Nominations and submissions are actually open for the Australian Defence Trade Awards 2026, with this yr’s program set to debut in a daring new format alongside the launch of the Australian Defence Trade Accelerator, in partnership with Commonwealth Financial institution of Australia.
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To be held on the Nationwide Conference Centre in Canberra on Thursday, 16 July 2026, the reimagined awards and trade accelerator summit will place a pointy concentrate on the aerospace and aviation sectors, alongside the broader defence ecosystem. The occasion will spotlight the companies, leaders and innovators advancing Australia’s air and area capabilities whereas opening new pathways for development throughout each home and international markets.
Greater than a celebration of platforms and merchandise, the refreshed awards program recognises the folks and organisations strengthening long-term functionality throughout aviation, aerospace and defence. This spans main primes, SMEs, educational establishments and trade associations, by way of to — for the primary time — system program workplaces throughout the Division of Defence. It additionally recognises the people behind the sector’s success, together with engineers, technicians, scientists, college students, rising stars and established leaders driving next-generation air and area functionality.
Defence and Aerospace Lead at Momentum Media, Steve Kuper, welcomed the launch of the up to date awards program and the inaugural Australian Defence Trade Accelerator occasion.
Kuper mentioned: “Since launching the inaugural Australian Defence Trade Awards in 2019, the trade has advanced immensely. We’ve sought to replicate that with a bunch of latest classes alongside offering avenues for larger participation and recognition of the essential work the Division of Defence does in supporting the trade.”
As a part of the expanded program, the Australian Defence Trade Accelerator is designed to assist defence and aerospace companies unlock new alternatives throughout each home and export markets. The initiative will draw on assist from enterprise capital, Export Finance Australia, Crew Defence Australia, ODIS, and broader authorities and trade networks, with a specific concentrate on scaling sovereign air and area capabilities.
“The inaugural Australian Defence Trade Accelerator occasion is designed to offer the up and coming enterprise with the data, publicity and assist they should tackle the world, supporting the Australian Defence Drive and our allies,” Kuper added.
A complete of 28 classes can be contested in 2026, together with eight particular person awards and 20 group awards. Particular person classes will as soon as once more recognise excellence throughout the sector, together with these on the forefront of aviation and aerospace innovation, with honours corresponding to Technician of the Yr, Feminine Defence Chief of the Yr, Engineer of the Yr, Rising Star of the Yr, and Tutorial of the Yr.
Group classes will spotlight organisations delivering affect throughout aerospace, aviation and the broader defence trade. New additions embody the AUKUS Partnership Award, Guided Weapons & Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Program of the Yr, Take a look at, Analysis & Programs Assurance Award, and System Program Workplace of the Yr. These sit alongside established classes corresponding to Aerospace Program of the Yr, Cyber Enterprise of the Yr, Veteran-Owned Enterprise of the Yr, Naval Program of the Yr, and SME of the Yr.
Open to companies working in Australia that assist the defence and aerospace provide chain, the awards have turn into one of many nation’s most sought-after trade accolades, providing nationwide recognition for these serving to form the way forward for Australia’s air, area and defence functionality.
Kuper mentioned: “This refreshed awards program recognises the evolution of Australia’s defence industrial base and the workforce that underpins this essential nationwide functionality. I might encourage anybody concerned within the nation’s defence trade to appoint at present!”
Winners can be introduced at a black-tie and mess gown gala ceremony on the Nationwide Conference Centre, the place attendees will even have the chance to attach with main figures from throughout Australia’s defence, aviation and aerospace ecosystem.
Submissions and nominations shut on Friday, 8 Might 2026.
You possibly can evaluation the classes right here, and methodology right here. Click on right here to learn how to jot down an awards submission.
Click on right here to see tips on how to submit your software. For extra details about the awards, click on right here.
