The Australian Influencer Marketing Council (AiMCO) has officially launched its 2025 awards program, introducing several new categories to recognize excellence across the growing creator marketing sector. This marks the fifth year of the annual awards, which have expanded to reflect the growth of influencer marketing in Australia.
The 2025 program introduces multiple new award categories, with particular emphasis on long-term creator partnerships and business development. Notable additions include “Best Long-Term Ambassador/Partnership” (2+ years), “Best Creator-Led Brand/Business,” “Best Independent Talent,” and a new “People’s Choice Award” that replaces the previous “Most Influential Creator Award.”
“These awards are an opportunity to bring the industry together to celebrate the incredible growth, innovation, and diversity in the Australian influencer marketing space and showcase the campaigns, partnerships, and talent that are shaping the future of the sector,” said AiMCO Managing Director Patrick Whitnall in the official announcement.
For industry professionals, new categories include “Best Standalone Influencer Campaign” (under $50,000), “Best Integrated Campaign,” “Unsung Hero,” and “Marketing Team of the Year.”
Entry Details and Deadlines
Entries for the 2025 AiMCO Awards are now open, with early-bird submissions closing on September 25, 2025. Standard entries will remain open until October 2, 2025. Winners will be announced in February 2026.
The awards are open to AiMCO and non-AiMCO members, with different entry rates applying:
For AiMCO members:
Standard industry entries: AU$330 ex GST (early bird) or AU$440 ex GST (standard) per entry
Creator member entries: AU$40 ex GST (single entry), AU$30 ex GST (three or more entries), or AU$25 ex GST (five or more entries)
For non-members:
Standard industry entries: AU$695 ex GST (early bird) or AU$795 ex GST (standard) per entry
Creator entries: AU$50 ex GST (single entry) or AU$40 ex GST (three or more entries)
Unrepresented creators entering two or more categories will receive a complimentary 12-month AiMCO membership, and the “Unsung Hero” category is free to enter.
Creator Categories and Criteria
The creator categories span multiple content niches, including Food & Beverage, Beauty/Fashion/Style, Comedy & Entertainment, Gaming, Home/Lifestyle/Travel, Family/Parenting/Pets, Health/Fitness/Sport, and Business/Finance.
Creator-focused specialty categories include:
Creator-Led Podcast
Independent Talent
Rising Star
Influence for Good
Long-term Ambassador/Partnership
Creator-Led Brand/Business
People’s Choice Award
Entry submissions for creator categories require:
A personal introduction (200 words)
Explanation of what makes the creator unique (400 words)
Demonstration of impact through performance metrics (400 words)
Four examples of best work, including two organic content pieces and two branded campaigns
At least one high-quality image
AiMCO specifies that judges will evaluate entries based on creativity, originality, and innovative executions that differentiate creators from their peers.
Brand and Industry Categories
Brand categories cover similar vertical markets to the creator sections, with specific awards for campaign executions across different industries. The top award—the AiMCO Most Influential Industry Award—will be selected from the winners across all brand categories.
Industry categories focus on agencies, technology providers, and marketing teams, with separate divisions for large agencies (10+ staff) and boutique agencies (fewer than 10 staff).
All work submitted must have been first published or posted between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, with a 12-month extension allowed for the “Long-Term Ambassador/Partnership” category.
The awards define creators broadly, acknowledging that “some creators have media careers, others are digital-first. Many do both.” AiMCO emphasizes that its focus is “not on how someone entered the industry, but how they use their platform to engage audiences, work with brands, and contribute to the growth and professionalism of influencer marketing.”
Entry materials for all categories require written submissions addressing specific criteria, along with supporting materials. For creator categories, entrants must submit examples of both organic content and branded collaborations.
Branded content should comply with AiMCO’s best practice guidelines for disclosure and relevant industry regulations, including the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code, Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code, and ATO Gifting & Tax Requirements.
Judging Process
All entries will be evaluated by a panel of senior marketing experts who have signed non-disclosure agreements. The judging process includes provisions to ensure ethical, non-biased assessment, including blind judging where appropriate.
Category sponsors are not permitted to judge the categories they sponsor, and each category will only award a winner if entries meet the required standards. Highly commended recognitions may also be given for exceptional entries.
“Every year, we are overwhelmed with the level of talent, creativity, and originality on display,” Whitnall noted. “We want to continue to see innovative executions that set the Australian influencer marketing sector apart.”
To submit your entry, visit AiMCO’s official website.
Nii A. Ahene is the founder and managing director of Net Influencer, a website dedicated to offering insights into the influencer marketing industry. Together with its newsletter, Influencer Weekly, Net Influencer provides news, commentary, and analysis of the events shaping the creator and influencer marketing space. Through interviews with startups, influencers, brands, and platforms, Nii and his team explore how influencer marketing is being effectively used to benefit businesses and personal brands alike.
The Australian Influencer Marketing Council (AiMCO) has officially launched its 2025 awards program, introducing several new categories to recognize excellence across the growing creator marketing sector. This marks the fifth year of the annual awards, which have expanded to reflect the growth of influencer marketing in Australia.
The 2025 program introduces multiple new award categories, with particular emphasis on long-term creator partnerships and business development. Notable additions include “Best Long-Term Ambassador/Partnership” (2+ years), “Best Creator-Led Brand/Business,” “Best Independent Talent,” and a new “People’s Choice Award” that replaces the previous “Most Influential Creator Award.”
“These awards are an opportunity to bring the industry together to celebrate the incredible growth, innovation, and diversity in the Australian influencer marketing space and showcase the campaigns, partnerships, and talent that are shaping the future of the sector,” said AiMCO Managing Director Patrick Whitnall in the official announcement.
For industry professionals, new categories include “Best Standalone Influencer Campaign” (under $50,000), “Best Integrated Campaign,” “Unsung Hero,” and “Marketing Team of the Year.”
Entry Details and Deadlines
Entries for the 2025 AiMCO Awards are now open, with early-bird submissions closing on September 25, 2025. Standard entries will remain open until October 2, 2025. Winners will be announced in February 2026.
The awards are open to AiMCO and non-AiMCO members, with different entry rates applying:
For AiMCO members:
For non-members:
Unrepresented creators entering two or more categories will receive a complimentary 12-month AiMCO membership, and the “Unsung Hero” category is free to enter.
Creator Categories and Criteria
The creator categories span multiple content niches, including Food & Beverage, Beauty/Fashion/Style, Comedy & Entertainment, Gaming, Home/Lifestyle/Travel, Family/Parenting/Pets, Health/Fitness/Sport, and Business/Finance.
Creator-focused specialty categories include:
Entry submissions for creator categories require:
AiMCO specifies that judges will evaluate entries based on creativity, originality, and innovative executions that differentiate creators from their peers.
Brand and Industry Categories
Brand categories cover similar vertical markets to the creator sections, with specific awards for campaign executions across different industries. The top award—the AiMCO Most Influential Industry Award—will be selected from the winners across all brand categories.
Industry categories focus on agencies, technology providers, and marketing teams, with separate divisions for large agencies (10+ staff) and boutique agencies (fewer than 10 staff).
Image: AiMCO Awards 2024, hosted by creators Taz & Alessia
Credit: AiMCO
Eligibility and Entry Requirements
All work submitted must have been first published or posted between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, with a 12-month extension allowed for the “Long-Term Ambassador/Partnership” category.
The awards define creators broadly, acknowledging that “some creators have media careers, others are digital-first. Many do both.” AiMCO emphasizes that its focus is “not on how someone entered the industry, but how they use their platform to engage audiences, work with brands, and contribute to the growth and professionalism of influencer marketing.”
Entry materials for all categories require written submissions addressing specific criteria, along with supporting materials. For creator categories, entrants must submit examples of both organic content and branded collaborations.
Branded content should comply with AiMCO’s best practice guidelines for disclosure and relevant industry regulations, including the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code, Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code, and ATO Gifting & Tax Requirements.
Judging Process
All entries will be evaluated by a panel of senior marketing experts who have signed non-disclosure agreements. The judging process includes provisions to ensure ethical, non-biased assessment, including blind judging where appropriate.
Category sponsors are not permitted to judge the categories they sponsor, and each category will only award a winner if entries meet the required standards. Highly commended recognitions may also be given for exceptional entries.
“Every year, we are overwhelmed with the level of talent, creativity, and originality on display,” Whitnall noted. “We want to continue to see innovative executions that set the Australian influencer marketing sector apart.”
To submit your entry, visit AiMCO’s official website.