Celebrating 75 Years of Encouraging Excellence in Reporting
In 1950 the ARA Awards were introduced as the Annual Report Awards by a group of business professionals concerned that the annual reports at that time were not adequate for informing stakeholders about the purpose, activities and performance of organisations. Later they were named the Australasian Reporting Awards to accommodate entries from New Zealand and countries in the Asia Pacific Region.
Key Dairy Dates
- 1st Oct 1 October 2024 – Entries open
- 20th Dec 20 December 2024 – Entries close
- 31st Jan 31 January 2025 – Entries close for YE 31 December 2024 reports
- 29th May 29 May 2025 – 75th Anniversary Awards Presentation Dinner
- 30th May 30 May 2025 – Seminar on Reporting
2025 ARA Awards Activities
Each year the ARA holds a series of events that celebrate the achievements of Awards participants and provide valuable information and guidance to assist future improvement in annual reporting. In 2025 the Australasian Reporting Awards celebrates 75 years of recognising and awarding excellence in annual reporting.
2025 Awards Presentation Dinner and Seminar on Reporting
75th Anniversary Awards Presentation Dinner
6.45pm (for 7.15pm) to 10.30pm on Thursday, 29 May
Palladium at Crown Towers Melbourne
8 Whiteman Street SOUTHBANK
Seminar on Reporting ‘Moving Forward into a New Era - The Pace of Change is Accelerating’
9.10am to 3.00pm on Friday, 30 May
Conference Hall at Crown Promenade Melbourne
8 Whiteman Street SOUTHBANK
Melbourne Accommodation
A special room rate is available at Crown Promenade Melbourne for those attending the ARA Dinner and Seminar.
Book your accommodation at https://reservations.travelclick.com/3513?groupID=4713948.
ARA Feedback Sessions
Entrants in the 2025 Awards - register now for feedback on your report.
A feedback session is an intensive two-way discussion with an ARA Adjudicator who has carried out an in-depth review of the report with respect to the ARA criteria and is well-prepared to discuss its strengths and any weaknesses. The advice offered assists entrants in the preparation of their next report.
ARA ANNUAL REPORTING SEMINAR
Crown Promenade Melbourne | Friday, 30 May 2025
‘Moving Forward into a New Era – The Pace of Change is Accelerating’
Seminar Chair: Bronwyn Wellings, ARA Deputy Chair
Session 1: KeyNote Address
Time: 9.15 to 10.00am
SPEAKER: Rodney Marks
The best business cases and war stories and what they mean for reporting professionals. Rodney will present a series of vignettes relevant to reporting and adapting to change. The keynote address will be followed by a Q&A session.
MODERATOR: George Kapitelli, Chief Financial Officer, CPA Australia
10.00am - 10.30am Morning Tea Break
Session 2: Panel Session - Practical Advice on How to Achieve Excellence in Reporting
Time: 10.30 to 11.30am
An annual report is an effective tool to articulate your organisation’s vision, mission and goals; highlight key achievements; and discuss expectations for the coming year. A well-crafted report can enhance visibility, and foster confidence and trust in the organisation. This session will provide practical insights on how to enhance your annual report, drawn from the experiences of Gold Award winning organisations and an ARA adjudicator.
SPEAKER: James Hartigan, ARA Coordinator for Public Administration – State
SESSION MODERATOR: Hendrik Lianto, Financial Improvement Manager, Transport for NSW
Session 3: Adapting to Evolving Sustainability Disclosure Standards – CLP’s Journey
Time: 11.30am to 12.15pm
Sustainability disclosures have emerged as critical components of corporate transparency and accountability. With IFRS S1 and S2 emerging as a global baseline of sustainability disclosures for capital markets, this presentation will explore the significance of effective annual reporting in enabling stakeholders to assess a company’s performance in sustainability and climate resilience. This session will also discuss how CLP shaped its latest Climate Vision 2050 to manage climate-related risks and opportunities, as well as its initiatives and progress towards transitioning to a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions business.
SPEAKER: Hendrik Rosenthal, Director – Group Sustainability, CLP Holdings Limited
SESSION MODERATOR: Erwin Groenendal, Co-Founder, Tangelo Software, The Netherlands
12.15pm - 1.00pm Lunch Break
Session 4: Panel Session - AI in Annual Reporting
Time: 1.00pm to 2.00pm
SPEAKERS: Ran Sun, Partner, AI Consulting Group; Lisa Ippolito, Whitehorse City Council
SESSION MODERATOR: Jannat Maqbool, ARA Director, Manager – Industry Programs, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub
Session 5: Panel Session – Key Aspects of Reporting
Time: 2.00pm to 3.00pm
SPEAKERS: Dr. Robyn Leeson, STR Consulting; Professor Michael Bray, Deakin University Faculty of Business and Law; Suzanne Collins, Rowland Group; Sarah Heath, Rowland Group; Aileen Zhou, CtrlPrint Australia
SESSION MODERATOR: Alan Colegate, ARA Chair, Executive Director Strategy and Communications Directorate, Main Roads WA
3.00pm Seminar End