ADM is thrilled to announce the finalists of the Women in Defence Awards 2024!
Our judging panels were delighted to see the incredibly talented, diverse, and high-flying women nominated this year across the Australian Defence Force, Defence Australian Public Service, and Defence industry.
Our judges looked for entries that demonstrated outstanding success in 2023, showed a commitment to values and behaviours that led to success; overcame personal challenges; went above and beyond their position descriptions to advance the reputation of the defence sector and to mentor and guide others.
Each judging panel also considered more specific challenges and circumstances to arrive at a list of finalists, all of whom are outstanding in their fields.
ADM would also like to extend a big thank you to our Headline Sponsor Downer, Gold Sponsors Hanwha Defence Australia and Synergy, Silver Sponsor Babcock, and Bronze Sponsors Boeing, Leidos and Precision Public Affairs. Your support makes these events possible.
In no particular order our finalists are:
Communications
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual working within the communications/marketing/stakeholder engagement field.
- Sophie Calabretto, Senior Defence Scientist and Associate Director of the Defence Innovation Network, Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence.
- Sarah Cullens, Founder and Managing, Director Precision Public Affairs.
- Mary Diab, Technical Director, Comms and Engagement, AECOM Australia Pty Ltd.
- Frances Langi, Communications Specialist, OCRT Consulting.
- Katherine Ziesing, Strategic Communications Manager, Hanwha Defence Australia.
Engineering
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual working within the engineering field. This category is open to all disciplines within the engineering community.
- Nadya Haq, Systems Engineer, Downer Professional Services.
- Denise Lam, Algorithms Team Lead, BAE Systems Australia.
- Shanae Ryan, Senior Hardware Engineer, CEA Technologies.
- Lauren Skelly, Software Lead of Special Programs and Capabilities in Phantom Works Global, Boeing Defence Australia.
- Isabella Yan, Marine Engineer Officer Submariner, Royal Australian Navy.
Executive Management
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual working within the executive management field.
- Kate Gascoyne, General Manager for Mission IT and Security Solutions, KBR.
- Michelle Hogan, Chief Operating Officer, Core Defence Australia.
- Katherine Richards, Head Nuclear Powered Submarine Regulatory Design, Royal Australian Navy.
- Cassandra Ryan, Alliance General Manager for the Warship Asset Management Agreement, Saab Australia.
- Nicole Seils, Manager Government Relations & Legislative Affairs and Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce Space Committee, Northrop Grumman Australia.
- Danielle Whiting, Defence Projects Lead for South Australia, Laing O’Rourke.
Indigenous
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding indigenous individual female working in any field.
- Rikki Cooper, National Indigenous Engagement Manager, BGIS.
- Kellie Curry, Leading Seaman Aviation Support - Recruit Instructor for the tri-service Indigenous Pre Recruit Program, Royal Australian Navy
- Belinda Murdoch, Head of Indigenous affairs, Laing O’Rourke.
Legal and Contracting
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual working within the legal/contracting field. Applicants do not have to be lawyers per se.
- Jordan Brinckman, Intellectual Property Specialist Legal and Commercial, Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
- Anna Hunter, Executive Director Regulatory Frameworks in the Nuclear Powered Submarine Regulatory Design team, Royal Australian Navy.
- Kellie Jenkins, Global Supply Chain Program Manager, Babcock.
- Yasmin Sckeyde, General Manager Legal and Commercial, Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
- Alison Widderick, Senior Contract Manager for Land 400 Phase 3, Hanwha Defence Australia.
- Jen Willmer, Senior Legal Counsel, BAE Systems Australia.
Operations
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual to recognise efforts of women in deployed/remote areas with a focus on logistics, services and support roles.
- Belinda Cole, S1 Flight 806 Aircrewman, Royal Australian Navy.
- Liz Daly, United Nations Military Observer, Australian Army.
- Julie Magnone, Managing Director, Depth Logistics.
- Tam Malkki, Operations Manager and Senior Cyber Security Consultant, Ravinn Pty Ltd.
People and Culture
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual who has developed and /or administered initiatives to support women in the defence community.
- Olivia Agate, Senior Talent Acquisition, Early Careers, Industry Engagement Advisor, Navantia Australia.
- Hayley Boswell, Founder, Defence Kidz.
- Leah Cattanach, Project Manager and President of Northrop Grumman Women’s International Network, Northrop Grumman Australia.
- Nikki Coleman, Senior Chaplain Ethicist to the Royal Australian Air Force (Retired), Royal Australian Air Force (Retired).
- Stacey Horder, Human Resources Director, L3Harris Technologies.
- Fiona McSpeerin, First Assistant Secretary People Policy and Development, Department of Defence.
Project Management
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual working within project management.
- Allison Allen, Technical Program Manager at Anduril Australia.
- Michelle Baker, Program Manager, Boeing Autonomy Capability Hub for Australia and New Zealand, Boeing Defence Australia.
- Dee-Ann Jackson, Lead Test & Evaluation Officer and acting Deputy Program Director, Armoured Fighting Vehicles Branch, Department of Defence.
- Lee Ann Jones, Director Hydrographic System Program Office within Maritime Systems Division, Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group, Department of Defence.
- Alecia Millard, Program Manager for LAND 8116 - Protected Mobile Fires, Hanwha Defence Australia.
- Natasha Williams, Navy Capability Infrastructure Sub Program Project Director within Capital Facilities and Infrastructure Branch, Infrastructure Division / Security and Estate Group, Department of Defence
Research and Development
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding individual academic or researcher working on Defence related matters.
- Oleksandra Molloy, Lecturer in Aviation, Aviation Program Coordinator, University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
- Khushboo Singh, Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney.
- Olga Zinovieva, Lecturer, Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and a Mechanical Engineering Program Coordinator in the School of Engineering and Technology, UNSW Canberra.
Rising Star (30 Years and under)
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual aged under 30 years (at 31st December 2023).
- Shanae Lay, Corrosion Scientist, Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence.
- Brenda Palmer, Engagement Director Downer Professional Services, Downer Defence.
- Bridie Searle, Facilities Assets and Training Coordinator, Thales Australia.
- Gabrielle Singe, Supply Chain Manager, Royal Australian Navy.
- Alexandra Steele, Graduate engineer, Larrakeyah Defence Precinct Redevelopment Project Barracks Redevelopment Project, Laing O’Rourke.
- Isabella Yan, Marine Engineer Officer Submariner, Royal Australian Navy.
Technical Trade
To be awarded to the defence community’s most outstanding female individual working within operations, production or trade fields.
- Erin Ashworth, Marine Technician – Electrical, Royal Australian Navy.
- Stephanie Bradshaw, Operating and Technical Lead, Naval Combat Systems Group, Saab Australia.
- Victoria Hohnke, Foreman Horizontal Construction, Construction Troop, 23 Support Squadron, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Australian Army.
- Rose-Marie Johnson, Trials Technician – Communications, Royal Australian Navy.
We'd like to extend a huge congratulations to all our finalists. Make sure to keep an eye on our website – we'll be sharing the details of the finalists in each category from Tuesday 13 August.
The winners and Hall of Fame inductee will be announced at a gala dinner at The National Arboretum, Canberra, on 17 October 2024. Book your tickets here – we hope to see you there!
