Citizen of the Year Awards
Congratulations to our 2026 Citizen of the Year Awards winners!
Stay tuned for information on our next nomination period for 2027's Awards.
Our community is full of people and groups who have gone above and beyond to make a real difference.
Each year the Citizen of the Year Awards recognise people and groups who continue to make a difference in our Council Area (City of Adelaide; Adelaide 5000 & North Adelaide 5006).
The City of Adelaide's Awards comprise of 4 categories:
- Citizen of the Year – This is presented to someone making an extraordinary contribution to the community and may recognise outstanding service over a number of years.*
- Young Citizen of the Year – Presented to a young emerging leader who is making a real difference in their community. To be eligible, the person must be aged over 16 years and under 30 years age on the 26 January, 2026.*
- Community Event of the Year – Awarded to a person or group who has staged the most outstanding event for their community.*
- Award for Active Citizenship – This is presented to a person or group delivering outstanding work on an event or project for the community during the past calendar year. The person or group do not need to be Australian Citizens.
Awards are presented at the City of Adelaide's Australia Day celebration.
*To be eligible for these categories, nominees must be an Australian Citizen.
2026 Citizen of the Year - Sarah Ladewig-Jones
Sarah fills many roles in her local community and has hosted Neighbour Day events for residents of Hals Place/Weil St over the past couple of years. She has also been a leader of the Parents group of Giles Street Primary School and was instrumental in the huge success of the recent celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the school. Sarah also is an active member of the Walyu Yarta Community Garden and regularly assists the garden by liaising with Gilles Street Primary School to bring students to the garden and also designing promotional flyers to promote holiday working bees in the garden.
2026 Young Citizen of the Year – Evan Johnson
Evan Johnson has made extensive and meaningful contributions to the disability, neurodivergent, queer, and student communities through professional practice, advocacy, leadership, and volunteer work. Evan’s civic contribution is strongly demonstrated through his work with the City of Adelaide’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel. As an Individual Panel Member—and now Chair for the 2025 calendar year— Evan plays a key role in shaping access and inclusion outcomes across the city. He provides informed, evidence-based, and lived-experience driven advice on projects, policies, and strategies, ensuring that decisions reflect the needs of disabled, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ communities. His leadership strengthens the Panel’s capacity to deliver meaningful and equitable change for residents and visitors alike.
2026 Community Event of the Year – Nantu Wama parkrun
Nantu Wama parkrun is a free, weekly timed 5km event held every Saturday at 8am. Participants run, walk or volunteer at the event. The event is encouraging local residents to participate to improve their health and fitness. After the event participants meet at a local cafe for breakfast and coffee and to socialise. It’s so much more than just a 5km run.
2026 Active Citizen of the Year – James Davidson
James has significantly enriched the wellbeing of the Adelaide community through his leadership in two impactful initiatives. At the Minor Works Building Community Centre, he established and facilitates the Adelaide region's Good Better Best Men’s Sharing Circle—a safe, welcoming space where men meet weekly to share experiences, build trust, and support each other’s mental health. This group has created a vital network for men, many of whom previously felt isolated. In addition, James launched Let’s Walk & Talk, a free weekly walking group that brings community members together to connect while improving their physical fitness. This initiative promotes social inclusion, reduces loneliness, and fosters positive conversations that enhance community connectedness.