The ACRS Young Leaders Oration Award celebrates emerging talent and leadership in road safety. This prestigious award recognises an individual aged 40 or under who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to reducing road trauma through active involvement in road safety initiatives, leadership potential, and inspiring contributions to the field.
The award highlights those who are not only advancing best practice in road safety but also contributing meaningfully to the work of the Australasian College of Road Safety. Nominees must be current ACRS members and be nominated by two fellow financial members.
A key feature of this award is the opportunity for the recipient to deliver a 10-minute oration – renamed the Prasannah Prabhakharan Oration* in memory of the late Dr Prasannah Prabhakharan and 2024 Winner of the ACRS Young Leaders Oration Award – at the ACRS Awards Dinner, held during the annual Australasian Road Safety Conference. The oration provides a national platform for the awardee to share their vision, experiences, and leadership in road safety with the broader sector.
By showcasing the voices of our future leaders, the ACRS Young Leaders Oration Award aims to foster innovation, encourage collaboration, and build momentum for evidence-based solutions that improve safety outcomes for all road users.
* The Oration has been renamed in memory of Dr Prasannah Prabhakharan, the 2024 Young Leaders Oration Award winner who tragically died on 31 January 2025.
Watch Prasannah’s ACRS 2024 Young Leaders Oration presentation here
Read the Tribute to Prasannah here
Previous Winners
Transurban is the official sponsor of the 2025 ACRS Young Leaders Oration Award.
- 2024 – Dr Prasannah Prabhakharan
- 2023 – Dr Verity Truelove
- 2022 – Dr Jamie Mackenzie
- 2020 – Dr Tana Tan
- 2019 – Dr Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios
Award Criteria
Nominees must:
- be 40 years or younger;
- be a member of the ACRS;
- demonstrate active involvement in road safety;
- demonstrate active involvement within the ACRS;
- show the potential for future leadership in the road safety field; and
- be performing inspiring work.
- be prepared to deliver a ten-minute oration at the Australasian Road Safety Conference.
Winner Receives
The winner of the Young Leaders Oration Award receives:
- Registration to the 2025 Australasian Road Safety Conference (2025 ARSC) in Perth, Australia
- Return flights to the 2025 ARSC for winner
- Accommodation for night of ACRS Awards ceremony
- Glass trophy
- Opportunity to deliver a 10-minute oration on road safety topic of choice
Procedure for Nomination
- Nominations to be made through the online Young Leaders Oration Award form.
- Nominees are not to be advised of their nomination.
General Information
Nominees and nominators must be ACRS members – to learn more about ACRS membership, click here.
If you have any questions regarding this award, please contact the Australasian College of Road Safety by email: admin@acrs.org.au.
Thank you to Transurban, the official sponsor of the 2024 ACRS Young Leaders Oration Award.