For Sita Sargeant, the visionary behind She Shapes History, being recognised as ACT's Young Australian of the Year was the catalyst that propelled her business and her cause to new heights.
The unexpected nomination coincided with an era of explosive growth, launching what Ms Sargeant described as "the biggest and in many ways the most challenging and testing" year of her life.
She launched She Shapes History aiming to amplify women's voices and to rectify the lack of recognition for their historical contributions through interactive walking tours, such as their flagship "Badass Women of" series.
Before she was nominated for the award, the organisation saw about 1500 attendees in a year, but in the 12 months that followed her national recognition, a staggering 8500 people have gone on their tours.
"It blows my mind ... It's been such an insane year," Ms Sargeant said, sharing the recognition helped her expand the tours across Canberra, Sydney, Wollongong, and Melbourne.
Beyond the numbers, she said the personal impact of the nomination has been profound.
Ms Sargeant discovered she had been nominated by multiple individuals, an act she found deeply humbling.
"I think that these things are never expected at all," she said.
"The fact that someone... took the time, saw what I was doing and they went, 'here is a young person who's like really like punching above their weight'."
The recognition not only validated her team's hard work but led to major milestones, including a four-year partnership with the National Library of Australia allowing them to dive into different aspects of Australian history.
Yet, for Ms Sargeant, the true power of the awards lies in community uplift.
Reflecting on her peers at the award ceremony, she said it gave her "a lot of hope for Australia" to see people going above and beyond to make the country better not for accolades but because "it was the right thing to do".
She urged Australians to nominate everyday heroes, describing it as a great opportunity to bring recognition to people whose work usually isn't in the spotlight.
"You deserve to be recognised, and your work deserves to be amplified and reach a broader group of people," Ms Sargeant said.
Nominations for the the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards close at midnight on Friday, July 31. Go to the website australianoftheyear.org.au to nominate someone who inspires you and your community.
