WACE Awards
Recipients
WACE Leadership and Innovation Award
In recognition of a significant and sustained contribution to executive leadership during which innovative strides were undertaken to produce transformational results.
Criteria
The recipient will have:
- been innovative in the leadership of CWIE within an academic institution
- significant and sustained strategic contributions to advancing research and/or practice of CWIE
- been regarded as an effective leader and advocate for CWIE within the institution and within the global community.
This award is in memory of Dr. Constantine “Taki” Papadakis. Taki, who was highly respected, internationally, as a passionate leader and advocate for high quality CWIE. Taki was Chair of the National Commission for Cooperative Education (which has recently joined WACE) for five years and served as a trustee for 13 years. During his tenure as trustee, he pioneered many innovative initiatives.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Since the inception of this prestigious WACE Award in 2011, the following individuals have been honored:
2011 C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni, Pennoni Associates
2013 William Howard, CDM Smith
2015 Ms. Judie Kay, RMIT University (Australia)
2017 Professor Dato’ Seri Dr. Mohamed Mustafa Ishak, Universiti Utara Malaysia (Malaysia)
2019 Dr. Paul J. Stonely WACE Advisor to the President & CEO (Ret.)
2023 Dr. Nancy Johnston, Simon Fraser University, and NJ Consulting.
2025 Ms Francesca Walker -Martin, ASET, Reading University UK
WACE Outstanding Professional Contribution Award
In recognition of outstanding and significant contributions to cooperative and work-integrated education (CWIE).
Citeria
The recipient will have:
- made a significant contribution to the advancement of CWIE, nationally and internationally
- evidence of active involvement in related associations or internationally
The award is in memory of Donald MacLaren Jr., the former Public Affairs Manager of Air Canada, who was an avid supporter of closer working relationships between all cooperative education institutions throughout the world.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Since the inception of this prestigious WACE Award in 1983, the following individuals have been honored:
1983 Malcom Brewer, UK
1985 Robert Vozzella, USA
1987 Robert Laslett, Australia
1989 Patricia Rowe, Canada
1991 Thomas Lloyd Inglis, Scotland
1993 James Wilson, USA
1995 Ron Schulz, UK
1997 Gerald Murphy, Australia
1999 Rick Reeve, Canada
2001 Louis Engelbrecht, South Africa
2003 Richard Coll, New Zealand
2005 Christopher Pratt, USA
2007 Neil Ward, UK
2009 Olof Blomqvist, Sweden
2011 Ian Goulter, Australia
2013 Wichit Srisa-an, Thailand
2015 Dr. Karsten Zegwaard, New Zealand
2017 Dr. Norah McRae, Canada
2019 Professor Gayle Elliott, United States
2023 Dr. Judene Pretti, Canada
2025 Ms. Keiko Saito-Miyakawa ILCC Japan
WACE Research Award
In recognition of outstanding and significant contributions to scholarly research in CWIE.
Criteria
The recipient will have:
- Achieved significant and sustained research outputs that are internationally recognised
- Made significant and sustained contribution to the CWIE research environment
- Contributed to enabling other researchers to undertake research
2026 Winner: Associate Professor Sonia Ferns, from Curtin University
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2024 Winner: Karsten Zegwaard Associate Professor, University of Waikato, School of Science Teaching and Research; Director of Work-Integrated Learning Research, University of Waikato, Work Integrated Learning
WACE Employer/ Partner Contribution Award
In recognition of outstanding and sustained contributions as an employer or partner organisation to the practice of CWIE.
Criteria
Significant contribution to international CWIE will be given priority in the selection of the recipient for this award. The recipient will have:
- been innovative in implementing and managing CWIE within their organisation
- been active in promoting the concept of CWIE in their region, country, and/or internationally.
This award acknowledges the contribution of Dr. John A. Curry for his outstanding leadership of WACE and his lifetime advocacy on behalf of work integrated learning.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Since the inception of this prestigious WACE Award in 1995, the following individuals have been honored:
1995 Robert C. Marini, CDM
1997 Mark Kilian, Lucent Technologies
1999 A.A. Nasution, P T Telekomunikasi
2001 Kurt W. Liedtke, Robert Bosche Corporation and Allan Rothlind, Saab Automotive AB
2003 John Schwenker, GE Aircraft Engines Corporation
2005 Andrew Scott, Tetley Group
2007 Adrian Jefferies, BP Castro
2009 Jim Watson, Scottish Enterprise
2011 William Finke, LEONI Wiring Systems Inc.
2015 Dr. Sampan Silapanad, Western Digital (Thailand)
2017 Mr. Supant Mongkolsuthree, Chairman, Synnex (Thailand) PCL & V.P., T.K.S. Technologies PCL Thailand
2019 Cincinnati Insurance Companies United States
2023 Robert Douglas and Brian Train, Strategic Policy and Initiatives Branch, BC Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
2025 Professor Chin Beek Yoke, IMU University, Malaysia
Graduate Student And Emerging Researcher Best Poster Awards
2026 Winners: Kris Kadaleevanam and Jamie Noakes, Thompson Rivers University, Canada
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2024 Winner: Kristin Anne Bracewell
Title: Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Work Placements in PhD Education
WACE IRS Best Paper Award
The WACE Best Refereed Paper Award was created to recognize an outstanding CWIE researcher. The Award becomes a part of WACE’s commitment to CWIE research in concert with the WACE International Research Group and the WACE International Research Symposia.
The Award is presented to the researcher whose work provides evidence of the power of CWIE on an academic discipline, industry or students. The Award was first given at the 1st International Research Symposium at University West June 2014.
2026 Winner: Corinna Bartucci, Thompson Rivers University, Canada
Paper: Reciprocal Mentoring Relationships in Co-operative Education: Industry Partner and University Student Perspectives
PREVIOUS WINNERS
WACE World Conference 2025 Winner: Dave Fenton, University of Toronto Scarborough
Paper: "Re-imagining Human Capital Theory and student professional identity development in work-integrated learning with a conceptual framework."
2024 Winner: Idris Ademuyiwa, Calahndra Brake, and David Drewery
Paper: "Is WIL research aligned with the sustainable knowledge society concept? A thematic analysis of the International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning 2018 to 2023."
WACE World Conference 2023 Winner: Antoine Pennaforte, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers – CNAM, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire en Sciences de l’Action – LIRSA
Paper: "Neuro-typical inclusion through Work-integrated Learning: How to manage neuro-typical individuals through WIL for an inclusive future of work?"
WACE 4th International Research Symposium 2022, Winners: Shabnam Surjitsingh Ivković, University of Waterloo and Norah McRae, University of Waterloo
Paper: "Value and Impact of an Internship Activity to Increase Awareness of and Engagement with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals"
WACE 21st World Conference 2019 Winners: Dr. Sue Bandaranaike, James Cook University; Ms. Nicole Tardiff, Laurentian University; and Dr. Patricia Orozco, Laurentian University
Paper: “Preparing for the Future Global Workforce in the Mining Industry: A Career Pathways Mapping Project”
WACE 3rd International Research Symposium Winners: Dr. Buratin Khampirat, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand; Mr. Carver Pop, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa; and Dr. Suniti (Sue) Bandaranaike
James Cook University, Australia
Paper: “Efficacy of Work Integrated Learning: Pre and Post Perceptions among Co-operative Education Students”
20th World Conference 2017 Winners: Asst. Prof. Dr. Buratin Khampirat, Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand and Mr. Carva Pop, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
Paper: “Labour Market Needs and Graduate Competence: An Examine of the Gap between Employer Expectations and New Engineering Graduate Performance in Thailand”
WACE 2nd International Research Symposium 2016 Winner: Dr. Tracey Bowen, University of Toronto, Mississauga Canada
Paper: “Becoming a professional: A comparative analysis between Canadian and Swedish WIL student perspectives”
WACE 19th World Conference 2015 Winner: Dr. Gregory Reddan, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus Australia
Paper: “Enhancing the employability of Exercise Science students”
International Research Symposium 2014 Winners: Dr. Phil Gardner, Michigan State University, United States
Paper: “The Role of Social Network Ties and Relationships during the Internship Assignment: Shaping Social Integration, Task Mastery and Satisfaction”