The Warren Centre
& Professor Ron Johnston

Humanitarian

Innovation

Pitch

Open for submissions!
5 August until 16 September 2024

What is The Pitch?

The Humanitarian Innovation Pitch is an annual national prize recognising Postgraduate by coursework and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students for conducting research that can be applied to address pressing issues facing underserved or marginalised communities. 

The Event is designed to raise the profile of Postgraduate or HDR student research that has made or has the potential to make contributions to addressing humanitarian or development challenges.

In particular, the Pitch seeks to encourage students to think about how governments, institutions, non-governmental organisations, and communities might apply their research.

Key Dates

Submissions open

5th August to 16th September 2024

Judging

23rd September to 6th October 2024

Winner's Announcement

15th October 2024

PTC Conference

19th January to 22nd January 2025

Prizes

First Place

One complimentary conference registration for the PTC Conference, held January 19 – 22, 2025, with a travel stipend to help fund a round-trip economy class airfare from the winner’s closest major airport to Hawaii, and five-nights hotel accommodation

Cash prize of $1,000 AUD

Paid internship

Second Place

$2,000 AUD Cash

Paid internship

Third Place

$1,000 AUD Cash

Paid internship

Entry and Eligibility

Entrants must be a postgraduate coursework or higher degree by research (HDR) student currently enrolled at an Australian university or have completed a postgraduate coursework or an HDR degree from an Australian university within the last 6 months.

Entries must be individual – team submissions are not permitted;

An individual may only make one submission;

Entrants will be required to provide evidence of their eligibility under these rules as a part of their submission. Example of evidence is a university ID card.

Judges

2024 Humanitarian Innovation Pitch Judging Panel

A judging panel of eminent members from the Australian community with experience in the delivery of humanitarian assistance and international development has been established by The Warren Centre.

A formal assessment methodology will be used. No discussion of any kind will be entered into after presentation by entrants nor will further clarifications be sought by the judges prior to making their decision.

The decision of the Judging panel is final and not appealable in any way.

Submission Requirements

Entrants must put forward a submission in which they connect their HDR degree research to a real problem in a humanitarian or development context (post-disaster, protracted crisis, development assistance or otherwise). Basic or applied research will be considered, but there must be a connection made to practical solutions for communities.

The research must make a clear connection to one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Individual details;

• Portrait photo;

• An abstract of the research, of up to 200 words, including an accompanying optional graphical abstract;

• A video (aka The Pitch), up to a maximum of 5 minutes;

• Supporting documentation (optional), limited to one published journal article, conference paper, or other written work.

• Acceptance of terms and conditions.

  • Video Submission Guidelines
  • File Format (mp4 is best)
  • Wide frame orientation – (No Reel/Story/Tiktok orientation)
  • File size 500-600mbs
  • Maximum 5 mins
  • File name must be Full Name of Participant
  • Submission Link – TBA

Evaluation Criteria

The judges will place emphasis on the Pitch video. The applicant may elect for any form of content within the Pitch. This may include slides, animation, or other graphics. Applicants are advised to ensure that their Pitch is clear and definitive in describing the problem and research, within the nominated time limits. Videos must not exceed 5-minutes in duration.

Submissions must be concise and demonstrate the contributions of the research to both theory and practice. Evaluation criteria will be the degree to which the research:

The Problem

1. Addresses a real and pressing humanitarian or development problem;

2. Identifies a clear gap in knowledge with existing literature.

The Research 

1. Uses appropriate and clear research methods;

2. Is novel, original and innovative.

The Benefits 

1. Describes clear recommendations for practice with defined target end-users;

2. Considers cross-cutting sectoral issues such as localisation, disability inclusion, gender, and protection;

Communication 

1. Tells an effective and clear story of need and impact for the research.

Intellectual Property

The entrants retain ownership of their designs.

The entrants license the University of Sydney to use and modify for use their photographs, video and any written content as a part of
promoting the program Awards and the winners.

We recognise and pay respect to the Elders and communities – past, present, and emerging – of the lands that the University of Sydney’s campuses stand on. For thousands of years they have shared and exchanged knowledges across innumerable generations for the benefit of all.