Change Awards Competition Rules & Regulations
(Updated June 2026)
Introduction
These Competition Rules govern participation in the Global Change Awards and should be read together with the accompanying Global Change Awards documentation, including:
- Category Standards
- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Notice
- Applicant Guidance
Together, these documents define the requirements for participation, submission, judging and administration of the Global Change Awards.
Where any inconsistency exists, these documents shall be interpreted collectively to give effect to the purpose and integrity of the Global Change Awards.
Definitions
For the purposes of these Competition Rules, the following definitions apply:
Applicant
The individual submitting an entry to the Global Change Awards on behalf of themselves, an organisation or another eligible party.
Award Category
A specific award within the Global Change Awards portfolio, each recognising a distinct aspect of transformation excellence and assessed against its published Category Standards.
Award Cycle
The period covering the opening of applications through to the announcement of winners for a particular year of the Global Change Awards.
Award Submission
The written submission and any supporting material provided by an applicant for assessment against a specific Award Category.
Category Standards
The published document describing the purpose, eligibility, evidence requirements and judging considerations for each Award Category.
Eligibility Period
The period during which the work described within an Award Submission must have been substantially undertaken. The applicable Eligibility Period is published for each Award Cycle.
Global Change Awards Administration
The team responsible for administering the competition, verifying eligibility, managing submissions and supporting the judging process. The Administration does not participate in judging decisions.
Head Judge
The individual appointed to oversee the integrity, consistency and governance of the judging process.
Judging Committee
The independent panel of judges appointed to assess Award Submissions and determine winners in accordance with the Competition Rules, Category Standards and Judging Handbook.
Organisation
Any public, private or third-sector entity submitting an Award Submission or represented within an Award Submission.
Supporting Evidence
Any additional documentation, data, testimonials or other material submitted in support of an Award Submission.
Transformation Partner
An external organisation that has contributed to the planning, delivery or enablement of a transformation and is eligible to enter the relevant Partner Excellence Award Categories.
- Eligibility
1.1 The Global Change Awards are open to eligible individuals, organisations and transformation partners from any country or sector, subject to the eligibility requirements of the relevant award category.
1.2 Applicants and nominees do not need to be certified Change, Transformation, Project or Innovation professionals.
1.3 Each entry must include an Award Submission demonstrating the work undertaken, the outcomes achieved and evidence relevant to the selected award category.
1.4 Eligibility Period
The work described within an Award Submission must have been substantially undertaken during the eligibility period for the relevant award cycle. The applicable eligibility period will be published on the Global Change Awards website before applications open.
1.5 You may submit multiple entries. Each submission must represent a distinct piece of work.
1.6 Judges, Ambassadors, and members of the Change Awards organising team are not permitted to enter the competition or be named in any submitted case study.
1.7 For team or organisational submissions, the authorised representative must confirm that all relevant internal permissions have been obtained.
1.8 There is no fee to enter the competition if you are an individual.
2. Entry Process
2.1 Applications open in November 2026 and close at 23:59 GMT on 31 January 2027. Late entries cannot be accepted.
2.2 All entries must be submitted through the official Global Change Awards application process, as published on the Global Change Awards website.
2.3 A valid entry consists of:
- Completed Registration
- Completed Context Information
- Award Submission
- Supporting Evidence (where applicable)
- Acceptance of the Competition Rules and Terms & Conditions
- Payment of the applicable entry fee (where applicable)
2.4 Once submitted, entries cannot normally be amended or withdrawn. Requests for exceptional changes may be considered at the discretion of the Global Change Awards Administration before judging begins
2.5 Entrants will receive confirmation of submission via email from Hello@ChangeAwards.co.
2.6 By entering, all applicants agree to be bound by the Competition Rules, Terms & Conditions and Privacy Notice as stated on the Change Awards website.
2.7 The Change Awards accept submissions in English only.
2.8 Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Award Submission complies with the published word limits, file formats and submission requirements.
3. Categories
3.1 The Global Change Awards recognise excellence across individuals, organisations and transformation partners through a portfolio of award categories published for each award cycle.
3.2 Applicants may submit the same transformation or piece of work to multiple categories, provided the submission clearly demonstrates how it satisfies the purpose and judging criteria of each category.
3.3 If the Global Change Awards Administration believes a submission is more appropriate for a different category, the applicant may be contacted and offered the opportunity to transfer the submission before judging commences.
3.4 The Global Change Awards reserves the right to merge, withdraw or not present a category where there are insufficient eligible entries or where doing so is necessary to preserve the integrity of the Awards.
3.5 Certain Recognition Awards may operate through nomination rather than direct application. Where this applies, the nomination and assessment process will be described within the relevant category guidance.
4. Winner Selection Process
4.1 Winners are selected solely by the Judging Committee, an independent self-governing body led by the Head Judge.
4.2 Upon receipt, the Global Change Awards Administration anonymises all eligible entries (excluding Lifetime Achievement). Identifiable information is removed, and each entry is assigned a unique ID.
4.3 Each eligible submission will be assessed independently by the number of judges determined by the Judging Committee for the relevant award cycle.
4.4 Entries will be assessed against the Global Change Awards Universal Judging Principles together with the relevant Category Standards.
4.5 Scores are moderated by the Head Judge. The judging panel then meets to agree:
- Category winner
- Shortlist
- Honourable mentions (optional)
4.7 Shortlist and Winners are announced at the annual Global Change Awards Ceremony.
4.8 Judges must declare any real or perceived conflict of interest. A judge with a conflict will not score or participate in discussions concerning the relevant entry.
4.9 The judging decision is final. Neither applicants nor sponsors may influence the judging process.
5. Permissions and Consent
5.1 By submitting an entry, applicants confirm that they have the authority to submit the Award Submission and agree to the Global Change Awards Terms & Conditions, Privacy Notice and any associated policies published on the Global Change Awards website.
5.2 By entering the competition, applicants grant the permissions necessary for the administration of the Awards, the judging process and the publication of shortlisted and winning entries, subject to the Terms & Conditions.
5.3 Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they have obtained all necessary permissions from their organisation and any third parties before submitting an Award Submission.
6. Confidentiality
6.1 Information submitted as part of an Award Submission will be treated as confidential and used solely for the administration and judging of the Global Change Awards, except where permission has been granted for wider use.
6.2 Judges are bound by confidentiality and must not disclose or use any entry information outside of the judging process.
6.3 The Global Change Awards may use anonymised and aggregated information derived from Award Submissions to produce research, annual intelligence publications, benchmark insights and other publications that contribute to the advancement of organisational transformation practice.
7. Intellectual Property Rights
7.1 Entrants retain full ownership of the materials they submit.
7.2 By submitting an Award Submission, entrants grant the Global Change Awards a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use submitted materials for the administration, promotion and publication of the Awards, subject to these Terms and any opt-out options made available during the submission process.
7.3 The opt-out option is available at the point of submission.
Choosing to opt out does not affect eligibility or judging.
7.4 The Global Change Awards will not commercially exploit submitted materials beyond the permissions granted under these Terms without obtaining separate written agreement from the entrant.
8. Disqualification
The Change Awards reserve the right to disqualify entries that:
8.1 Include false, misleading or plagiarised information.
8.2 Breach confidentiality or intellectual property laws.
8.3 Violate the Code of Conduct (Section 10).
8.4 Contain offensive, discriminatory or unethical content.
8.5 Are submitted by individuals barred under Section 1 (e.g., judges/ambassadors).
8.6 Attempt to influence the judging process.
8.7 Are incomplete or submitted after the deadline.
8.8 The Global Change Awards reserves the right to request clarification or additional evidence where information provided is unclear, inconsistent or incomplete. Failure to provide satisfactory clarification may result in the entry being withdrawn from the competition
9. Appeals Process
9.1 Applicants may request clarification or lodge an appeal within 14 days of receiving a decision.
9.2 Appeals must be submitted in writing to Hello@ChangeAwards.co and must outline the basis for the request.
9.3 Appeals will be reviewed by the Change Awards Governance Lead and the Head Judge.
9.4 Appeals may address administrative errors, procedural issues or eligibility decisions. Appeals may not be used to challenge the professional judgement, scoring or final decisions of the Judging Committee.
10. Code of Conduct
All participants, judges and organisers must:
10.1 Act professionally, ethically and respectfully.
10.2 Avoid discrimination, harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
10.3 Respect confidentiality and intellectual property.
10.4 Represent their organisation and the Change Awards positively.
10.5 Avoid attempting to influence judging outcomes.
10.6 All participants are expected to act in a manner that protects the integrity, independence and reputation of the Global Change Awards.
11. Notifications and Communication
11.1 Official communications relating to the competition will be issued via email and/or published on the Global Change Awards website.
11.2 Shortlisted candidates and winners will be informed directly before public announcements.
11.3 The Change Awards is not responsible for emails lost due to spam filters or outdated contact details.
12. Technical Requirements
12.1 All submissions must follow the technical criteria listed on the Change Awards website, including but not limited to:
- Accepted file formats
- Maximum word count (2,000 words unless otherwise specified)
- Supporting evidence requirements
- File size limits (if applicable)
- Accessibility requirements (if applicable)
12.2 The Global Change Awards reserves the right to reject or request resubmission of entries that do not comply with the published technical requirements.
13. Liability
13.1 The Global Change Awards shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense arising from participation in the competition, except where liability cannot be excluded by law.
13.2 Applicants remain responsible for ensuring that:
- submitted materials do not infringe copyright,
- confidentiality obligations are respected,
- they have the authority to submit the material.
14. Exclusions
14.1 Judges, Ambassadors, members of the organising team, and their immediate family members are strictly prohibited from entering.
14.2 Sponsorship arrangements do not influence judging decisions and do not give sponsors any decision-making power.
14.3 The Change Awards’ decisions regarding eligibility, nominations, judging and winners are final and binding.
14.4 The Global Change Awards reserves the right to refuse or remove any entry or participant where continued participation is considered likely to compromise the integrity, reputation or proper administration of the Awards
15. Contact Information
For questions, clarification or support, please contact:
hello@ChangeAwards.co
16. Changes to the Rules
The Change Awards reserves the right to update or amend these rules at any time. Any changes will be published on the official website.