This award, inaugurated in 1995, recognises and rewards individuals whose extraordinary efforts have directly contributed to the raising of standards in their workplace or within their conservation field. It is also awarded to people who have worked to promote the profession of conservation and its activities to the wider community and who have encouraged membership of the AICCM.

2023 – Samantha Hamilton

Samantha Hamilton – photo credit Mark Gambino

Samantha is characterised by her colleagues as bringing ingenuity and a focus on public benefit to her work. She spearheaded the $2.5M redevelopment project of the Australian Performing Arts Collection (APAC) area at Hamer Hall, which included upgraded facilities for conservation and research, a photographic studio, an object quarantine space, collections work areas and a visible storage area. Samantha worked hard to create awareness around collection needs both within her organisation, and externally to the State government, the performing arts sector and to the general public. It was due to Samantha’s hard work that so many grants for the project were sought and secured from private benefactors and the Victorian Government. Samantha’s leadership and collaboration resulted in positive outcomes for the collection and the conservation profession.

Past winners

As you can see, our records are incomplete. If you can help fill in the blanks we would love to hear from you.