2023 ARA Handbook

In this section

Communication Award

Best Cover Design

Best First Time Entry

Governance Reporting Award

Integrated Reporting Award

Online Reporting Award

Work Health & Safety Reporting Award

SPECIAL AWARDS

Over the past 25 years ARA has progressively introduced Special Awards to focus attention on important aspects of annual reporting, and to emerging changes in reporting and the reporting process. For example, a Special Award for Integrated Reporting was introduced to support this new international approach to annual reporting, and the Online Reporting Award was introduced to encourage the development and effective use of digital technology to increase the ease of navigation and comprehension of annual reports published online.

The Special Awards are assessed by panels of adjudicators who have expertise and experience relevant to the Award category.

COMMUNICATION AWARD

The Communication Award was introduced in 1998 to recognise excellence in communicating with stakeholders in printed annual reports.

Private Sector

Finalists: Port Otago Limited, Sandford Limited, Vital Healthcare Property Trust

Winner: Port Otago Limited

The Judges said, “Due to the refreshingly down-to-earth writing and classic design, clarity of presentation is what sets this report apart. Honest self-analysis and inputs from external stakeholders have led to and guided transparent reporting, particularly in addressing the twelve material issues the company faces, and its strategy for a better business.”

*Carolyn Bennet accepted the Award on behalf of Port Otago Limited.*

Public Sector

Winner: Clean Energy Finance Corporation

The Judges said, “This attractively designed report documents CEFC’s first decade of accelerating finance into the clean energy sector. Visual segmenting of its investment commitments, priorities and performance measures provides a clear view of carbon abatement to date, but warns Australia urgently needs a much faster pace of decarbonization to reach a 43 per cent reduction by 2030.”

*ARA Director Sylvia Bell (left) presented the award to Catherine Cook of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.*

Not for Profit Sector

Finalists: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria, Thorne Harbour Health

Winner: Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria

The Judges said, “This unostentatious, succinct and focused report provides a lesson in straightforward communication. It has a good balance of text, illustration and white space, and is obviously mindful of both the RFDS budget and the target audience.”

*ARA Director Sylvia Bell presented the Award to Jonathan Green (right) and Christian Langton of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.*

BEST FIRST TIME ENTRY

CLP HOLDINGS IS A MAJOR SPONSOR OF ARA AND THE SPONSOR OF THIS AWARD

This is the 25th time the Award for the Best First Time Entry has been presented since it was introduced in 1999. In 2014, CLP Holdings was the first ‘First Time Entrant’ to receive a Gold Award and subsequently agreed to become an ARA sponsor and the sponsor of this Award. Each year since then the winner of the Best First Time Entry Award has achieved a Gold Award.

Despite the overall reduction in entries this year due to the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic on the operations of many organisations, there were 28 first time entrants. In addition to new entrants from around Australia there were first time entrants from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand. The entries from countries in the Asia-Pacific region reflect respect for the rigorous ARA assessment process, and appreciation of the opportunity to obtain constructive feedback.

This year, two of the 28 the organisations that entered the Awards for the first time achieved a Gold Award and automatically became eligible for the Best First Time Entry Award.

They are:

KMD Brands from Christchurch, New Zealand
Link Real Estate and Property Trust of Hong Kong

Winner: KMD Brands Limited

KMD Brands is a global outdoor lifestyle and sports company made up of three iconic brands: Kathmandu, Oboz and Rip Curl. By sharing expertise in technology, research and development, and leveraging operational excellence across the three brands, KMD Brands has become much more than the sum of its parts.

*Vivian Au, Director Corporate Affairs (Communications) of CLP Power Hong Kong Limited presented the Award to Carla Webb of KMD Brands.*

BEST COVER DESIGN

DESIGN DAVEY IS A MAJOR SPONSOR OF ARA AND THE SPONSOR OF THIS AWARD

This Award was introduced in 2018 in association with Design Davey and Australian Graphic Design Association to recognise the importance of design in achieving effective communication in both print and online reporting. To win this award a report cover must be purpose-designed to engage the reader and clearly reflect the purpose of the organisation, and/or the underlying theme of the report.

Finalists:

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
City of Joondalup
Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation
Mineral Resources Limited
Perenti

Winner: Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Judges said, “The prominent display of the iconic ABC logo in lights overlaying an image of a performance by 90 drummers leaves you in no doubt as to which organisation is celebrating and that you will find an historical review of the achievements of the ABC inside the cover - in addition to details and discussion of the ABC’s performance for the year.”

*Nick Leys of the ABC accepted the Award from Sean Aley of Design Davey, the Award sponsor.*

GOVERNANCE REPORTING AWARD

This Award was introduced in 1998 in association with the Governance Institute of Australia (then Chartered Secretaries Australia) to recognise the quality and completeness of disclosure in reporting on governance.

Private Sector

Finalists: Petronas Dangangan Berhad, Wesfarmers Limited

Winner: Petronas Dangangan Berhad

The Judges said, “This report excelled in compliance and integrity reporting. Its strengths included disclosures on skills, standards and practices, and how they are applied to determine board focus, decision-making and oversight; the approach to sustainable value creation and protection in a challenging environment; and risk management and risk mitigation.”

*Norfaila Hassan accepted the Award on behalf of Petronas Dangangan Berhad.*

Public and Not for Profit Sectors

Finalists: Audit Office New South Wales, Main Roads Western Australia

Winner: Main Roads Western Australia

The Judges said, “The governance focus of this report is on value-added sustainable outcomes for customers, employees and the environment. It has successfully adopted relevant private sector governance principles whilst meeting public sector requirements. It demonstrates responsiveness to challenges and the changing needs, expectations and travel behaviours of customers.”

*Alan Colegate of Main Roads WA accepted the Award from fellow ARA Director Andrew Crawford.*

INTEGRATED REPORTING AWARD

NOVAFUSION IS A MAJOR SPONSOR OF THE ARA AND THE SPONSOR OF THIS AWARD

Since 2010 there has been growing interest and increased activity around the world in integrating the reporting of financial performance with other information such as strategies, governance, prospects and risks to enable organisations to better communicate about their ability to create value in the future. ARA introduced a Special Award for Integrated Reporting in 2013 to support this international initiative and to contribute to its evolutionary process.

Finalists:

CPA Australia
KMD Brands Limited
Petronas Dagangan Berhad
Port Otago Limited

Winner: Port Otago Limited

The Judges said, “This engaging and informative report is an excellent example of authentic Integrated Reporting. Port Otago’s interpretation of <IR> terminology, contextualised to the Port, shows how the IR Framework is driving decision making and future direction. For example, board meetings are structured around the six capitals to drive integrated thinking. Clear linking of strategy to value creation demonstrates good connectivity.”

ARA Deputy Chair Bronwyn Wellings (left) presented the Award on behalf of ARA sponsor Nova Fusion to Carolyn Bennett of Port Otago Limited.

ONLINE REPORTING AWARD

TANGELO SOFTWARE IS A MAJOR SPONSOR OF ARA AND THE SPONSOR OF THIS AWARD

This Award acknowledges the special nature of the digital medium and the opportunities it presents to facilitate navigation through an annual report and enhance the presentation of information on-screen to attract, engage and effectively inform the reader.

Private Sector

Winner: CLP Holdings Limited

The Judges said, “This online report provides an open, straightforward, easy to read and comprehend overview of the past year. It is comprised of well-presented statistical data with succinct summary statements that clearly explain different aspects of CLP’s various operations, performance, and the good and not so good outcomes with links to the full PDF report for those who want more information.”

*Vivian Au of CLP Holdings Limited of Hong Kong accepted the Award from Rob Albert of Tangelo Software.*

Public Sector

Finalists: Glen Eira City Council, Main Roads Western Australia

Winner: Glen Eira City Council

The Judges said, “Over recent years, Gen Eira City Council has tackled the challenging task of presenting the entire content of a very large annual report in an interactive format online. This has been achieved this year with a well-planned structure and ‘data-mining’ navigation whereby readers can dig down through different layers to find the information they want. The reader-friendly, folksy presentation style makes the content fit-for-purpose for communication to the Council’s stakeholders.”

*Catlin Ngo and Scott Campbell from Gen Eira City Council accepted the Award from Rob Albert.*

Online Reporting – Not for Profit Sector

Finalists: Breast Cancer Trials, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Hong Kong Housing Society

*Anna Fitzgerald of Breast Cancer Trials accepted the Award from Rob Albert.*

Winner: Breast Cancer Trials

The Judges said, “The purpose of this organisation is to integrate the work of medical researchers in various countries in a multi-disciplinary approach to improving the treatment of breast cancers. With clear writing, a well-planned structure, and an open, easy-to-read presentation style the BCT report is able to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders ranging from trial volunteers and donors to fundraising, to experts in medical science.”

WORK HEALTH & SAFETY REPORTING AWARD

ARA introduced this Award in 2000 to recognise excellence in reporting on actual work health and safety performance and on new initiatives taken to improve health and safety in the workplace.

Finalists: Audit Office of New South Wales, Main Roads Western Australia, The Hills Shire Council

Winner: The Hills Shire Council

The Judges said, “This report presents an excellent balance between the Council’s governance policies and procedures covering work health and safety, and transparent analysis and reporting about what actually happened during the year and the actions taken to avoid reoccurrence of injury-causing incidents in the future.”