2026 Finalists

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Engineer of the Year - Academic/Research

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

Engineer of the Year - Space Industry

Amjed Ahmed Arifeen, Zendir
Yolanda Dimech, Yolanda Dimech & Marine Rescue Queensland
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

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

Executive of the Year - Academia

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

Female Space Leader of the Year

Mahjabin Akter, Spiral Blue
Roxane Bandini-Maeder, Geoneon
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

Rebecca Allen, Swinburne University of Technology
Rebecca Connolly, University of Sydney Law School
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

Grant Bradbeer, RMIT University - Centre for Moon to Mars Initiative Science and Technology (M2MIST)
Tamara Burling, Neumann Space
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

Gabrielle Caswell, Space Port Australia
Rowena Christiansen, the ad astra vita project
Muhammad Akbar Hussain, Southern Cross Outback Observatories 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

Rebecca Allen, Swinburne University of Technology
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

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

Rising Star of the Year – Academia

Arnick Abdollahi, University of Technology Sydney
Kaja Antlej, Deakin University
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

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
Virginia Kilborn, Swinburne University of Technology
Ranjith Obeyesekera, K-HART International

Academic Research Team of the Year

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

Business of the Year – Large

Electro Optic Systems
Fleet Space Technologies

Business of the Year – SME

Geoneon
Hypersonix Launch Systems
Mareekh Design
Neumann Space
Space Machines Company
Spaceport Australia

Company Research Team of the Year

K-HART International
New Frontier Technologies
Spaceport Australia

Defence Business of the Year

Black Sky Industries
Electro Optic Systems

Diversity Initiative Program of the Year

Monash University
Spiral Blue

Earth Observation Program of the Year

Charles Darwin University
Eartheye Technologies
Geoneon
ICEYE

Engineering Business of the Year

Deneb Space
Hypersonix Launch Systems
Neumann Space
Orbit2Orbit
Spiral Blue

Indigenous Space Initiative of the Year

Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, Australian National University
North Australia and Rangelands Fire Information - Charles Darwin University
Monash University

Research and Development Project of the Year

K-HART International
Paladin Space
Spaceport Australia
University of Sydney

Space Situational Awareness Program of the Year

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

Start-up of the Year

Blue Dwarf Space
Deneb Space
Orbit2Orbit
Paladin Space
Robinson Aerospace Systems

University of the Year

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

Workforce Initiative Program of the Year

Adept Foundation
Crazy Might Work
Fleet Space Technologies
Hamilton Secondary College