Abhi Awasthi was recognised as a leader in high education across Australasia at the 2014 Association for the Tertiary Education Management Review Best Practice Awards. 

La Trobe University head of campus Rob Stephenson said the award highlighted young staff who had made significant achievements in their field within the first five years of working within tertiary education.

Mr Stephenson said Mr Awasthi was a strong advocate of volunteering, civic engagement and leadership development. 

"Abhi is passionate about motivating students to engage in learning through first-hand experience of community action," Mr Stephenson said. 

Mr Awasthi coordinates the La Trobe Leadership Program which gives students the opportunity to develop leadership attributes by doing projects that benefit the campus and surrounding community. 

"What I really like to see with my students is that they work with the local community and organisations to not just learn about leadership but to be the leaders," Mr Awasthi said. 

He said education was not just academic, but was about social interaction and ideas. 

"There is a mindset in the community that education is about having a degree or diploma but it is way bigger than that."

Mr Awasthi said the award was an "amazing acknowledgement" and was a great reflection on the university and his team at La Trobe University. 

He said anyone could become a leader. 

"As long as they believe in themselves, they just need a push. Everyone’s got two fears – judgement and rejection," he said.