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A total of 17 winners have been selected from more than 90 finalists for the third annual Defence & National Security Workforce Awards, hosted by Defence Connect with the support of principal partner, Atturra.
Defence and national security professionals gathered on Thursday, 23 April 2026 to celebrate excellence across the industry at what has quickly become one of the sector’s most anticipated evenings on the calendar.
Defence Connect is proud to announce that 17 worthy winners were selected from a competitive field of more than 90 finalists across this year’s program.
Now in its third year, the Defence & National Security Workforce Awards offers a platform to celebrate the achievements of rising stars, spotlight innovative workforce programs, and showcase the top contenders for the industry’s employer of choice.
Seventeen categories were on offer across the night, nine individual and eight group categories, recognising the full spectrum of defence and national security professionals and initiatives.
Steve Kuper, Defence and Aerospace Lead at Momentum Markets, offered his congratulations to all of this year’s recipients: “On behalf of Momentum Markets, I want to extend my sincere congratulations to every winner and finalist recognised tonight.”
Defence Trailblazer and Flinders University were among the organisations taking home trophies in the group categories.
Australian comedian Mark Humphries returned as emcee, keeping the crowd entertained throughout the evening with his trademark wit.
Kuper added: “The calibre of entrants we’ve seen in 2026 is genuinely extraordinary – these are the professionals and organisations quietly doing the hard work that keeps Australia safe and sovereign. Nights like this are an important reminder of just how much talent exists across our defence and national security sector, and we’re proud to support their recognition.”
The awards honour the visionaries, innovators, and problem solvers who have redefined how industry delivers capabilities for Defence and the Commonwealth.
With a particular emphasis on young talent and high-impact initiatives, the awards recognise top-performing technical, operations and communications specialists under the age of 35, as well as leading reserve support and training development programs.
The evening also provided professionals with a valuable opportunity to connect with industry leaders, peers and colleagues in a setting that reflected the strength and depth of Australia’s defence community.
The full list of winners is available here.
Winning a Defence & National Security Workforce Award is a sought-after accolade, providing individuals and organisations with national recognition for their contribution to Australia’s safety and prosperity.
Winners were selected against a judging criteria that was both quantitative and qualitative, acknowledging growth, business development, diversity, leadership, innovation, business excellence and contributions to Australia’s defence and national security sector.
The judging panel comprised former senior Australian Defence Force and military leaders, academics, business executives, entrepreneurs and innovators, ensuring entrants received genuinely peer-reviewed recognition of their capabilities within the defence sector.
For more information on the Defence & National Security Workforce Awards, click here.
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