After deliberation from a leading panel of expert judges, Defence Connect has unveiled the finalists for the annual Australian Defence Industry Awards.
Recognising people and businesses, rather than products and platforms, the Australian Defence Industry Awards universally acknowledges all defence industry stakeholders — from primes, SMEs, academic institutions and associations through to high-performing individuals such as defence executives, Indigenous and female leaders, students, scientists, technicians and academics.
The Australian Defence Industry Awards was established in 2019 to celebrate the best and brightest in Australia’s innovative defence industry. From SMEs to primes, the awards recognise individuals and businesses who have gone above and beyond to support Australia’s national resilience and sovereign defence industry.
The event brings together key decision makers from across the industry, as well as government and defence in the industry’s night of nights – a black-tie gala event, presenting awards to Australia's best performing professionals and businesses across 30 categories.
This year's awards are supported by KBR as the Australian Defence Industry Awards principal partner for 2021.
Rob Hawketts, vice president KBR Government Solutions APAC, outlined that the Awards were an important opportunity to recognise the accomplishments of the entire industry.
“Following the great success of the past two Australian Defence Industry Awards, KBR is proud to once again be the principal partner for the event this year. These awards provide an important opportunity to collectively recognise and celebrate the achievements of the companies, organisations and individuals that make up our sovereign Defence industry in supporting and enhancing Australian Defence Capabilities,” Mr Hawketts said.
Along with KBR, Aquaterro and Lockheed Martin Australia are supporting the event as the ADIA’s platinum partners, with Beca and BGIS as the event’s gold partners.
Liam Garman, editor for defence and security at Momentum Media, said that the awards were one of the most important events of the year for the defence industry.
“The Australian Defence Industry Awards are not only an amazing opportunity to recognise the breadth of talent in the industry, but it is also an opportunity for professionals to learn from businesses up and down the supply chain all the way from Australian SMEs to world leading defence industry primes,” Mr Garman said.
“It really is a chance to step back and acknowledge how innovative and vibrant Australia's defence sector is, from the industry’s world-class scientists and innovators, right through to its hardworking graduates and executives. Everyone has a role to play.
“It is an absolute pleasure to host the third annual Australian Defence Industry Awards alongside KBR, with this year’s awards night shaping up to the biggest and best yet.”
The finalists for the Australian Defence Industry Awards are:
Academic of the Year
Sascha Bachmann - University of Canberra
Karu Esselle - University of Technology Sydney
Michelle Gee - RMIT University
Damien Guihen - University of Tasmania
Chang-Tsun Li - Deakin University
Vicky Mak - Deakin University
Abdulghani Mohamed - RMIT University
Saeid Nahavandi - Deakin University
Giselle Rampersad - Flinders University
Roberto Sabatini - RMIT University
Consultant of the Year
Paul Barnes - Accenture
Dr Samantha Crompvoets - Rapid Context
Jennifer Del Mastro - Nova Systems
Melinda Halliday - Coras Solutions
Andrew Heasman - Ocean Software
Sarah Howard - Aurecon
Alby Lombard - Beca
Brendan Maxwell - The Decisive Point
Sarah Pavillard - ADROITA
Emily Petie - GSA Management Consulting
Engineer of the Year
Mino Bucci - DroneShield
Josh Davis - Serco Australia
Aaron Debono - DEWC Services
Jennifer Del Mastro - Nova Systems
Charles Duncan - Boeing Defence Australia
Jason Height - Lockheed Martin Australia
Laura Imber - Airbus
Christopher Olorenshaw - QinetiQ
Derek Reinhardt - Northrop Grumman Australia
David Zemel - AeroPM
Executive of the Year
Colin Anstie - RD Consulting
Jim Boekel - Bluerydge
Robert Coorey - Geospatial Intelligence
Allan Dundas - DEWC Services
Adam Frizell - AeroPM
Andrew Gresham - BAE Systems Australia
Rebecca Humble - Nova Systems
Merik Karman - Penten
Oleg Vornik - DroneShield
Female Defence Leader of the Year
Kathleen Boseley - Airbus
Michelle Earnshaw - Lockheed Martin Australia
Emily Frizell - AeroPM
Debbie Herberz - Noetic
Julie Latimore - Serco Australia
Amanda MacKinnell - Centre for Defence Industry Capability
Audra McCarthy - Defence Teaming Centre
Amanda McIntyre - PwC
Tamanna Monem - Queensland AI Hub
Emma Watson - Boeing Defence Australia
Graduate of the Year
Jesse Cilliers - Black Sky Aerospace
Jeff Dore - Nova Systems
Kate Jumeaux - Leidos Australia
Emilie Morscheck - Shoal Group
Lucas Moss - DEWC Services
Eksith Ranasinghe - QinetiQ
Aaron Scott - Boeing Defence Australia
Brett Smith - BAE Systems Maritime Australia
Ben Walsh - Noetic
Martin Williamson - KBR
Indigenous Defence Leader of the Year
Jake Adams - Northrop Grumman Australia
Richard Callaghan - TQCSI Yaran
Kieran Hynes - Willyama Services
C.B. (Neal) McGarrity - Bullroarers Australia
Steven Noy - Biodiversity Australia
Innovator of the Year
Guillaume Jounel - DroneShield
Murielle Kluge - University of Newcastle/Centre for Advanced Training Systems
Brendan Maxwell - The Decisive Point
Saeid Nahavandi - Deakin University
Blake Nikolic - Black Sky Aerospace
Shane "Buzz" Sarlin - Deloitte
Adam Secombe - Boeing Defence Australia
Ben Sologinkin - Northrop Grumman Australia
Stephen Witherden - Beca
Phil Yialeloglou - Penten
Marketing/Communications Professional of the Year
Mellissa Caasi - DEWC Services
Shey Dimon - Penten
Prashant Haldankar - Privasec
Rhianna Harby - Harby Studios
Madison Lowe - Unitronix
Brendan Maxwell - The Decisive Point
Paul Moss - PAL Aerospace
Jo Ramsay - Electro Optic Systems
Amanda Smith - RD Consulting
Jessica Thomas - Nova Systems
Rising star of the Year
Ryan Carmichael - The Whiskey Project Group
Jesse Cilliers - Black Sky Aerospace
Zac Clinton - Beca
Alexander Drew - Northrop Grumman Australia
Melanie Hill - QinetiQ
Annie Hu - Serco Australia
Angela Michtits - Jacobs Australia
Leon Purton - Northrop Grumman Australia
Nikita Sardesai - Shoal Group
Emma Watson - Boeing Defence Australia
Scientist of the Year
Ronel Jit - Avisure
Chang-Tsun Li - Deakin University
Abdulghani Mohamed - RMIT University
Fabio Zambetta - RMIT University
Technician of the Year
Jessica Edwick - Penten
Lalit Gautam - Avanade
Keith Grundy - NIOA
Matt Phillips - Northrop Grumman Australia
Joel Phimphravichith - EOS Defence Systems
Michael Popko - QinetiQ
Szymon Rosinski - Naval Ship Management
John Walsh - Kestrel Aviation
Andrew Williams - Biodiversity Australia
Ben Williams - Serco Australia
Academic Institution of the Year
Flinders University
RMIT University
South Metropolitan TAFE
University of South Australia
Aerospace Business of the Year
AeroPM
Black Sky Aerospace
Hyper Q Aerospace
Kestrel Aviation
Lockheed Martin Australia
Mirragin Consulting
Northrop Grumman Australia
Quickstep Technologies
Consultancy of the Year
ADROITA
AeroPM
AMC Search
Beca
Biodiversity Australia
DEWC Services
Engineering Business
Noetic
Nova Systems
PwC
Cyber Business of the Year
Airlock Digital
archTIS
BAE Systems Applied Intelligence
FifthDomain
OpSys
Penten
Privasec
Red Piranha
Willyama Services
Defence Innovator of the Year - Company
Amentum
AVT Australia
DefendTex
Deloitte Australia
DroneShield
EOS Defence Systems
FrontierSI
Geospatial Intelligence
The Decisive Point
Vipac Engineers & Scientists
Estate & Infrastructure Business of the Year
Beca
BESIX Watpac
BGIS
Cushman & Wakefield
Enviropacific Services
Serco Australia
TVN On-Country
Ventia
Export Business of the Year
EOS Defence Systems
Pivot Maritime International
Supashock
Graduate Program of the Year
Airbus
APR.Intern
QinetiQ
Saab Australia
Santova Logistics
Shoal Group
Indigenous Business of the Year
Barpa
Biodiversity Australia
GJK Indigenous Solutions
TQCSI Yaran
TVN On-Country
Willyama Services
Industry Association of the Year
Australian Industry & Defence Network
Defence Teaming Centre
Land Business of the Year
AeroPM
EOS Defence Systems
NIOA
Supashock
Manufacturer of the Year
CRC Industries
EOS Defence Systems
Lockheed Martin Australia
Precision Electronic Technologies
RJE Global
Supashock
Naval Business of the Year
BAE Systems Applied Intelligence
Beca
EM Solutions
Serco Australia
Sikorsky Australia
Prime Contractor of the Year
Lockheed Martin Australia
NIOA
Toll Transitions
SME of the Year
ADROITA
AeroPM
AMC Search
Black Sky Aerospace
Fivecast
Geospatial Intelligence
Jenkins Engineering Defence Systems
Shoal Group
SPEE3D
TVN On-Country
Space Business of the Year
EOS Space Systems
Geospatial Intelligence
Salentis
Start-up of the Year
Bluerydge
Bullroarers Australia
Buzzworks
Fortifyedge
RAIDER Targetry
Vertical Scope Group
Sub-contractor of the Year
AeroPM
BAE Systems Applied Intelligence
Coras Solutions
CRC Industries
GJK Indigenous Solutions
RJE Global
Serco Australia
Swordfish Computing
Training and Mentorship Program of the Year
Defence Science Institute
DefendTex Research Labs
Deloitte
FifthDomain
GJK Indigenous Solutions
Regional Development Australia Hunter
Serco Australia
Soldier On
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration
Veteran Support Program of the Year
AeroPM
Axon Property Group
Defence Bank Foundation
Flinders University
Rehab Management
RSL Queensland
Serco Australia
Soldier On
Working Spirit