2026 Winners & Finalists

Aviation Safety Professional of the Year

Robert Bennett, Infravision
Daniel Coe, Aerodrome Management Services

Stefan Conant, Boeing Defence Australia

Nic Connelly, Airservices and RMIT University
John Fleming, FPV Australia
Ryan Hurrell, Babcock
Ashleigh Jacka, Performance Aviation
Nicole Pearson, Northrop Grumman Australia
Tanzia Rashid, Flight Safety Foundation BARS Program
Trent Robinson, Trent Robinson Aviation

Engineering Professional of the Year

Andrew Ang, Swinburne University of Technology
Breanna Dohnt, Sikorsky Australia
Matt Durston, Airservices Australia
Humberto Favato, Javelin Aerospace Services
William Ho, Northrop Grumman Australia
Arnav Joshi, Northrop Grumman Australia
Summer Palmer, Javelin Aerospace Services

Feng Wang, Swinburne University of Technology

Scott Weight, Babcock
Jon White, Maroomba Airlines

Executive of the Year

Laura Benger, Maroomba Airlines
John Fleming, FPV Australia
Anthony Gibara, Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT
Gary Hogan, Shire of Exmouth
Ben Lang, Aviall Group
Ed Mason, Jet Zero Australia
Jane Peter, Aerodrome Management Services
Mick Rowbottom, Rowbottom Aviation Service

Glenn Ryan, Aviation Australia

Andrew Tay, Rishworth Aviation

Female Aviation Leader of the Year - Large Business

Lisa Burquest, Virgin Australia

Nic Connelly, Airservices and RMIT University
Rani Evers, dnata catering & retail
Marcela Medel, dnata catering & retail
Georgina Mommers, Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT
Tracey Osborn, Star Aviation
Kim Passmore, Qantas
Tamara Toplis, dnata catering & retail
Fan Yang, dnata catering & retail

Female Aviation Leader of the Year - SME

Kayla Bentley, Sydney Flight Training and Royal Aero Club of NSW
Jo Bevan, Aerodrome Management Services
Shannon Gee, BASE Aviation
Zara Lintern, CASAIR Group
Sue-anne Munckton, Sky Careers
Novelle Neoh, Javelin Aerospace Services
Marjorie Pagani, Angel Flight Australia
Sasha Robinson, Flightdeck Group

Mavis Tom, Solomon Airlines

Professional Pilot of the Year

Kayla Bentley, Sydney Flight Training and Royal Aero Club of NSW

Lucas Brewer, Performance Aviation Flight Services
Shannon Gee, BASE Aviation
Joe Liao, Quantum Aviation
Georgia Raworth, Parks and Wildlife Service WA
Trent Robinson, Trent Robinson Aviation
Barry Sadler, Royal Aero Club of New South Wales
Bailey Stanmore, Wagga Air Centre
Neil Tucker, Australian Jump Pilot Academy

Recreational Pilot of the Year

Rose Donald, Little Wings
Francesco Di Franco, Learn 2 Fly Canberra
Jennifer Hunt, Wing It and Wag it
William Raymond, Sydney Flight College

Byron Waller, Teen Pilot Down Under

Rising Star - Large Business

Alysa Atkinson, Babcock

Anton Bulzomi, Qantas Group Pilot Academy

Michael Hodge, Safran Helicopter Engines Australia
Georgia Raworth, Parks and Wildlife Services Western Australia
Joshua Young, Jetstar Airways

Rising Star - SME

Matthew Bindley, Aldermane

Matthew Burrows, Simulation Air

Shannon Gee, BASE Aviation
Alex Gregory, Nav & Co
Jonathan Lam, Phoenix Aero Club
Xavier McLoughlin, TripADeal
Summer Palmer, Javelin Aerospace Group
Kate Potts, Sky Careers
Tanzia Rashid, Flight Safety Foundation BARS Program
Mavis Tom, Solomon Airlines

RPAS Pilot of the Year

Andrew Jones, Australian UAV Service

Lizz Vernon, Australian UAV Service

Young Pilot of the Year

Anton Bulzomi, Qantas Group Pilot Academy
Rose Donald,
Jack Gallen, Performance Aviation Flight Services
Shannon Gee, BASE Aviation
Jennifer Hunt, Wing It and Wag It

Riley McDonald, Paul Bennet Airshows

Georgia Raworth, Parks and Wildlife Service Western Australia
William Raymond, Sydney Flight College
Bailey Stanmore, Wagga Air Centre
Byron Waller, Teen Pilot Down Under

Excellence Award

Mavis Tom, Solomon Airlines