2024 Winners & Finalists

Academic of the Year

Sascha Dov Bachmann, University of Canberra
Haytham Fayek, RMIT University
Penny Kyburz, The Australian National University
Oleksandra Molloy, University of New South Wales
Simon Ringer, University of Sydney

Dushmantha Thalakotuna, University of Technology Sydney

Consultant of the Year

Mythraie Ambikaipalan, Downer Professional Services
Matthew Bautz, EMA Advisory
John Baxter, Nova Systems
Maureen Denmead, Accenture
Chris Hows, Mercury Information Security Services

Timothy Laurins, UBH Group

Bradley Richardson, OCRT Consulting
Karen Rose, Coras
Jason Taghaode, AeroPM
Daniel Yong, JVAT

Engineer of the Year

Raymond Casterline, UBH Group
Elizabeth Cowling, AeroPM
Peter Dawson, Nova Systems
David de Haaij, RFShop Australia and Black Art Technologies

Brad Ferguson, Raytheon Australia

Mark Hughes, Mott MacDonald
Aaron McArlein, Northrop Grumman Australia
Udai Rathore, DroneShield
Danny Rutten, Nova Systems
Wendy Wright, Ascent

Executive of the Year

Andrew Bartlett, Ventia

Jeff Batten, UBH Group
Angus Bean, DroneShield
Tina Chawner, Yellow Hat Consulting
Amy Cooper, Soldier On
Allan Dundas, DEWC Services
Soraya Giles, TEC Automation
Matt Hill, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Vincent McKenzie, World Fuel Services Australia
Demi Stefanova, Quickstep Holdings

Indigenous Defence Leader of the Year

Thomas Boase, OCRT Consulting
Brendan Dumbrell, JY Australia
Edward Groch, Downer Defence

Kieran Hynes, Willyama Services

Neal McGarrity, Bullroarers
Jasmine Newman, Killara Services
Steve Noy, Biodiversity Australia
Luke Taylor, Intract Australia

Female Defence Leader of the Year

Michelle Bowness, CEA Technologies
Melissa Cools, Department of Defence

Sarah Cullens, Precision Public Affairs

Rachel Hatton, Downer Professional Services
Andrea House, Airbus Australia Pacific
Louise Jones, Navantia Australia
Kylah Limmer, Fujitsu Australia
Savannah Ogborne, Raytheon (Formally Babcock Australia)
Moreen Singh, Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia
Demi Stefanova, Quickstep Holdings

Innovator of the Year – Individual

Daryl Batchelor, UBH Group

Gennaro DeMarco, Ascent

Colm Flanagan, Hiroco
Roy Mitchell, Onetide Modular Systems
Carl Norman, DroneShield
Jessica Rankin, Export Controls Australia Group
Donald Yates, Columbus Group

Marketing/Communications Professional of the Year

James Baker, Burbank Martial
Lauren Crilly, Nova Systems
Sarah Cullens, Precision Public Affairs
Nadine Eckert, Northrop Grumman Australia
Mae Grant, AeroPM

Kate Hines, Silentium Defence

Frances Langi, OCRT Consulting
Nina Patz, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Laynie Pereira, Yellow Hat Consulting
Katrina Stokes, Babcock Australasia

Rising Star of the Year

Yafet Bereket Araya, Coras
John Bouwmeester, DEWC Services
Tash Callary, Nova Systems
Matthew Hand, University of New South Wales
Stephanie Malacco, Rohde & Schwarz Australia
Andrew McIntosh, UBH Group
Lachlan Moore, Nova Systems

Ramie Saleh, Aurecon

Jordan Scarabel, QuantX Labs
Simone Wilson, Hypersonix Launch Systems

Technician of the Year

Jared Brancato, Safran Electronics & Defense Australasia
Joe Dela Cruz, Northrop Grumman Australia
Joseph Harvey, DroneShield

Baljinder Kaur, Stahl Metall

Tim Nicholls, KBR
Alistair Sim, KBR
Ryan Smith, TEC Automation
Glen Stevens, Silentium Defence
Stephen Tan, Rohde & Schwarz Australia
Jesse Wiliams, Supacat

Excellence Award

Kieran Hynes, Willyama Services