The Natoli Ethics Fund is used to support two annual awards of excellence for writing in ethics by an undergraduate and a postgraduate student.
Category 1: Undergraduate students
The category 1 contest is open to any student currently studying a business degree or unit at undergraduate level within the University of Sydney Business School.
Category 2: Postgraduate students (coursework and research students)
The category 2 contest is open to any student currently studying a business degree or unit at postgraduate level within the University of Sydney Business School.
Category 1: Undergraduate students
First Prize: The best submission will be chosen for a $1000 cash prize.
Category 2: Postgraduate students (coursework and research students)
First Prize: The best submission will be chosen for a $1000 cash prize.
The entries will be published on the Business Ethics Collaborative website.
The following guidelines apply to both categories:
Only one submission per entrant is allowed.
Submissions must be entrants' own original work.
Submissions must include your name and SID.
Submissions will be published on the Business Ethics Collaborative website.
The details of all entrants may be published on the Business Ethics Collaborative website.
The following formatting requirements apply to both categories:
Submission must be written in English.
Length: 300 words or less, excluding title. Submission exceeding the 300-word limit will be disqualified.
The submission is to be written as a blog with hyperlinks to source material (a reference list is not required).
Doc or docx file, 12-point font, double-spaced.
Pages must be numbered.
Submission must be made through this online form.
The closing date for submissions is 11.59pm Friday, 17 April 2026.
Drawing on one or more United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and using an Australian listed company as an example, submissions should address the following:
Many Australian companies publicly promote their ethical values, ESG commitments, and corporate purpose through annual reports, sustainability statements, and marketing campaigns. Boards and senior leaders are often supported by ethical frameworks, governance codes, and professional guidance.
Yet public trust in corporate behaviour remains mixed.
Why do you think there is often a gap between what companies say about ethics and sustainability and what stakeholders experience in practice? Using your chosen company, discuss one area where ethical intentions have or have not translated into real-world outcomes. What practical steps could boards and leaders take to better align ethical commitments with everyday business decisions?
The winners will be selected by 3-5 members of the Business Ethics Collaborative making up the selection committee.
The selection committee reserves the right not to award prizes in any and all categories should it deem that submissions do not meet the contest criteria. All decisions of the selection committee shall be considered final.