Following on a theme for this year – clarifying just who and what organisation should be submitting for which award – we are again laying down a marker to advise submitters how best to win awards.

We are well aware that there is some confusion over which awards are appropriate for which type of organisation, and – in the same week that we launch IJInvestor Awards 2022 – we are giving complete clarity to the industry.

The IJInvestor Awards are to recognise excellence in:

• infrastructure fund activity
• M&A in the infra/energy space

If you’re involved in greenfield activity and refi of greenfield, that’s for the IJGlobal Awards… and if you're championing your involvement in ESG, that’s the IJGlobal ESG Awards.

These awards are purely for M&A and infrastructure funds… any submissions that do not fit that bill are instantly disregarded.

In this piece, we are laying down just what will impress the independent judging panel in the individual categories… the awards that single out infrastructure and energy professionals for accolade.

To access the IJInvestor Awards 2022 portal, CLICK HERE…

Individual awards

This is a fairly self-explanatory section of the IJInvestor Awards and common sense dictates when submitting.

For the Rising Star, we expect these submissions to be made for industry professionals who are no more senior than vice-president (or equivalent) as it would be curious to grant the award to someone at director level… unless they are incredibly young and just a massive bit amazing.

We give little guidance beyond that. It is entirely obvious what will impress judges – having driven activity in a certain sector, or built up a reputation as an expert in short order… basically a massive over-achiever who really knows their potatoes.

Let’s take a winner from last year’s awards – Oliver Müllem from DIF Capital Partners – who (while he was actually at director level) greatly impressed the judges for his interesting career… progressing for a young Belgian industry professional who climbed the ladder in the Big 4 before leaping to the other side of the table and continuing his rise there.

When it comes to the Outstanding Individual award – which might also morph into Lifetime Achievement – we would be surprised if the winner had fewer than 20 years of experience and is likely to be knocking on the door of retirement (possibly even having walked through that portal).

This must be an individual who has consistently, through their career, driven change and spearheaded transformation across the infrastructure and energy asset classes.

Last year’s winner of the Lifetime Achievement trophy at IJInvestor Awards 2021 was Geoff Jackson of Equitix fame. On a broader footing, some years ago this award was won by Dr Tim Stone.

If you bear those 2 winners in mind, that should inform your decision as to whether you should be submitting yourself!