This award recognises the academic researcher who has delivered outstanding research and impact for their institution while supporting the strengthening of Australia's defence and national security capabilities through participation in the defence industry. It is open to researchers working in Australian academic or research institutions who have demonstrated excellence and a strong trajectory in defence-relevant work. Researchers whose programs and outputs support current or future ADF capability are encouraged to participate.
Engineer of the Year
This award recognises the engineer who has delivered outstanding work for their organisation while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry. It is open to any qualified engineer at any career level and at any age who has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the defence industry and is on a rapid career trajectory, with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their organisation. All engineers working in the industry across areas such as aerospace, civil, electrical and electronics, mechatronic, mechanical, structural, information and combat systems, and all other sectors are encouraged to participate.
Executive of the Year
This award recognises the defence executive who has most effectively shaped their business's success while supporting the strengthening of Australia's defence and national security capabilities. All industry executives who hold a senior position such as CEO, CFO, COO, managing director, executive director or equivalent title are encouraged to apply.
Female Defence Leader of the Year
This award recognises the female defence leader who has most effectively shaped her organisation's success while supporting the strengthening of Australia's defence and national security capabilities. It is open to all female defence professionals who hold a management or leadership position in a business, organisation or institution that supports defence and the defence industry. Female defence leaders across primes, SMEs, universities or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations or any other defence businesses are encouraged to participate.
Indigenous Defence Leader of the Year
This award recognises the Indigenous defence leader who has most effectively shaped their business's success while supporting the strengthening of Australia's defence and national security capabilities. It is open to all Indigenous defence leaders working in a business, organisation or institution that supports defence and the defence industry. Indigenous defence leaders working across all areas of the defence industry, including primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations or any other defence businesses, are encouraged to participate.
Project Manager of the Year
This award recognises the project manager who has delivered outstanding outcomes for their organisation while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities through the defence industry. It is open to project, program or delivery professionals at any career stage whose leadership has been central to successful defence projects, reform or industry delivery. Defence project professionals across domains, delivery models and organisational settings are encouraged to participate.
Rising Star of the Year
This award recognises the rising star who has most effectively contributed to their organisation's success while supporting the strengthening of Australia's defence and national security capabilities. It is open to individuals in the early stages of their defence industry career, including those who have joined from Defence, government or other sectors, who demonstrate rapid professional growth and a positive contribution to the industry. Professionals across all parts of the defence industry are encouraged to participate.
Technician of the Year
This award recognises the technician who has delivered outstanding work for their organisation while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry. It is open to any qualified technician at any career level and at any age who has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the defence industry and is on a rapid career trajectory, with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their organisation. All technicians working in the industry across areas, including aircraft, vehicle and ship support, information systems, electrical, electronics and other related professionals, are encouraged to participate.
Advanced Manufacturing Business of the Year
This award recognises the advanced manufacturing business that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities. It includes manufacturers and industrial businesses delivering precision, scale or innovation for defence supply chains, platforms and sustainment. Advanced manufacturing businesses across domains and tiers are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or location.
Aerospace Program of the Year
This award recognises the aerospace program or project, either in development or in active operation, that has most effectively supported Australia's defence and national security capabilities through its participation in the defence industry. It is open to anyone working on an aerospace program in Defence, and/or any aerospace business, no matter the specialisation, such as OEMs, major platforms and equipment providers, outsourcing and supply chain management organisations, R&D, engineering, advanced technologies and manufacturers, energy, software, procurement and other related defence businesses. All Defence units and aerospace businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
AUKUS Partnership Award
This award recognises an organisation or collaboration that has delivered outstanding contribution to AUKUS-related capability, industry or strategic outcomes while supporting Australia's defence and national security. It is open to Australian industry, institutions and program teams working on AUKUS pillars, partnerships or enabling ecosystems. Eligible entrants span primes, SMEs, research organisations and joint ventures where the nominated work clearly advances AUKUS objectives.
Autonomous Systems Developer of the Year
This award recognises the organisation that has most effectively developed and applied autonomous systems in support of Australia's defence and national security capabilities. It includes developers and integrators of autonomous air, land, maritime, undersea or cross-domain systems, including enabling software, AI, robotics and test infrastructure. Businesses and teams delivering autonomous capability to Defence or the defence industry are encouraged to participate.
Battlespace Awareness & ISR Provider of the Year
This award recognises the organisation that has most effectively delivered battlespace awareness, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance outcomes for Defence and the defence industry. It includes providers of sensors, platforms, analytics, data fusion, mission systems and services that improve situational understanding. ISR and battlespace awareness providers across domains are encouraged to participate irrespective of size or tier.
Cyber Business of the Year
This award recognises the cyber business that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia's defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry. It includes all cyber businesses, no matter the specialisation, such as OEMs, major platforms and equipment providers, data and encryption businesses, ISR, surveillance, perimeter, intranet and human security, SaaS platforms and other related defence businesses. All defence cyber businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Defence Consultancy of the Year
This award recognises the defence consultancy that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia's defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry. It includes all defence consulting businesses, no matter the specialisation, such as strategy, operations, supply chain management, cyber security, analytics, professional services, IT transformations, delivery, decommissioning, M&A, supportability modelling and other related disciplines. All defence consulting firms are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Estate & Infrastructure Program of the Year
This award recognises the estate or infrastructure program that has most effectively supported Australia's defence and national security capabilities through delivery of bases, facilities, works or enabling services. It is open to programs spanning construction, sustainment, estate services, facilities management, infrastructure modernisation and related industry delivery. Defence estate and infrastructure programs and their industry partners are encouraged to participate irrespective of scale or location.
Export Business of the Year
This award recognises the business that has most effectively grown defence-relevant exports while supporting Australia's defence and national security objectives and industry capability. It includes exporters of products, services, intellectual property or integrated solutions to allied and partner markets. Australian defence industry exporters across domains and company sizes are encouraged to participate.
Guided Weapons & Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Program of the Year
This award recognises the guided weapons and explosive ordnance program that has most effectively supported Australia's defence and national security capabilities through industry participation. It is open to programs spanning weapons, munitions, energetics, integration, test, manufacture and sustainment within the GWEO enterprise. Defence and industry teams delivering GWEO outcomes are encouraged to participate irrespective of size or phase.
Indigenous Business of the Year
This award recognises the Indigenous business that has most effectively leveraged market opportunities while strengthening Australia's defence and national security capabilities through its participation in the defence industry. It includes all Indigenous businesses, no matter the specialisation, including land, aerospace, cyber, naval, space, medical, packaging, textiles or clothing, engineering services, systems engineering and integration, C4ISR, multidomain, logistics and warehousing, professional services and administration, sales, marketing and communications, facilities services and construction, hospitality, consumables and all other defence-related disciplines. All Indigenous businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Land Program of the Year
This award recognises the land program or project, either in development or in active operation, that has most effectively supported Australia's defence and national security capabilities through its participation in the defence industry. It is open to anyone working on a land program in Defence, and any land business, no matter the specialisation, such as OMEs, major platforms and equipment providers, outsourcing and supply chain management, engineering, advanced technologies and manufacturers, energy, software, procurement and other related defence businesses. All defence land businesses are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Naval Program of the Year
This award recognises the naval program or project, either in development or in active operation, that has most effectively supported Australia's defence and national security capabilities through its participation in the defence industry. It is open to anyone working on a naval program in Defence, and any naval business, no matter the specialisation, such as OEMs, major platforms and equipment providers, outsourcing and supply chain management organisations, R&D, engineering, advanced technologies and manufacturers, energy, software, procurement and other related defence businesses. All defence naval programs are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Smart Base & Security Technology of the Year
This award recognises the organisation whose smart base security technology has most effectively improved protection, resilience or efficiency for Defence bases and infrastructure. It includes physical security systems, surveillance, access control, integration with command systems and related innovation for secure facilities. Technology providers and integrators serving Defence estate and base security are encouraged to participate.
SME of the Year
This award recognises the defence SME that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry. It includes all defence SMEs, no matter the specialisation, such as manufacturing, service, technology, transportation, training and education, media and communications businesses. All defence SMEs are encouraged to participate.
Space Business of the Year
This award recognises a premier Australian business operating across any part of the space supply chain to support national security. The award recipient has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry. It includes all businesses operating in Australia's space supply chain, no matter the specialisation, including OEMs, major platforms and equipment providers, outsourcing and supply chain management organisations, R&D, engineering, advanced technologies and manufacturers, energy, software, procurement and other related businesses. All businesses in the space supply chain are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Subcontractor of the Year
This award recognises the subcontractor that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry. It includes all defence subcontractors (including primes contracting to other primes, SMEs contracting to primes and SMEs contracting to other SMEs), no matter the specialisation, operating across domains such as land, aerospace, cyber, naval, space, weapons and weapons systems, systems engineering and integration, C4ISR, multidomain, OEMs and all other defence-related disciplines. All defence subcontractors are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Sustainment & MROU Program of the Year
This award recognises the Australian defence business that has most effectively delivered and demonstrated excellence delivering sustainment, maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MROU) outcomes for the Australian Defence Force, while strengthening Australia's sovereign industrial base, international partnerships, and national security outcomes. The award is open to Australian businesses and Australian-based entities of global organisations engaged in the export of defence capabilities, products, services, or technologies. This includes OEMs, primes, SMEs, advanced manufacturers, engineering and R&D firms, software and digital providers, sustainment and logistics organisations, and specialist capability providers.Submissions should demonstrate measurable export performance, strategic market engagement, alignment with Australian defence priorities, and contribution to sovereign capability development. Particular emphasis will be placed on businesses that enhance Australia’s reputation as a trusted, high-quality defence exporter and deliver enduring economic and strategic value.
System Program Office of the Year
This award recognises the system program office or equivalent delivery organisation that has most effectively led complex capability outcomes for Defence while partnering with Australian industry. It is open to Defence program offices and integrated teams responsible for acquisition, sustainment or transformation of major systems. Nominations should reflect measurable impact on schedule, risk, capability or industry engagement.
Test, Evaluation & Systems Assurance Award
This award recognises the organisation that has most effectively delivered test, evaluation, verification, validation or systems assurance outcomes for Defence capability. It includes T&E ranges, laboratories, digital assurance, certification support and integrated test programs. Businesses and teams strengthening confidence in delivered capability are encouraged to participate.
Veteran-Owned Business of the Year
This award recognises a veteran-owned Australian business operating within the Australian defence industry sector that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting Australia's defence and national security capabilities through its participation in the defence industry. It includes all businesses operating in Australia's defence industry sector, no matter the specialisation, including OEMs, major platforms and equipment providers, outsourcing and supply chain management organisations, R&D, engineering, advanced technologies and manufacturers, energy, software, procurement and other related businesses. All veteran-owned businesses in the Australian defence industry are encouraged to participate irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
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