Zanda McDonald Award | How to Apply

Could you be the next Zanda McDonald Award winner?

If you're passionate about agriculture, eager to learn and ready to challenge yourself, we encourage you to apply.

Who can apply?

To be eligible you must:

Be 21–35 years of age (as at 31 October in the application year).
Live in Australia or New Zealand.
Be actively involved in the primary sector.
Be committed to making a positive contribution to agriculture.

The application process

Applications are open 1–31 October each year.

October:

Complete the online application form.

November:

Applications are independently assessed and a shortlist is selected from Australia and New Zealand.

December:

Shortlisted applicants attend an in-person interview in their home country, including a short presentation.
Following the interviews, three finalists are selected from each country.
Finalists are invited to attend the Zanda Impact Summit, where they join the Award alumni community and connect with industry leaders from across Australia and New Zealand.
During the Celebration Dinner at the Summit, one Australian and one New Zealand finalist are announced as Zanda McDonald Award winners.

Key dates for the 2027 Award

1–31 October 2026 – Applications open

18 November – Shortlist announced

30 November – In-person interviews

02 December – Finalists announced

09 March 2027– Winners announced at the Award's Impact Summit Celebration Dinner

Prepare your application

The online application can be saved as you go, so you don't need to complete it all in one sitting. We recommend preparing the following before applications open:

Short bio (80 words)

Tell us who you are, what you do, where you're from, and what you're proud of.

Tip: Keep it concise, authentic and memorable.

Witten statement (250 words)

why you'd benefit from the Award
your career aspirations over the next five years
how you've demonstrated leadership and influence
why you'd be an outstanding ambassador for the Zanda Award

Tip: Be personal and specific. Real examples will always be more powerful than general statements.

One-minute video

Introduce yourself, explain what you do, what you enjoy most about working in agriculture, and how you're making a positive contribution to the industry.
Tip: Professional production isn't expected. A genuine, confident introduction is what matters most.

Curriculum Vitae (CV or resume)

Upload your current CV.

You may also include optional supporting documents such as project summaries, articles, presentations or other information that helps showcase your experience.

Photos

We ask for these in your application. If you're shortlisted, we'll need 3–5 high-resolution images suitable for print and digital promotion, including:

a clear headshot
action photographs of you in your workplace, business or on-farm.

Referees

Provide the names, email addresses and phone numbers of two referees who can be contacted if you're shortlisted.

Employer support

If you're employed, we recommend discussing your application with your employer before applying.

Availability

Shortlisted applicants must be available to attend in-person interviews (see Key Dates).

Finalists must also be available to attend the Award's Impact Summit the following March, where the winners are announced.

Award winners commit to participating in two one-week trans-Tasman mentoring experiences within the year of winning the Award.

How your application is assessed

Applications are evaluated by an independent judging panel against three key criteria:

The quality and completeness of your application.
Your leadership potential, commitment to agriculture, and vision for the future of the industry.
How the Zanda Award would accelerate your development, and your ability to represent the Award as an ambassador.

View the Australia Judging Panel.

View the New Zealand Judging Panel.