Recognising the career counselling community
THE Counsellor is excited to announce the third edition of the Global Counsellor Awards, taking place at the BMI/THE Global Counsellor Workshop in Sesimbra, Portugal, on Monday 11 May 2026. The awards have been created to recognise the counsellors who have excelled in their role of providing students with the tools and support to make life-changing decisions about their future studies and careers.
Nominating a colleague:
About you:
- Please only submit a nomination if you have received an email inviting you to nominate.
- You must have completed Level 1 of the THE Counsellor Accredited Programme and be a CAP accredited counsellor
- You should only submit one nomination per category.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
About your nominees:
- Nominees must be CAP accredited counsellors too
- With the exception of the ‘Rising Star’ category, nominees must have worked in a counselling role for a minimum of 3 years.
- Nominees must currently be working in a high school in a primarily counselling job
Nominations open on Tuesday 10 February and close on Tuesday 10 March 2026. Once they close, the BMI Events Committee and members of the International Schools Advisory Board will select 3 finalists per category. If there is an Advisory Board member in the shortlist they will recuse themselves from participating in the shortlist selection for that category.
Voting for the winners:
Once the 3 finalists per category are announced, the community will then be invited to vote for the finalists between Tuesday 17 March and Tuesday 14 April.
The winners will be announced live at the BMI/THE Global Counsellor Workshop in Sesimbra, Portugal on Monday 11 May 2026, and posted on the THE Counsellor LinkedIn page shortly after.
If you work for a company that supports the counselling community and would like to show your appreciation, contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities by emailing Spencer@bmiglobaled.com
If you have any questions about the process you can contact us at counsellor@timeshighereducation.com
Categories:
1. Global Counsellor of the Year
This award recognises outstanding college counsellors who have demonstrated exemplary dedication, leadership and impact in the field of international college counselling. Finalists will have a proven record of guiding students to successful and well-matched college placements, fostering a positive and supportive counselling environment, and making significant contributions to the overall success and reputation of the school's college counselling programme. These counsellors exemplify a commitment to the professional development of their peers, innovation in counselling practices, and a genuine passion for helping students achieve their academic and career goals on a global scale.
2. Counsellor Community Support and Collaboration
Finalists have demonstrated exceptional commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative community among fellow counsellors. These counsellors will be actively engaged in mentorship, knowledge sharing, and professional development initiatives within the counsellor community. They will have contributed to creating a positive and collaborative atmosphere, sharing resources, best practices, and providing support to colleagues to enhance the overall effectiveness of a college counselling team in an international high school setting. Their efforts reflect a commitment to building a strong professional network and a sense of unity among counsellors.
3. Rising Star of the Year
Finalists will be early in their counselling career but have already demonstrated exceptional commitment to the profession, embracing learning opportunities, and developing new solutions that can better support students and the wider counselling profession.
4. Lifetime Achievement in Counselling
Finalists have made significant contributions of outstanding significance to the counselling community and their students throughout their career. This includes showing exemplary leadership, significant efforts to make the profession more inclusive, and had a positive impact on people, organisations or communities. These counsellors will have demonstrated exceptional practice over a significant period of time including impact outside their primary job role. This award is for lifetime achievement, rather than a single contribution.
