Nicole Donnison named Social Traders National Game Changer of the Year
September 19, 2025
Icon is proud to celebrate the achievement of our Social Procurement & Inclusion Manager, Nicole Donnison, who has been awarded the National Game Changer of the Year (Business/Government Member) by Social Traders.
Now in its 12th year, the Game Changer Awards recognise frontrunners, visionaries and impact champions who are driving a fairer, more equitable Australia through social enterprise and social procurement. Nicole’s award acknowledges her outstanding leadership and commitment to embedding social impact in the construction industry.
Championing social procurement in construction
With more than 15 years’ experience in the built environment, Nicole has worked at the intersection of social sustainability, project delivery, and community engagement. Since joining Icon, she has played a pivotal role in developing our national Social Procurement Strategy (introduction of a 3-year target in 2023, which is driving $75M+ through social procurement).
Through her work, Nicole has:
- Helped establish partnerships with social enterprises including Fruit2Work, Unisus, and Assembled Threads.
- Supported research with UTS, Melbourne University and RMIT to advance industry knowledge.
- Mentored future game changers entering the social procurement space.
- Represented the industry on panels, podcasts, and national showcases.
Nicole’s genuine and empathetic approach enables her to connect with people facing hardship and employment barriers, while driving systemic change across procurement processes.
Industry leadership and recognition
Beyond Icon, Nicole’s expertise has been recognised nationally and internationally. She has contributed to ABC News, industry research, keynote events, and global panels, regularly sharing her insights on how procurement can deliver lasting community outcomes.
Her work has also increased the visibility and capacity of enterprises such as the Men’s Project and Ability Works, supporting their growth and reach across government and industry.
“By thinking about how and where we spend our money, our group’s commitment to social and Indigenous procurement is driving deep and lasting changes to the lives of people in the community who need it most.” – Nicole Donnison – Social Procurement & Inclusion Manager
Icon’s commitment
At Icon, we believe profit and purpose can be mutually reinforcing. Our construction activities support a broad range of groups facing barriers to employment, and we use our buying power to generate social value that extends beyond the intrinsic value of our projects.
Delivered in collaboration with peak bodies including Kinaway, Social Traders, and Supply Nation, Icon’s Social Procurement Strategy continues to embed inclusive practices that create lasting community benefit.
Congratulations Nicole – and to all the 2025 Game Changers – for showing what’s possible when business is a force for good.
