St Aidan's is delighted to announce that Lydia Wardale (2013) is the recipient of the 2026 Emma Betts Award, one of our Alumni Awards recognising outstanding young alumni who are making a meaningful impact in their communities, professions and beyond.

We look forward to formally presenting Lydia with her award at our Aidan's Celebrates Awards Evening in Term 4, alongside our other distinguished award recipients.

About the Emma Betts Award

Named in honour of Emma Betts (1991-2017), this award recognises alumni aged 30 years or younger whose professional or volunteer achievements demonstrate significant positive impact at a local, national or international level.

Emma's life was defined by service, compassion and a commitment to helping others. She worked internationally in the rehabilitation of people with physical disabilities, volunteered extensively within youth-run aid and development organisations, and following her melanoma diagnosis became a dedicated cancer awareness advocate.

The Emma Betts Award honours young alumni who embody these same values through leadership, service and a commitment to positive change.

A Global Advocate for Biodiversity and Youth Leadership

Lydia Wardale's career reflects an unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, international collaboration and community resilience.

A lawyer and advisor, Lydia currently serves as a biodiversity negotiator for Australia under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, where she advocates for ambitious global action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

Representing Australia at United Nations negotiations in Kenya, Colombia and Italy, Lydia has contributed to discussions on a broad range of global environmental issues, including marine biodiversity, invasive alien species and synthetic biology. Her work has also extended to issues of human rights and gender equality.

Prior to her current role, Lydia worked as a Legal Officer for the Attorney-General and supported court development programs throughout the Pacific Islands for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Empowering Young People to Create Change

In 2023, Lydia was awarded first prize in Natural Hazards Research Australia's national Disaster Challenge for her innovative concept, Youth Guardians.

The initiative empowers young people to build resilience within their communities and recognise the important role they can play during and after natural disasters.

Today, Lydia continues to facilitate Youth Guardians, drawing on her own experience as a 14-year-old during Brisbane's flood disasters to inspire young people to become leaders, problem-solvers and changemakers.

Through this work, she highlights the incredible capacity of young people to connect communities, foster resilience and drive innovation.

Continuing Emma's Legacy

Lydia's work demonstrates the leadership, courage and commitment to service that the Emma Betts Award seeks to recognise.

Her dedication to environmental advocacy, global cooperation and youth empowerment is creating impact at both an international and community level, while inspiring others to recognise the difference they can make in the world around them.

Congratulations to Lydia Wardale (2013), recipient of the 2026 Emma Betts Award. We are proud to celebrate her achievements and look forward to recognising her at the Aidan's Celebrates Awards Evening later this year.