July 2026
SMAANZ Fellowship
The SMAANZ Research Fellowship celebrates SMAANZ community members by recognising their sustained track record of high-quality research publications, active participation and membership in SMAANZ, and contributions to the SMAANZ community. This Fellowship is an award and distinction that recognizes high-quality, impactful research and service to SMAANZ. Recipients of the SMAANZ Research Fellowship will be expected to continue their outstanding contribution to the SMAANZ community as a condition of the award.
Distinguished Service Award
As a primarily volunteer organisation, it is considered particularly appropriate and important to provide opportunities for members to gain recognition for their outstanding contributions to SMAANZ and the field of sport management. The SMAANZ Distinguished Service Award is intended to: (a) recognise the distinction of contribution within SMAANZ and the field of sport management, and (b) encourage high standards of service to SMAANZ and professional contribution to the organisation.
Best Conference Paper
The purpose of the SMAANZ Best Conference Paper Award is to support three of the purposes of SMAANZ: (1) encourage scholarly inquiry in sport management; (2) provide a forum to present and communicate results of sport management related research; and, (3) enhance the application of management theory to the sports context.
SMAANZ Three-Minute Thesis Award
The purpose of the SMAANZ Three-Minute Thesis Award (SMAANZ 3MT) is to encourage and support the development of the next generation of scholars in the field of sport management. The SMAANZ 3MT is open to students. It provides financial support to attend a SMAANZ conference through an annual competitive award. The award is aimed at research-based honours, masters, and doctoral degree candidates (full-time or part-time) who have completed or are completing the research component of their degree in the field of sport management. The purpose of the award links with three purposes of SMAANZ which are to: encourage scholarly inquiry in sport management; provide a forum to present and communicate results of sport management related research; and enhance the application of management theory to the sport context.
Industry Engagement Grant
To encourage scholarly inquiry in sport management and enhance the application of management theory to the sport industry, the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand is pleased to announce the SMAANZ Industry Engagement Grant. The grant has evolved from the strategic need to strengthen relationships between the academic community and the sport industry to collaborate on achieving mutual outcomes. A sport industry partner may include the government or private sector that incorporates sport into their program to address community, diversity or development initiatives. The purpose of the grant is to support engagement with the sport industry to advance evidence-based inquiry in teaching and/or research in sport management. As such, collaborations, projects or research partnerships between academics and industry bodies are encouraged.
Learning & Teaching Creativity Award
The SMAANZ Learning & Teaching Creativity Award recognises educators who apply creative, intentional, and reflective approaches to sport management education. It is designed to celebrate individuals or teaching teams who reimagine how students learn, whether through creative assessment design, engaging delivery methods, thoughtful use of theory, or new ways of structuring content and curriculum. While many teaching awards emphasise student evaluations or large-scale institutional outcomes, this award values creativity as a driver of change, highlighting educators who advance learning through new thinking, informed practice, and a clear educational purpose. Applications from all career stages, including early career academics, are strongly encouraged
Student Travel Assistance
The purpose of the SMAANZ Travel Assistance (STA) program is to assist students in attending the student workshop held as a part of the annual SMAANZ conference. The student workshop provides an opportunity for students to: (1) develop a network of colleagues to assist in the transition into the SMAANZ community; (2) share their research with their peers; and (3) provide professional development opportunities through sessions led by senior academic staff on topics of interest to students.