There were 30 winners at this year’s Australian Defence Industry Awards, while the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia attended the ceremony and addressed the defence industry.
The Australian Defence Industry Awards 2023 took place on Thursday, 21 September 2023 at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.
The fifth annual Australian Defence Industry Awards black tie/mess dress gala ceremony was held yesterday evening (Thursday, 21 September 2023) at the National Convention Centre, Canberra.
It was a particularly exciting ceremony this year, not least because a record 211 finalists contested for 29 submission-based individual and group awards, while one winner was given the prestigious Excellence Award.
Dr Marian Andrei Rizoiu – senior lecturer leading the behavioural data science lab at the University of Technology, Sydney – was the recipient of the Excellence Award, after being named Academic of the Year earlier in the evening.
Other individual winners included representatives from DroneShield, Northrop Grumman Australia, and defence contractor Rohde & Schwarz Australia.
Group award winners included Downer Defence, Black Sky Aerospace, and archTIS.
“The Australian Defence Industry Awards is our opportunity to recognise those who have made a change in Defence and defence industry,” Defence Connect editor Liam Garman said.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Australia’s defence industry is one of the nation’s most vibrant sectors. From those developing disruptive military technologies, through to those providing advanced estate and facility management, all of our finalists have played a significant role in ensuring that Australian warfighters are able to safely and effectively achieve their task.”
Click here to view the full list of winners and finalists.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia outlines our contributions
Throughout the event, Defence Connect was proud to host His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand.
Over 800 members of the defence industry who attended the ceremony heard from Ambassador Myroshnychenko about the importance of the strong relationship between Australia and Ukraine.
It presented a timely opportunity for the ambassador to speak directly to the collective mass of our defence industry.
The Australian defence industry has been providing material support to Ukraine as it fights against Russia’s invasion, with the war raging on for over 18 months.
Australia has supplied 120 of the domestically built Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles as part of approximately $890 million in overall assistance provided to Ukraine.
In August, it was reported that Australian-designed explosive “cardboard drones” were used by Ukrainian forces to damage military transport and fighter aircraft at airfields in Kursk and a Pskov airbase in Northern Russia.
Ambassador Myroshnychenko confirmed on 29 August that cardboard drones had been used against a “legitimate target” Russian airfield.
At the Australian Defence Industry Awards, Ambassador Myroshnychenko underscored the importance of the relationship between Australia and Ukraine.
Importantly, he detailed how Australia’s defence industry has been pivotal in supporting Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion.
Commenting on Ambassador Myroshnychenko’s appearance at this year’s awards, Momentum Markets’ government relations manager Steve Kuper said: “It was an honour to have Ambassador Myroshnychenko join us for the Australian Defence Industry Awards. His address hammered home the reality of how important a sovereign defence industry is for our national security.
"Ambassador Myroshnychenko was joined by a strong representation from a number of high-profile diplomatic missions from Canberra. This highlights the prestige with which the Australian Defence Industry Awards is held.”
Mr Kuper concluded: “It also demonstrates the unprecedented level of access Defence Connect has as a brand with Australia's global partners and allies.”
Throughout the evening, attendees were treated to the comedy stylings of Australian comedian, writer, and satirist Mark Humphries.
They also celebrated the achievements of their colleagues while networking with leaders of the defence industry and their peers.
The Australian Defence Industry Awards has become the most anticipated awards program of the year.
It provides national recognition to the top businesses and professionals in the defence industry, from primes, small-to-medium enterprises (SME), academic institutions and associations to high-performing individuals such as defence executives, Indigenous and female leaders, students, scientists, technicians, and academics.
It has become a desirable accolade for individuals and businesses seeking to forge their role in the defence industry and contribute to its transformation by embracing capability building.
It is also a night for members to celebrate their achievements while networking with defence industry leaders as well as their peers.
Defence Connect would like to thank all of its partners for their invaluable support, including principal partner KBR, platinum partner JLL, gold partners Investment NSW and Ventia, gold and dessert partner Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium, supporting partners Analytical Progression, Babcock, Industry Capability Network, Killara Services, Luerssen Australia, Sitzler, and UNSW Canberra, dessert partner Willyama Services, research partner Agile Market Services, coin and charity partner Bravery Trust, and charity partners Legacy, Invictus Australia, and Soldier On.