About
The SCSI’s Surveying Excellence Awards highlight and recognise the significant contribution of surveying professionals to every stage of the life cycle of buildings. Working across the land, construction and property sectors, SCSI members either individually or collaboratively work to improve the natural and built environment.
The Surveying Excellence Awards are a marker of the highest industry standards and best practices and celebrate surveyors’ excellence, continued learning, sustainable innovations, and embracing technology to enhance the built environment.
Award Categories
Eligibility & Submission Details
Now Open for submissions
Award Winners will be Announced at the National Conference on the 9th of December 2025
Individual Recognition Awards category
Individual award nominations can be made by the individual themselves.
The Collaborative Impact Awards nominations can be made by any of the individuals involved in the group work.
To be eligible, the nominee must be a full SCSI member (Associate, Professional and Fellow).
Academic (Dissertation) Awards
- Undergraduate Dissertation Award – at least a student member or higher grade, and the dissertation was completed as part of a SCSI Accredited Programme.
- Postgraduate Dissertation Award – at least a trainee member or higher (Associate, Professional or Fellow) grade in a relevant postgraduate degree programme (Masters’ or PhD).
President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution is not a nominated award but a recognition by the SCSI of the contributions of a SCSI member. Please do not contact the President to canvass for yourself for the Award.
We very much encourage members to nominate other members who have demonstrated excellence in their work and leadership.
Simply click to nominate another member and enter their name, email and short explanation for why they are deserving of the award.
The member you have nominated will then receive an email notifying them and inviting them to complete the full nomination form to complete their entry.
Nominations must be submitted for the 2024 Awards between 2nd July and the 24th October 2024.
Firm size is asked as part of the nomination process to take regard of resources and ensure entrants are judged equally. The rules also allow, where necessary, for the judges to break up awards into subcategories where they see fit.
For each award entry, you must add a “Brief Summary of Your Entry”, and this text will be used by the SCSI when announcing the shortlist or other promotional information about the Awards.
No commercially sensitive information in the submission will be shared outside the Judging Panel.
You must sign into your account and complete the online application form to submit.
You can save and revisit your entry.
If you have any issues or need to correct an entry previously made after submitting, please email awards@scsi.ie
The Judging Criteria are provided for each Award and linked to the particular questions to guide responses.
The Judging Panel reserves the right to verify information and claims made in an application involving commercial data shared. This would include contacting the applicant first.
All material received will be treated confidentially and only shared with judges reviewing that category.
Canvassing of a Judge or member of the SCSI Executive team may result in disqualification from the awards. If an incident does occur, the incident will be reported to the Chair and discussed by the Judging Panel regarding what action should be taken.
The Judging Panel’s decision is final.
The Judging Panel reserve the right to split awards or withdraw an award based on the entries received.
Judging Panel:
Claire Solon (Chair)
Full judging panel to be announced.
Individual Recognition Awards
This award recognises the collaborative work of SCSI members to advance the profession for the benefit of the public and fellow members. Groups of two or more SCSI members, who through a project or initiative demonstrates the value of cross-discipline collaboration for the benefit of members and the industry. While the projects may vary greatly, some examples of successful collaborative efforts may include: new guidance notes, member supports & tools, CPD & conference insights, collaborating with other industry leaders and representing the profession to the wider public.
How to enter:
- Brief Summary of Your Entry (max 75 words)*
- Collaboration & Impact– Describe how the project involved collaboration across disciplines and advanced the profession (500 words)*
- Strategic Relevance – Strategic Relevance: Describe how the project/work has helped to: support/connect members knowledge-sharing; served the public good; advance the profession; or influenced the future of surveying.*
- Testimonials from members or other stakeholders that benefited from this nominations work.
Judging criteria:
- Collaboration & Impact. Evidence of effective teamwork and cross-discipline engagement. The measurable advancement of the profession resulting from the project.
- Strategic Value. Outcomes of this work connect with the SCSI’s goals: support & connect members; represent & advocate in the public interest; or advance & influence for the future.
- Relevance. Provides valuable example for others to adopt similar collaborative approaches in their work on behalf of the profession or within their own professional practices, particularly as provided by references.
Our profession is at the heart of creating a sustainable balance between the built and natural environments. The Sustainable Champion Award recognises members’ work at the forefront of harmonising the profession’s dual goals of human development needs and environmental obligations. Whether through education on advanced sustainable practices, cutting-edge technology or just personal unwavering commitment, we want to hear about you or your colleagues making our profession more sustainable. Such dedication to preserving our planet while enabling progress exemplifies the public value our profession should provide.
How to enter:
- Brief Summary of Your Entry (max 75 words)*
- Purpose & Commitment – What accomplishment has made the entrant proud of their work to drive sustainable practice in surveying (300 words)*
- Impact & Engagement – What is the single most significant impact that the entrants’ work has had on sustainability (300 words)*
- Reference / testimonial from a colleague or other stakeholder.
Judging criteria:
- Purpose. The alignment of activities towards a meaningful goal (e.g., link to a UN Sustainable Development Goal or SCSI Sustainability Report objective).
- Engagement. The engagement of your team, colleagues, clients, community, etc.
- Commitment. The commitment demonstrated by the individual. The structure or systems that will ensure commitment beyond the individual’s direct engagement.
- Impact. The impact of your work on addressing gender diversity and inclusion in surveying. The applicability of your approach by others to replicate in their professional life.
The Elevate Award celebrates the individuals who have made remarkable strides in promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in the surveying profession. It seeks to recognise the champions of change who have, through their work, fostered an environment where women can thrive, lead, and excel in the surveying profession. We encourage you to recognise yourself or nominate a trailblazer who has helped elevate the surveying profession through their work in female participation and leadership.
How to enter:
- Brief Summary of Your Entry (max 75 words)*
- Champion & Support – Please explain the entrant’s role in supporting female participation or leadership in surveying (max 500 words)*
- Commitment & Impact – What single accomplishment has made the entrant the most proud of their work to drive female participation/leadership in surveying (250 words)*
- [Optional] Attach supporting material to your entry if referenced above.
Judging criteria:
- Champion. They are recognised for their work highlighting the contributions that gender diversity and inclusion brought to the organisation/profession.
- Support. The support provided directly or through programmes that you developed. E.g. changes to policies or culture that you sought to change in your organisation or elsewhere.
- Commitment. The commitment demonstrated by the individual either across multiple activities or in a concerted effort to improve female participation or leadership in the future.
- Impact. The impact of your work on addressing the sustainability agenda. The applicability of your approach by others to replicate in their professional life. Measurability of impact.
The SCSI Emerging Leader award recognises new members with remarkable dedication, potential and drive to improve the profession. If you or a colleague have become a Chartered or Associate member of the SCSI in the past five years with a passion for the career (but no longer than 10-years working in the industry), we encourage you to apply or nominate them. The Emerging Leader is an outstanding role model who practices to the highest standards of professionalism and advocates for the profession.
How to enter:
- Brief Summary of Your Entry (max 75 words)*
- Inspire & Inquisitive – Please share the entrant’s surveying journey with the judges (max 500 words)*
- Dedication & Drive – How has the entrant’s entry to the profession become an asset to their organisation, client or the SCSI (200 words)*
- Dedication & Inspire – Outline any activities the entrant has undertaken to support and encourage other future surveyors (200 words)
- [Optional] Attach supporting material to your entry if referenced above.
Judging criteria:
- Inspire. From inspirational stories of routes into the profession – to inspiring the next generation of students to try out the profession. Tell us your story.
- Inquisitive. Professional qualifications don’t signal the end of a learning journey but a career-long commitment. The members who ask questions and share their answers with the professional community help to advance it.
- Dedication. Demonstrating the upholding of the standards and ethics of the profession while serving clients, colleagues and the public.
- Drive. The achievement of challenging work, community or society projects despite the obstacles.
The New Practice Award is presented to SCSI members who have established a new company/organisation within the last two to four years. The award acknowledges those who have managed the challenges of starting a business while upholding professional standards and client service. Its aim is to showcase practices that introduce high levels of excellence and encourage others in the profession to consider entrepreneurial endeavours.
How to enter:
- Brief Summary of Your Entry (max 75 words)*
- Founding Story – Share the journey of setting up the new practice, including challenges and successes (max 500 words)*
- Clients & Standards – Describe how you’ve ensured your practice is meeting professional standards and a quality service to clients (250 words)*
- Testimonials from colleagues or clients about your business.*
Judging criteria:
- Entrepreneurship. Initiative and resilience in founding a new practice.
- Growth & Impact. Positive outcomes for clients, team or community.
- Clients & Standards. Your company culture is committed to the highest professional standards. How you ensure commitment to clients.
This award recognises surveyors who have made a significant contribution to their community, either through charitable work or projects that foster community spirit. If on your time off or in a project, you’ve had the opportunity to make your community (local to global) a better place please apply. We encourage you to share times where you’ve donated your skills as a surveyor to make a difference, charitable fundraising initiatives, projects that have improved the environment, heritage projects, community improvement projects, etc.
How to enter:
- Brief Summary of Your Entry (max 75 words)*
- Community – Describe the project or activity, particular the community its seeking to support, and its impact on the community (max 500 words)*
- Legacy & Pride – Explain how the work will have a lasting positive effect and how its been important to you (250 words)*
- Reference for the ..
Judging criteria:
- Engagement & Impact. Depth of involvement with colleagues, the community or other bodies. How you used your professional skills or network to make the project a success. Clear benefits delivered to the community (e.g. money raised, number of deliverables, ).
- Legacy & Pride. The long-term value of the project in the context of those it impacts, including the bodies supported, to the individuals that took part.
Academic & Volunteer Contribution Awards
The SCSI Undergraduate Dissertation Competition exists to display the research capabilities of students studying on an SCSI-accredited undergraduate property, land and construction degree programmes.
Requirements for Entrants:
- Entrants must be students studying on an SCSI-accredited bachelor’s degree programme. The following categories of undergraduate students are eligible to submit entries:
- Final year undergraduate students (including full and part-time students, mature students and those who have previously obtained a degree) during the current academic year.
- Submitted dissertations must have obtained a minimum grade of 60%. Students must submit documentation confirming this result to meet the submission criteria.
- Upload a copy of the final degree results from the awarding academic institution, including the dissertation module result.
- Entrants must be student members of the SCSI.
How to enter:
- All criteria – Outline of dissertation description
- Confirm the academic institution & programme name
- All criteria – Submit a copy of your final degree results, including dissertation module results and award classification.
- Submissions must be the entrant’s work and not be taken from the work of others, save and to the extent that such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of this submission.
- All criteria –Upload the dissertation in PDF format.
Judging Criteria:
- Significance. Scope and significance of the student’s research contribution to the field of Surveying in Ireland.
- Originality. Degree of originality and level of innovation in the selection of the topic.
- Standard. Standard of execution of the student’s research
- Quality. Quality of expression and presentation of the research findings.
The SCSI Postgraduate Dissertation Award recognises built environment research that examines professional or industry challenges (e.g. sustainability, innovation, inclusion, affordability, safety, etc.). The Award highlights the valuable contribution that academic research can provide to solving the new complexities. Judges will review the submissions with a keen eye on the real-world applicability of dissertations and their focus on tangible improvements in practices or policies that would offer a roadmap towards addressing issues of professional or public interest. All SCSI members (or trainees) who have completed a Postgraduate Dissertation in the past 18 months are encouraged to apply.
Requirements for entrants:
- Entrants must be full members or trainees of the SCSI.
- Dissertation from a Masters or PhD level programme.
- The dissertation must have been submitted/completed in the past 24 months.
How to enter:
- Relevance, Originality, Quality, Impact – Dissertation Abstract (max 1000 words)
- Quality – Copy of your dissertation module result
- Relevance & Originality – Dissertation in PDF format.
- Impact – If your dissertation research has impacted a company’s or others’ activities, please tell us about those. If it hasn’t been adopted (yet), outline the potential impact as you see it. (200 words max)
Judging criteria:
- Relevance. Research question relevancy to the betterment of the industry/profession
- Originality. Novelty of research approach, from using old data in new ways to applying research methods not traditionally involved in the built environment.
- Quality. Overall quality of research and applicable research methodologies
- Impact. Applicability of findings for practitioners or policymakers.
The SCSI President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the SCSI and the wider profession. Achievement honours exceptional leaders who have significantly contributed to advancing professionals in the built environment by volunteering for various projects, reports and events. The Award is the highest honour bestowed upon an individual by SCSI.
This Award is decided solely at the discretion of the President; no application is necessary.