CN Essay Competition poster
CHIEF OF NAVY 2025 ESSAY COMPETITION RULES
The Chief of Navy Essay Competition aims to promote knowledge of and interest in a thinking, fighting, Australian Navy. There will be four (4) divisions with a prize of AUD$2,000 to be awarded to the author of an essay in each division. Honourable mentions may also be made at the discretion of the judging panel.
DIVISIONS
1. Open Division. Named the McKenzie Prize after Honorary Flight Officer Florence Violet McKenzie, OBE. Open to any domestic or international entrant.
2. Australian Defence Division. Named the Smith Prize after ADML Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC. Open to all members of the Department of Defence (ADF, APS, Cadets).
3. RAN Under 25 Division. Named the MacDougall Prize after VADM Ian Donald George MacDougall, AC, AFSM. Open to any member of the RAN aged 25 years or under at the closing date for submission of entries.
4. Industry Division. Named the Gaul Prize after former RAN officer and founding partner of CEA Technologies, David Gaul. Open to any employee of a company working in support of Defence in Australia.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Australian Naval Institute (ANI) are looking for original thinkers who, through their work, promote discussion around the topic and its implication for the future of the RAN.
TOPICS
Five (5) topics are proposed from which authors should select one:
1. In what ways does Australia’s strength at sea contribute to prosperity at home?
2. What are the essential features of Australian sea power? Do these constitute an identifiable or uniquely Australian form of sea power?
3. Australia’s submarine fleet plays an important role in building a credible strategic threat and preventing other from compromising our crucial seaborne trade routes. How will the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines change the nature and character of our future submarine capability?
4. In peacetime the Royal Australian Navy performs key roles which contribute to our national interest especially in the diplomatic realm. Over the last 125 years, outline and then evaluate the RAN’s diplomatic role in the Pacific.
5. How would international shipping be organised and protected in the event of a global conflict and how does this differ from the protection of shipping from the German u-boat threat in the Atlantic in WWII?
COMPETITION RULES
Entries must be previously unpublished and must be the original work of the author / creator. They can address the topic through any subject. The winning entry will exhibit original ideas and be a catalyst for considered debate on issues of importance in the RAN. Entries should be 2,500 words in length.
FORMAT OF ENTRIES
Submissions must be emailed to admin@navalinstitute.com.au and have the following components or risk rejection:
a. Cover page. The name of the author, a short biography and contact details, including indication of which category the essay is submitted to. Use the template provided. The author’s name should not appear on the essay itself.
b. Essay. Length 2500 words (+/- 10%). Both a Microsoft Word and PDF version must be submitted in A4 sized in Times New Roman font at size 12 with 1.5-line spacing. Footnoted references in Chicago Style (do not include a bibliography or reference list, no hyperlinked references).
c. Division. The division in which the entry is submitted must be identified. Authors may nominate their essay for consideration in more than one division however a prize will only be awarded under one single division.
d. The title of the essay should be clearly outlined on the top of the first page of the essay (without any details of the author). All entries must have a title.
e. The word count (excluding footnotes) is to be noted on the first page, immediately under the topic heading.
f. It is strongly recommended that essays are carefully proofread prior to submission
ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to any interested persons who fit within any of the four identified divisions.
AWARDING OF PRIZES
Prize winners will be selected by the ANI acting on the recommendation of the judging panel. A prize of AUD$2,000 may be awarded to one author of an essay in each division. Winners may be invited to attend an event to announce the results of the competition at the Indo Pacific Sea Power Conference (04-06 Nov 25). The ANI may determine not to award the prize in any division.
PUBLICATION OF ESSAY
The winning essays and honourable mentions will be published by the ANI in the Australian Naval Review. Authors who do not wish to be published must note this on their entry form. In the absence of such advice, consent to publish will be assumed. It is a condition of entry to the competition that entries will not have been published elsewhere. Once submitted, essays may not be submitted for publication elsewhere without prior approval of the ANI.
CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES
The closing date for entries is Tuesday 30 September 2025. Late entries may be accepted but an extension must be sought before the closing date.
SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES
Entries must be sent in Microsoft Word and as a PDF to admin@navalinstitute.com.au
INQUIRIES
All inquiries are to be directed to Sue Hart, ANI Business Manager: admin@navalinstitute.com.au or +61 2 6290 1505.