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The winners of the 2026 Australian Defence Industry Awards have been announced at a black tie gala dinner at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.
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Australia’s defence sector gathered in Canberra to celebrate excellence across industry, academia and innovation, with University of New South Wales researcher Oleksandra Molloy taking home the 2026 Excellence Award at the eighth annual Australian Defence Industry Awards.
The Australian Defence Industry Awards returned to Canberra on Thursday evening, recognising the people and organisations driving innovation, capability and growth across Australia’s defence sector.
Held at the National Convention Centre Canberra, the eighth annual awards brought together leaders from industry, government, academia and the Australian Defence Force to celebrate excellence across the nation’s rapidly expanding defence industrial base.
A total of 30 awards were presented during the evening, recognising outstanding achievements across a broad range of individual and organisational categories spanning engineering, research, manufacturing, cyber security, space, naval capability and sovereign industry.
The night’s highest honour, the Excellence Award, was presented to Oleksandra Molloy from the University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy (UNSW Canberra), recognising her outstanding contribution to Australia’s defence and national security ecosystem.
The annual Excellence Award is presented to the highest-scoring individual winner across all categories, acknowledging exceptional leadership, innovation and impact within Australia’s defence industry.
The awards also recognised representatives from leading Australian defence companies, including Leidos Australia, DEWC Services, CEA Technologies, Raytheon Australia, Aldermane and Stahl Metall, highlighting the breadth of expertise supporting Defence capability across the country.
Hosted by Australian comedian, writer and satirist Mark Humphries, the awards ceremony combined celebration with networking opportunities, bringing together hundreds of professionals from across the defence enterprise to recognise the achievements of colleagues, partners and emerging leaders.
Steve Kuper, Lead – Defence and Aerospace and Senior Analyst at Defence Connect, said the continued growth of the awards reflects the increasing maturity and sophistication of Australia’s defence industry.
“Each year, the Australian Defence Industry Awards continue to grow, reflecting the extraordinary depth of talent, innovation and capability that now exists across Australia’s defence industrial base,” Kuper said.
“From established prime contractors and SMEs through to researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs and rising stars, these awards recognise the people and organisations delivering the technologies and capabilities that strengthen Australia’s national security.”
Kuper congratulated all finalists and winners, noting that their work continues to underpin the future of Australia’s sovereign defence capability.
The Australian Defence Industry Awards are presented by Defence Connect and Momentum Media and are judged by an independent panel of defence and industry leaders using a rigorous assessment process that evaluates innovation, leadership, business performance, technical excellence and contribution to Australia’s defence sector.
Open to organisations and professionals from across the Australian defence supply chain, the awards have become one of the industry’s premier recognition programs, celebrating excellence while showcasing the capability and innovation shaping the future of Australia’s defence industry.
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