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Academic of the Year

This award recognises the academic that has delivered outstanding work for their institution while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry.

It is open to any academic working in an Australian academic or research institution that 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 institution and/or any aligned commercial partner business.

Consultant of the Year

This award recognises the consultant that has delivered outstanding work for their organisation/institution and/or client while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry.

It is open to any consultant 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.

Engineer of the Year

This award recognises the engineer that 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.

Executive of the Year

This award recognises the defence executive that 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 that 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 female defence professionals who hold a management/leadership position in a business, organisation or institution that supports defence and the defence industry.

Indigenous Defence Leader of the Year

This award recognises the Indigenous defence leader that 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.

Innovator of the Year – Individual

This award recognises the innovator that has most effectively shaped their business’s success while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s defence and national security capabilities.

All types of innovation will be considered, whether related to service excellence, product, systems and platform development, business development, technology, workplace management and enterprise or any other style of innovation.

Marketing/Communications Professional of the Year

This award recognises the marketing/communications professional that has delivered outstanding work for their organisation or institution while supporting Australia’s defence and national security capabilities through their participation in the defence industry.

It is open to any marketing/communications professional 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.

Rising Star of the Year

This award recognises the rising star that has most effectively shaped their business’s success while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s defence and national security capabilities.

It is open to any individual within the first three years of their career in the defence industry. Also open to those who have joined the defence industry from previous careers in Defence, government or the private sector. Applicants have demonstrated a commitment to excelling professionally in the defence industry and are on a rapid career trajectory — and made a positive contribution to the defence and the defence industry.

Technician of the Year

This award recognises the technician that 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.

Academic Institution of the Year

This award recognises the university or academic institution that has most effectively supported the strengthening of Australia’s defence and national security capabilities through its participation in the defence industry.

It includes all academic institutions supporting defence and the defence industry at undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels.

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 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.

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.

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.

Defence Innovator of the Year – Company

This award recognises the defence innovator 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.

All types of innovation will be considered, whether related to service excellence, product, systems and platform development, business development, technology, workplace management and enterprise or any other style of innovation.

Estate & Infrastructure Business of the Year

This award recognises the defence estate and infrastructure 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 defence estate and infrastructure businesses, no matter the specialisation, such as civil construction organisations, land, building and infrastructure service providers or manufacturers, repair and maintenance companies, base services businesses, facilities management companies, ADF housing, financial and travel services companies, catering, cleaning and grounds maintenance businesses, and other related defence businesses.

Export Business of the Year

This award recognises the defence exporter 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 exporting businesses, no matter the specialisation, operating across domains such as land, aerospace, cyber, naval, space, medical, packaging, textiles or clothing, weapons and weapons systems, systems engineering and integration, C4ISR, multidomain and all other defence-related disciplines.

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.

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.

Manufacturer of the Year

This award recognises the defence manufacturer 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 manufacturing businesses, no matter the specialisation, operating across aerospace, land, cyber, naval, space, medical, packaging, textiles or clothing, weapons and weapons systems, systems engineering and integration, C4ISR, multidomain and all other defence-related manufacturing disciplines.

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 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.

Prime Contractor of the Year

This award recognises the prime contractor 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 primes, 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.

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.

Sovereign Industry Champion

This award recognises the Sovereign Industry Champion that has made the largest impact toward building a sovereign defence industry, facilitating the growth and development of Australian SMEs and Australian Industry Capability. The Sovereign Industry Champion will have a proven track record of commitment to Australian defence businesses, enabling their participation in the defence industry via program partnerships, access to global supply chains, capability development, sponsorships and mentoring.

It includes all defence primes 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.

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.

Subcontractor of the Year

This award recognises the sub-contractor 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.

Training and Mentorship Program of the Year

This award recognises the defence business that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable growth by developing and delivering the most effective training and mentorship program for new industry participants or those defence professionals transitioning into new roles.

It is open to all businesses within the defence industry, no matter the specialisation, that have an objective of supporting the strengthening of Australia’s defence and national security capabilities through the development of more skilled defence professionals.

Veteran Support Program of the Year

This award recognises the veteran support program, association or organisation that has most effectively supported ADF veterans transitioning out of service and/or into new career opportunities post-service.

It includes all types of veteran support programs whether for-profit or not-for-profit.

All veteran support programs are encouraged to participate irrespective of focus, size, revenue or geographic location/s.