Hall of recognition

Winners and Finalists

Explore the professionals recognised by the Australasian Space Awards. Select a year to open its category-by-category honour roll.

2026 All recognition

Engineer of the Year - Academic/Research

Winner Cheryl McCarthy, University of Southern Queensland
Finalists
Arnick Abdollahi, University of Technology Sydney

Engineer of the Year - Space Industry

Winner Yolanda Dimech, Yolanda Dimech & Marine Rescue Queensland
Finalists
Amjed Ahmed Arifeen, Zendir
Ranjith Obeyesekera, K-HART International
Jack Orton, Hypersonix Launch Systems
James Robertson, Neumann Space
Josh Sloman, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Simone Wilson, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Nic Zettl, Gilmour Space Technologies

Executive of the Year

Winner James Bennett, Electro Optic Systems
Finalists
Mahjabin Akter, Spiral Blue
Gabrielle Caswell, Spaceport Australia
Matt Hill, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Taofiq Huq, Spiral Blue

Executive of the Year - Academia

Winner Rodrigo Praino, Flinders University Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies
Finalists
Melrose Brown, University of New South Wales Canberra Space
Annie Handmer, University of Sydney

Female Space Leader of the Year

Winner Roxane Bandini-Maeder, Geoneon
Finalists
Mahjabin Akter, Spiral Blue
Gabrielle Caswell, Spaceport Australia
Yolanda Dimech, Yolanda Dimech & Marine Rescue Queensland
Zamara Rodriguez, Space Industry Association of Australia
Nicole Seils, Amazon Web Services
Kathie van Vugt, Lunar Outpost Oceania
Kelly Yeoh, Blue Dwarf Space

Female Space Leader of the Year – Academia

Winner Rebecca Connolly, University of Sydney Law School
Finalists
Rebecca Allen, Swinburne University of Technology
Natasha Disha, The Australian National University
Kate Kitagawa, La Trobe University/Aussie Space Rocks
Katarina Miljkovic, Curtin University
Li Shean Toh, Monash University

Graduate of the Year

Winner Tamara Burling, Neumann Space
Finalists
Grant Bradbeer, RMIT University - Centre for Moon to Mars Initiative Science and Technology (M2MIST)
Lachlan Carboon, Lunar Outpost Oceania
Jacinda Cottee, Institute for Space Health and Performance, Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology
Thorne Hanna-Spain, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Mikaela Millerd, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Celene Shimmen, Federation University
Greta Stephensen, BAE Systems

Innovator of the Year

Winner Dr Muhammad Akbar Hussain, Southern Cross Outback Observatories Project
Finalists
Gabrielle Caswell, Space Port Australia
Rowena Christiansen, the ad astra vita project
Lachlan McTaggart, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Ranjith Obeyesekera, K-HART International
Jack Orton, Hypersonix Launch Systems
Andrew Rakich, Electro Optic Systems
Alex Ward, Hypersonix Launch Systems

Mentor of the Year

Winner Rebecca Allen, Swinburne University of Technology
Finalists
Gabrielle Caswell, Spaceport Australia
Rowena Christiansen, the ad astra vita project
Yolanda Dimech, Yolanda Dimech & Marine Rescue Queensland
Geraldine Olea, Academy Olea

Rising Star of the Year - Enterprise

Winner Bryan Greenham, Gilmour Space Technologies
Finalists
Joel Dennerley, Accenture
Thomas Graham, EY
Julia Low, RMIT University
Karan Naidu, CSIRO

Rising Star of the Year - SME

Winner Alexander Wright, AFTdynamics
Finalists
Amjed Ahmed Arifeen, Zendir
Amrit Bagia, Space CoLAB
Anne Bettens, Deneb Space
Flávia Fayet-Moore, FOODiQ Global
Ella Pernice, Systems Planning and Analysis Australia
Eric Philips, Icetrek Expeditions
Edward Robinson, Robinson Aerospace Systems
Harrison Verrios, Zendir
Pavel Vlcek, Praxis Aerospace

Rising Star of the Year – Academia

Winner Kaja Antlej, Deakin University
Finalists
Arnick Abdollahi, University of Technology Sydney
Aakash Chhabra, Western Sydney University
Rebecca Connolly, University of Sydney Law School
Jacinda Cottee, Institute for Space Health and Performance, Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology
Kate Kitagawa, La Trobe University/Aussie Space Rocks

Scientist of the Year

Winner Virginia Kilborn, Swinburne University of Technology
Finalists
Arnick Abdollahi, University of Technology Sydney
Rowena Christiansen, the ad astra vita project
Jacinda Cottee, Institute for Space Health and Performance, Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology
Muhammad Akbar Hussain, Mareekh Dynamics
Ranjith Obeyesekera, K-HART International

Academic Research Team of the Year

Winner The Australian National University
Finalists
Curtin University
Marintec (Navantia Australia)
University of New South Wales

Business of the Year – Large

Winner Electro Optic Systems
Finalists
Fleet Space Technologies

Business of the Year – SME

Winner Geoneon
Finalists
Hypersonix Launch Systems
Mareekh Dynamics
Neumann Space
Space Machines Company
Spaceport Australia

Company Research Team of the Year

Winner New Frontier Technologies
Finalists
K-HART International
Spaceport Australia

Defence Business of the Year

Winner Electro Optic Systems
Finalists
Black Sky Industries

Diversity Initiative Program of the Year

Winner Monash University
Finalists
Spiral Blue

Earth Observation Program of the Year

Winner ICEYE
Finalists
North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information - Charles Darwin University
Eartheye Technologies
Geoneon

Engineering Business of the Year

Winner Neumann Space
Finalists
Deneb Space
Hypersonix Launch Systems
Orbit2Orbit
Spiral Blue

Indigenous Space Initiative of the Year

Winner Monash University
Finalists
Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, Ngubudji Ngurra, and New Zealand Bioeconomy Science Institute.
North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information - Charles Darwin University

Research and Development Project of the Year

Winner Paladin Space
Finalists
K-HART International
Spaceport Australia
Waratah Seed & University of Sydney

Space Situational Awareness Program of the Year

Winner Northrop Grumman Australia
Finalists
Electro Optic Systems
Southern Cross Outback Observatory Project
Spiral Blue

Start-up of the Year

Winner Robinson Aerospace Systems
Finalists
Blue Dwarf Space
Deneb Space
Orbit2Orbit
Paladin Space

University of the Year

Winner University of New South Wales
Finalists
The Australian National University InSpace
University of Technology Sydney

Workforce Initiative Program of the Year

Winner Adept Foundation
Finalists
Crazy Might Work
Fleet Space Technologies
Hamilton Secondary College
Submissions now open. Entries close 12 February 2027. Start submission → Submit now