GÉANT Community Award

GÉANT honours community members who have made outstanding contributions to collaborative work and the development of services and technologies, people who have shared their ideas, expertise and time with the community.

We recognise that such contributions are often provided voluntarily and through the good will of employer organisations.

Nominate for the 2026 Community Award

Explore an example of the criteria which the Community Award Committee will focus on to select the winner(s):

Community Award winner(s) selection criteria

GÉANT can be described in three dimensions: Network, Services and People. The GÉANT Community Award focuses on the people and how they work on a global scale to further the role and value of research and education networking.

The GÉANT Community Award recognises individuals who have made a real impact to the GÉANT Community. Nominations come from across the entire global research and education networking community.

Once a shortlist of nominees is identified the GÉANT Community Award Committee selects the final winner(s) who will be announced during TNC.

• Chair of the GÉANT Board of Directors - Gilles Massen (Restena)
• Chair of the GÉANT Community Committee - Charlie van Genuchten (SURF)
• GÉANT Community Committee member - Erik Kikkenborg (NORDUnet)
• GÉANT Community Committee member - Arjan Xhelaj (RASH)
• GÉANT Community Committee member - Ariela Herček (Arnes)
• GÉANT Community Committee member - Ivana Golub (PCSS)
• GÉANT Community Committee member - Michel Wets (SURF)
• GÉANT Community Committee member - Maria Isabel Gandia Carriedo (CSUC)
• GÉANT Community Committee member- Dawn Ng (GÉANT)
• CEO GÉANT - Lise Fuhr

• Representatives of NRENs and their connected institutions.
• Staff employed or sub-contracted by GÉANT, by GÉANT Project partner organisations, or by GÉANT member organisations (associates and national or representative members).
• Individuals who participate in one or more GÉANT task force, special interest group, or other GÉANT activities, whether by attending meetings or simply being in the mailing list.
• Individuals who have been awarded the GÉANT Community Award.
• Current and former members of the GÉANT Community Award Committee.

Candidates eligible for the GÉANT Community Award are individuals who have made a positive impact for the GÉANT Community. Here we define the GÉANT Community as the GÉANT Association, it’s Members and their connected institutes.

Any impact should be at this GÉANT Community scale, i.e. beyond national.

Eligible recipients include NREN staff, staff of institutions served by NRENs, GÉANT staff, GÉANT project participants.

Self-nominations cannot be accepted.

While posthumous recognitions will be considered, it is envisaged that the Community Award principally honours active members of the community.

• Initiators of significant new ideas or improvements which have had lasting impact on the organisation, project or community.
• Unique and passionate dedication to the GÉANT project or wider community activities over a sustained period of time.
• Outstanding contributions to the project or community which have immediately led to significant and recognisable new ideas, developments, or improvements over the last 12 months. 

The award ceremony and celebration take place at TNC, GÉANT's flagship conference.