2026 Finalists

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Academic/Researcher of the Year

Mohiuddin Ahmed, Adelaide University
Abu Barkat ullah, University of Canberra
Nick Bennett, University of Technology Sydney
Asim Bhatti, Deakin University
John Coyne, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Sonja Frölich, DefenSight and Adelaide University
Oleksandra Molloy, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy
Miranda Van Hooff, Gallipoli Medical Research

Engineer of the Year - SME

Gareth Buckett, AeroPM
Robb Cameron-Rogers, Conscia
Elizabeth Cowling, NEXEC Consulting
David De Haaij, RFShop and Black Art Technologies
Andrew Fletcher, CEA Technologies
Alice Haddon, Chief Fluid Systems
Craig Keogh, Aurizn
Alex Murphy, Ausco Group (Ausco Products and Ausco Marine)
Jared Silbermann, Mission Systems
Ryan Walls, Department 13 International

Engineer of the Year - Large Organisation

Brian Balshaw, Raytheon Australia
Matthew Frazer, Navantia Australia
Kristoffer Grande, Amentum Australia
Alex Hill, Airbus Australia Pacific
Salil Kanhere, University of New South Wales
Thierry Oblin, CAE Australia
Nathan Rickard, Downer Professional services
Miki Ta, Systra ANZ
Daniel Todspe, Department of Defence
Richard Watson, Lockheed Martin Australia

Executive of the Year - Large Organisation

Antonella Banno, Ventia
David Barter, Beca
Asim Bhatti, Deakin University
Leighton Freene, Kinetic IT
Perry Singh, Toll Group

Executive of the Year - SME

Emilio De Stefano, De Stefano & Co
Allan Dundas, DEWC Services
Louis Gamarra, DroneShield
Matt Hill, Hypersonix Launch Systems
David Jam, Vertical Scope Group
Patrick O'Neill, Eolas Solutions
Paul Singer, Soldier On
Ben Westgarth, Department 13 International
Kate Whitehead, Avant Group
Peter Woods, Sovereign Propulsion Systems

Female Defence Leader of the Year - Large Organisation

Antonella Banno, Ventia
Catherine Haynes, Babcock
Kelly Hopkins, Hays
Bibi Rukhsaar Ibrahim, Navantia Australia
Liz Kobold, Defence Trailblazer
Bridget Makepeace, Aurecon
Jenine McCoach, Toll Group
Elizabeth Wells, Lockheed Martin Australia
Ashleigh Wuttke, Babcock

Female Defence Leader of the Year - SME

Laheeb Al Turk, Orontide
Alice Haddon, Chief Fluid Systems
Mandy Haddon, Chief Fluid Systems
Anthea Koerbin, CEA Technologies
Virginia McDougall, Cubic Defence Australia
Celanie Meyer, Ascent
Sari Mustonen-Kirk, WorkSec
Julia O'Callaghan, DefendTex Research Labs
Kate Whitehead, Avant Group

Indigenous Defence Leader of the Year

Jebb Hutchison, TVN On-Country
Steve Noy, Biodiversity Australia

Project Manager of the Year

Mythraie Ambikaipalan, Downer Professional services
Michelle Davies, CEA Technologies
Megan Dean, Australian Maritime College | University of Tasmania
Rosanna Domenici, Department of Defence
Jeremy Nelson, Core Defence Australia
Nikki Searle, Aurecon
Shelly Sinha-Hollier, Leidos Australia
Paul Sullivan, Cubic Defence Australia
Brett Weinman, AeroPM
Kenneth Young, ASC

Rising Star of the Year - Large Organisation

Matthew Astell, Aurecon
Amber Croft, Thales Australia
Mikayla Ellis, Lockheed Martin Australia
Changhun Han, Navantia Australia
Thomas Hirst, Atturra
Imrana Kabir, University of New South Wales
Jorgie McKenzie, Raytheon Australia
Isabelle McMahon, KPMG Australia
Joseph Patterson, Airbus Australia Pacific
Diego Portilla Ducuara, Navantia Australia

Rising Star of the Year - SME

Sonja Frölich, DefenSight and Adelaide University
Alex Hamer, Avant Group
Jesse Jones, DEWC Services
Maxwell King, ArmaTech Industries
Maddison McRae, Department 13 International
Alex Murphy, Ausco Group (Ausco Products and Ausco Marine)
Carly Rosenthal, Zilor Group
Robert Squires, Aviation Safety Group
Miah Taniela, Touchpoint Technology
Gerard Viccars, AeroPM

Technician of the Year

Peter Abela, Chief Fluid Systems
Tim Carlon, Northrop Grumman Australia
Lachlan Czaplinski, CEA Technologies
Everest De Havilland, Supacat
Mihan Jizan, Serco
Hardik Kadavala, Stahl Metall
Maxwell King, ArmaTech Industries
CJ Muller, Northrop Grumman Australia
Brett Page, Raytheon Australia
Tom Pearce, OCRT Consulting

Advanced Manufacturing Business of the Year

Advanced Navigation
DefendTex
Hypersonix Launch Systems
Masters & Young
Stahl Metall

Aerospace Program of the Year

AeroPM
Black6
Electro Optic Systems
Northrop Grumman
Nova Systems
RMIT University
Stahl Metall

AUKUS Partnership Award

Aldermane
AMC Search
Business Review Group
Flinders University
Greenroom Robotics
H&B Defence
Industry Capability Network
PentenAmio
South Metropolitan TAFE
Vault Cloud

Autonomous Systems Developer of the Year

AMC Search
DefendTex
Elysium EPL
Forge Photonics
Greenroom Robotics

Cyber Business of the Year

archTIS
Cyber Wyze
Digital10
OpSys Australia
Red Piranha
Vault Cloud
Vertical Scope Group

Defence Consultancy of the Year

AeroPM
Aldermane
Avant Group
Beca
CYLAD
De Stefano & Co
DEWC Services
GSA Management Consulting
Nova Systems

Estate & Infrastructure Program of the Year

AeroPM
Australian Maritime College | University of Tasmania
Beca
Biodiversity Australia
Downer Defence
Humanihut
Toll Group

Export Business of the Year

Advanced Navigation
archTIS
Ausco Marine
Chief Fluid Systems
DefendTex
EOS Defence Systems
Senetas

Guided Weapons & Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Program of the Year

DefendTex
Innovaero
Lockheed Martin Australia
Stahl Metall

Indigenous Business of the Year

Advent Atum
Biodiversity Australia
Doorunga
Education Services International Supply Group
JY Australia
TVN On-Country
Yanun

Land Program of the Year

AeroPM - The Army Estate Capability Program (AECP)
Babcock - Counter - Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (C-CBRNE) program
Babcock
Leidos Australia -LAND 2110
Leidos Australia
Stahl Metall - Land 8116 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Program
Supacat
Ventia -LAND 8120 Phase 1 program

Naval Program of the Year

Aldermane
Chief Fluid Systems
Marintec
NORSTA North
Sikorsky Australia
Stahl Metall
Thales Australia Above Water Systems

Smart Base & Security Technology of the Year

Ausco Marine
Digital10

SME of the Year

AMR Technology
Ausco Marine
Blacktree Technology
Education Services International Supply Group
Eolas Solutions
Extel Technologies
Humanihut
Q-CTRL
RAIDER Targetry
TVN On-Country

Subcontractor of the Year

AeroPM
Biodiversity Australia
Chief Fluid Systems
Chillflow Solutions
Department 13 International
Eolas Solutions
Extel Technologies
Halliday Engineering
Informatech
Stahl Metall

Test, Evaluation & Systems Assurance Award

AeroPM
AMC Search
Babcock
Informatech
Nova Systems

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year

AeroPM
AMR Technology
Coras
Elysium EPL
Eolas Solutions
GSA Management Consulting
Informatech
JY Australia
The Original Beef Chief
Zilor Group