Explained: Step-by-step guide to the INCITE nomination process

Honorary Award categories recognise long-term contributions, highlighted through Achiever of the Year, WA Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year, and Dr. Mal Bryce WA Tech Company of the Year. 

Your entry name is the first impression of your innovation, product, solution, or project.  

This name will appear on event programs, certificates, and promotional materials, so it’s important to make it clear and memorable. 

Try to choose a title that not only stands out but also tells the story of your solution or product. A recognisable, descriptive name helps judges and audiences quickly understand the impact and purpose of your work. 

This section captures the key information about the entrant or the applicant submitting on their behalf. 

You’ll need to provide your email address, contact number, and the type of business or organisation whether it’s a private or public company, government agency, not-for-profit, or if you’re a student at undergraduate, postgraduate, or tertiary level. 

You’ll also indicate your role in the project, such as developer or customer, and provide your ABN and the postal address of your company or organisation. If you’re submitting as a team or collaborating with other organisations, be sure to specify this as a team or joint submission. 

This section forms the heart of your nomination, as judges rely on it to evaluate your entry. It’s where you get to clearly showcase your innovation, impact, and excellence. 

You can include a short video providing an overview of your entry and organisation. It doesn’t need to be professionally produced and may be used during finalist presentations or promotional activities. 

Craft a concise pitch that describes your product or solution in just 50 words. This summary will be published on the INCITE Awards website and featured in the Awards Ceremony program if you become a finalist. 

Introduce yourself, your organisation, and your team. Include relevant details if you are submitting as a team or a joint nomination with other organisations. 

Describe your innovation, highlighting key features, value, market potential, and unique attributes. Compare your solution to existing alternatives, demonstrating how it is more innovative, impactful, or effective. 

This section varies by category and focuses on how your solution meets the specific judging criteria. Judges rely heavily on your responses here to assess how well your entry aligns with the category

While this section is optional (unless otherwise noted as part of the requirements), attaching supporting documentation is highly encouraged. It can enhance your nomination, strengthen your credibility, and give judges a clearer, real-time understanding of your work. 

You can include high-resolution and low-resolution logos for your product, company, or organisation. In addition, up to five supporting materials can be attached, such as online demonstrations, brochures, user interviews, case studies, or photos of you or your team. 

You also have the option to include a few minutes of video that highlights the user experience and demonstrates how your product or solution benefits its audience. These supporting materials help judges engage more fully with your work and showcase its impact in a tangible way. 

If you are submitting a nomination as a team, list all team members who contributed to this entry. For student entries, you can include the names of all students who are involved in the nomination. 

For each team member, provide their name, organisation, role within the organisation, nomination role, state, email, and mobile number. Remember to include the primary contact person’s details in the main Details section and add the rest of the team member information in this section. 

If your nomination involves a joint submission with another organisation, include the corresponding organisation’s details. This should cover the organisation name, ABN, applicant type, postal address, website, and social media links. 

For student entries, organisation details should also be included if your project involves collaboration with an external organisation. 

Referees are people who can vouch for your product or solution. They can be end-users but should not be developers involved in creating the solution. 

For student entries, referees can include your supervisors or staff members who are familiar with your project. 

Important tip: Make sure your referees know in advance that they might be contacted. Judges may reach out to them if they need clarification or additional information. 

This section is designed to support promotional and media use, helping your product, solution, or project gain recognition with your target audience. 

Start with an insight on why you developed your solution. Share the story behind it, including what motivated you, how your team contributed, and how the solution came to life. 

Next, provide a story about your organisation or company. Explain the organisation’s goals, its area of work, and how it has evolved over time. For students, include details about the organisation  where you are pursuing and how your project connects to it. 

Include a profile photo of yourself or your team. You can also optionally provide an image of your product or innovation. Including your website and social media links is optional, but it can help judges learn more about your work. 

Finalists will receive the meeting link with your allocated date and time for the presentation. 
Test your video, microphone, and headphones ahead of time. Try practicing an online meeting with someone else to make sure everything works and to get comfortable presenting your work. 

Join your virtual presentation room at least 20 minutes before your scheduled time. You’ll be placed in the waiting room until it’s your turn.  

Presentation schedules are tightly managed to ensure fairness for all finalists. 

Late arrivals may result in reduced presentation time or, in some cases, disqualification from the presentation round. 

Finalists are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and allow sufficient time to join and settle before their session begins. 

Every session slot runs for 40 minutes and is structured as follows: 

• First 5 minutes: Setting up your presentation and checking that audio, video etc. is working. In this timeslot, the lead judge will welcome you and provide a walkthrough of the process while you prepare to share your presentation. 
  

• Presentation - 15 minutes: You or your team will present your innovative work for the specific category. 
  

• Q&A - 15 minutes: A Q&A session with the judging panel.  
  

• After the presentation and Q&A: Please leave the virtual room in a timely manner. 

The total time for presentation and Q&A is capped at 30 minutes. If technical issues or late arrival delay the start of your session beyond the initial setup period, this time will be deducted from your presentation and Q&A allocation. 

Time reminders will be given by the panel during the presentation, helping you manage your time effectively and move smoothly into the Q&A session.

Preparing for your presentation is very important. Leaving it to the last minute is never a good idea. Think of your presentation as a journey you are taking the judges on. Show them your innovation, the problem it solves, the solution you developed, the unique ideas behind it, and the key points that make your work stand out.

Adding breadcrumbs or visual cues at the bottom of your slides is a great idea. These simple guides help judges follow your story and keep your presentation clear and easy to navigate. 

For finalists who are in multiple categories, judging is conducted separately for each category as each has its own panel of judges. 

For student entries, the presentation must be delivered by you or your team. Supervisors or mentors can attend as observers but must not present the project or solution or respond in Q&A time. 

The lead judge will oversee the Q&A to ensure fairness across all entries. The panel of judges will evaluate and judge your presentation against the specific category criteria on a scale of 1 to 10. 

When answering questions from the panel, keep your responses concise, so other judges have a chance to ask their questions. 

The judges base their questions on the judging criteria and may also ask for clarifications on your presentation. 

If you are presenting as a team, decide in advance who will answer which types of questions. This ensures an organised and confident presentation.