Premier's Awards for Innovation and Excellence

The history of the Premier's Awards

The Premier’s Awards for Innovation and Excellence program is an annual celebration of the finest examples of what the BC Public Service has to offer.

This provincial recognition is awarded to the most outstanding projects, teams or individuals in the public service showcasing distinguished examples of professionalism, innovation and collaboration.

The diverse contributions of past recipients have made lasting impacts in B.C. and enriched many lives and communities across the province.

2025 marks the 23rd year of the most prestigious recognition event in the BC Public Service.

Premier’s Awards judges determine the finalists and award recipients.

Award categories

Emerging Leader

The Emerging Leader award recognizes a BC Public Service employee working at or below the Band 4 level who has made a significant impact on their ministry, division, work group or the broader BC Public Service early in their career. Emerging Leaders are chosen by BC Public Service employees through a vote.

Evidence-Based Design (retired as of 2025)

The Evidence-Based Design award recognizes groups, teams or organizations in the BC Public Service whose work is outstanding in the area of evidence-based or evidence-informed policy or program development, and the process by which the policy or program was designed. This category showcases excellence in policy or program development for internal government or citizen-facing initiatives.

Innovation

The Innovation award recognizes groups, teams or organizations in the BC Public Service who have developed and transformed new ideas into tangible initiatives, programs or projects. By applying a citizen-centric approach, innovations streamline business processes, leverage technology or pursue creative solutions to fulfill organizational mandates.

Leadership

The Leadership award recognizes a BC Public Service employee who demonstrates the highest levels of integrity and exemplary leadership abilities either leading a team or organization, or a substantial project, process or initiative.

Legacy

The Legacy award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to the BC Public Service and the province during a public service career of at least 15 years. The contributions may cover a nominee’s entire career or portions of it, provided the contribution has a lasting and ongoing positive impact.

Note: during the judging process, a Legacy finalist may be considered for the BC Public Service Hall of Excellence.

Organizational Excellence

The Organizational Excellence award recognizes one or more BC Public Service organizations that have delivered a program, service or initiative resulting in substantial benefits to their organization(s), the public service or the people in British Columbia.

Partnership

The Partnership award recognizes joint ventures or multi-party initiatives between BC Public Service organizations and organizations in the broader public sector, other levels of government, Indigenous communities or in the private or non-profit sectors.

Regional Impact

The Regional Impact award recognizes groups, teams or organizations within the BC Public Service who have developed and delivered programs, projects and initiatives benefiting people in a specific location (town, city, municipality or region). 

BC Public Service Hall of Excellence

The BC Public Service Hall of Excellence recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to the province. Recipients of the Legacy award are eligible for induction into the Hall of Excellence. This is the highest form of recognition the BC Public Service can extend to its employees.

Judges

Premier’s Awards judges are government, business and community leaders outside of the BC Public Service. These individuals volunteer their time to determine the finalists and recipients of the Premier’s Awards, according to criteria for each of the categories.

2025 Adjudicators

• Alexa Young, Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
• Azra Hussain, COO, Surrey Hospitals Foundation
• Brenda Baptiste, Chair, Indigenous Tourism BC
• Cally Wesson, President & CEO, BC Women’s Health Foundation
• Wendy Hurlburt, President and CEO, Life Sciences BC

2025 Judges

• Celeste Haldane, Chief Commissioner, BC Treaty Commission
• Indra Bhan, Chief Operating Officer, Surrey Board of Trade
• Lori Wanamaker, Former Deputy Minister, BC Government (Retired)
• Olga Stachova, CEO, MOSAIC
• Queenie Choo, CEO, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
• Richard Zussman, Vice President, Western Canada, Burson
• Dr. Philip Steenkamp, President and Vice-Chancellor, Royal Roads University

2026 Judges

• Alexa Young, Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
• Azra Hussain, COO, Surrey Hospitals Foundation
• Cally Wesson, President & CEO, BC Women’s Health Foundation
• Genesa M. McMillan Greening, Founder and Principal of Apipunsit Collective Consulting
• Indra Bhan, Chief Operating Officer, Surrey Board of Trade
• Richard Zussman, Vice President, Western Canada, Burson
• Olga Stachova, CEO, MOSAIC
• Dr. Philip Steenkamp, President and Vice-Chancellor, Royal Roads University
• Queenie Choo, CEO, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
• Wendy Hurlburt, President and CEO, Life Sciences BC