Australian Leadership Awards

Each year at the ADC Future Summit we recognise a new generation of outstanding new talent with the Australian Leadership Awards. The Awards recognise young leaders for their work across a spectrum of Australian life – our economy, science and technology, culture, environment or community – and for their demonstrated vision for Australia’s future.

Please get in touch with ADC Forum to hear more.

Australian Leadership Award Recipients

Ms Tenille Bentley, Managing Director, Socialite Media & Chairman / Founder, the Global Good Foundation
Mr Michael Brett, Chief Operating Officer, Aerospace Concepts Pty Ltd
Ms Wesa Chau, Director, Cultural Intelligence
Dr Aron D’Souza, Australian Chair, Nexus Global Youth Summit
Mr Arjuna Dibley, Associate, Baker & McKenzie
Mr Christopher Evans, Director & Chief Operating Officer, Oil & Gas Solutions
Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea, Senior Research Officer, Team Leader, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Ms Jana Favero, Director, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Dr Andreas Fouras, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University
Ms Samah Hadid, Australian Executive Director, The Global Poverty Project
Dr Alan Huynh, Doctor, Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, NSW Health
Mr Garry Kuan, President, Australian Federation of International Students Inc (AFIS)
Professor Jian Li, Professor, NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University
Mr Scott Limbrick, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Global Voices
Mr Dane Moores, Policy Officer, Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Mr Zabulon Ndizeye, Multicultural Services Officer, Department of Human Services
Ms Holly Ransom, Business Analyst, Rio Tinto
Mr Samuel Redmond, Director and Founder, Adapt Group
Dr Colin Scholes, Founder, Scientifiques Sans Frontieres Australia
Dr Erica Sloan, Senior Lecturer, Research Scentist, Monash University

Mr Sek-loong Tan, Consultant, Boston Consulting Group
Dr Fiona Lander, Doctor, Austin Health
Ms Helen Xiao He Zhang, Graduate Associate, King & Wood Mallesons
Mr Christopher Eigeland, Founding Director, The School Bag Asia Pacific and Go Campaign
Dr James Tickner, Science Leader, CSIRO
Ms Sally Stevenson, Chairperson, Indigo Foundation
Mr Gary Samowitz, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Aid Australia
Ms Ellen Sandell, National Director, The Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Mr Mark Hollingsworth, Partnership Manager, Centre for Sustainability Leadership
Ms Chantal Haskett, Managing Director, Aston Recruitment
Dr Rachel Caruso, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering
Ms Kirsty Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Planning Institute of Australia
Mr Mukund Narayanamurti, Director, Asia Business Group, KPMG
Mr Scott Minchin, Director – Security Programs, Department of Defence
Mr Daniel Khong, Senior Development Manager, Places Victoria
Ms Angela Rutter, Manager, Climate Reality Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation
Ms Danielle Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Enlighten Education
Dr Matthew Hill, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering
Mr Gregory Nelson, Head of Operations, CRU Digital
Mr James Farrell, Deputy Chairperson, Council to Homeless Persons
Ms Michelle Osborne, Senior Research Economist, Productivity Commission
Dr LLoyd Nash, Senior Registrar, Royal Melbourne Hospital
Mr Patrick Mayoh, External Relations Manager, Global Voices
Dr Darren Saunders, Group Leader, Garvan Institute of Medical Research
Dr Ranjith Pathegama, ARC Future Fellow, Greenhouse Gas Technologies/Rock Mechanics, Monash University
Dr Thanh Le, Lecturer, School of Economics, The University of Queensland

Mr Glenn Wightwick, Director, Research and Development , IBM Australia Limited
Mr Mark Boulet, Manager, Green Steps Program, Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University
Mrs Belinda Collins, Senior Development Manager, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Mr Gregory Phillips, Advisor to the Dean – Indigenous Health, Faculty Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash University
Ms Sandy Pitcher, Deputy Chief Executive, Department of the Premier & Cabinet, South Australian Government
Dr Karen Hapgood, Associate Professor, Department Chemical Engineering, Monash University
Professor Michael Monteiro, ARC Future Fellow, Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland
Dr Felicity Baker, Associate Professor, Australia Research Council Future Fellow, The University of Queensland
Ms Roya Baghai, Co-Founder, Co-Chair, High Resolves
Mr Cameron Begley, General Manager, Business Development & Commercialisation, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences
Ms Bryony Binns, Partner, Baker & McKenzie Solicitors
Dr Andrew Botros, Director, Expressive Engineering
Mr James Brown, Military Associate, Lowy Institute for International Policy
Mr Brenton Caffin, Chief Executive Officer, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation
Dr Kimberley Clayfield, Executive Manager, Space Sciences & Technology, CSIRO
Mr Vafa Ghazavi, Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Dr Eamonn Kelly, Music & Dance Critic (Melbourne), The Australian
Mr Phillip Kingston, Managing Director, Kingston Development
Mr Chris Loader, Manager, Transport Planning & Policy, Bus Association Victoria
Mr Nicolas Mackay, National Manager, Growth Strategy, High Resolves Initiative
Mr Simon Malian, Executive Director, The Malian Foundation
Mr Brad McManus, Vice Chair, Integral Leadership Institute
Mr Alex McMillan, Executive Director, Natural Resources Commission of NSW
Dr Sarah Jayne Meachem, Senior Research Officer, Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research
Dr Nam Nguyen, Teaching & Research Fellow, The University of Queensland
Mr John O’Brien, Founder & Managing Director, Australian CleanTech
Dr Ian Oppermann, Director ICT Centre, CSIRO
Mr Julian O’Shea, Curriculum & Research Coordinator, Engineers Without Borders Australia
Mr Omeed Rameshni, Associate, McKinsey & Company
Ms Elizabeth Shaw, Executive Director, UN Association of Australia

Dr Nancy Pachana, Associate Professor, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland
Dr Shane Huntington, Principal Strategy Adviser, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, The University of Melbourne
Dr Alex Collie, Chief Research Officer, Institute for Safety, Compensation & Recovery Research, Monash University
Professor Sarah Joseph, Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Faculty of Law, Monash University
Dr Claire Macken, Associatee Head of School (Teaching & Learning), Faculty of Business & Law, Deakin University
Dr Samantha Thomas, Senior Research Fellow, Department Marketing, Monash University
Mr Houssam Abiad, Chief Executive Officer, Digimob-Australia
Mr Dan Atkins, Managing Director, The Shaper Group
Councillor Charlotte Baines, Councillor, Monash City Council
Ms Jan Chorley, National Stakeholder Manager, HWA
Mr Raimondo Cortese, Writer / Lecturer, Ranters Theatre
Mr Richard Fleming, , Generation One
Mr Jason Gerrard, Director, GerrardBown
Professor Paul Hodges, NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow, The University of Queensland
Mr Justin Jamieson, Partner Advisory, KPMG
Ms Amanda McKenzie, Co-Founder, Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Mr Nick Moraitis, Director, Make Believe Group Pty Ltd
Mr Andrew Pickford, Managing Director, ISSA Indo-Pacific
Mr Matt Riley, Security Advisor, Caltex Australia Limited
Mr David Shearer, Acting Director Corporate, Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research
Ms Anna Skarbek, Executive Director, Climate Works Australia
Mr Mark Thomson, Institutional Donor Liaison Manager, International Programs, Save the Children
Mr Timothy Wilson, Director, Institute of Public Affairs
Mr Thomas Woodroofe, Founder & Young Victorian of the Year, Left Right Think-Tank
Mr James Woodward, Assistant Manager, KPMG

Professor Mark Kendall, Group Leader & Director of INVax Project, Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland
Professor Brian Falzon, Chair of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University
Brigadier John Frewen AM, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Forces Command, Australian Defence Force
Dr Kerrie Wilson, Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Ms Caroline Adler
Mr Daniel Almagor, Managing Director, Small Giants
Ms Rachel Ball, Director – Policy and Campaigns, Human Rights Law Resource Centre
Dr Amanda Barnard, Leader, Virtual Nanoscience Laboratory, CSIRO Materials Science & Engineering
Mr Ben Barnett, Consultant, The Nous Group
Mr Nick Allardice, Country Director, Australia, Change.org
Mr Tim Black, Director, BKK Architects
Associate Professor Rufus Black, Master, Ormond College, Ormond College
Mr Nicholas Davis, Associate Director & Global Leadership Fellow, World Economic Forum
Mr Antony Forbutt, Managing Director, Crema Espresso Pty Ltd
Ms Mina Guli, Executive Director & Chief Investment Officer, Peony Capital Limited
Mr Tim Harcourt, Chief Economist, Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)
Ms Jennifer Harwood, Business Champion, Champions of Business Australia
Mr Jon Leighton, Chief Executive & Owner, JML Australia
Ms Sotheary Ly, Executive Director, Healthcare Center for Children (HCC)
Professor Jonathan Manton, Future Generation Professor, The University of Melbourne
Ms Leigh Mathews
Ms Julie Mundy, Director, Partnering and Development Consulting
Ms Mailie Ross, Teacher, Hume Central Secondary College
Mr Edward Santow, Chief Executive Officer, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Dr Gareth Shepherd
Mr Dan Toombs, Chief Executive Officer, TASC
Dr Lloyd Walker, Director, Tech 4 Life
Mr Peter Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte Digital

Dr James Friend, Associate Professor, MicroNanophysics Research Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University
Ms Rowan Roberts, Economic Adviser, Office of the Premier, Department of Premier & Cabinet, Government of South Australia
Mr Daniel Street, Adviser, Office for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, DFAT
Professor Timothy Sharp, Adjunct Professor, School of Health Sciences, RMIT University
Mr Dan Adams, 2008 Young Victorian of the Year, The Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Mr Cameron Brown
Mrs Sarah Buckley, Director, Corporate Responsibility, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Ms Rachel Coxon, Consultant, SMS Management & Technology Limited
Dr Phillip Daffara, Architect, Urban Planner, Future Sense
Mr Heath Ducker
Dr Gareth Forde, National Sustainability Manager, Lycopodium Process Industries Pty Ltd
Mr Jonathan Greenacre, Step Safe
Dr Susan Harris Rimmer, ACFID
Lcdr Catherine Hayes, Royal Australian Navy
Mr Anton Hermann, National Director, Pro Bono & Community Investment, Minter Ellison Lawyers
Mr David Hetherington, Executive Director, Per Capita
Mr Matthew Jones, Executive Director, Social Alchemy Pty Ltd
Mr Andrew MacLeod, Chief Executive Officer, Committee for Melbourne
Mr Franz Maranesi
Mr Ben McLean, Assistant Manager, Early Childhood Development Workforce Study Productivity Commission
Mr Justin Mohamed, Director, Goulburn Valley Partnerships, The University of Melbourne
Mr James Newman, Publishing Director, Hardie Grant Magazines
Mr Nick Palousis, Partner, The Shaper Group
Mr Andrew Penfold, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Indigenous Education Foundation
Ms Anna Rose, Co-Director, The Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Mr Dan Rosen
Mr Matthew Tilleard, Advisor, Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility

Dr Iain MacGill, Research Coordinator, Centre for Energy & Environmental Markets, The University of New South Wales
Ms Suzanne Bell, Partner, KPMG Melbourne Audit, Consumer & Industrial Markets, KPMG
Mr Tom Dawkins, Change Manager, Digital Marketing Strategy, Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
Mr Simon Divecha, Business Manager, Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide
Ms Anna Reynolds, Internal Advisor, Office of Senator Bob Brown, Leader of the Australian Greens
Ms Eloise Wett, General Manager, Projects and Strategic Operations, Australian Securities Exchange Limited
Ms Geraldine Chin Moody, Chief Operating Officer, Baker & McKenzie
Mr Peter Cooley, Director, Koori Communications and Training
Mr Colin Cornish, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Youth Orchestra
Mr Kevin Fong, Managing Director, Goolarri Media Enterprises Pty Ltd
Ms Helene George, Managing Director, Creative Economy Pty Ltd
Mr Adam Kaye, Managing Director, Gersh Investment Partners Limited
Rev Brent Lyons Lee
Mr Andrew Miller, Group Winery Manager, Orlando Wines
Mr Simon Moss, Managing Director – Programs, Global Poverty Project
Ms Caroline Overington, Senior Writer, Reporter and Columnist, The Australian
Mr Cameron Paterson
Mr Shane Rodgers, Editorial Manager, APN Media Group
Ms Georgia Russell, Lead Culture & Engagement Consultant, People and Culture, National Australia Bank Limited
Mr Jeremy Steele, Managing Director, Harbert Australia Private Equity
Ms Niki Vincent, Chief Executive Officer, Leaders Institute of SA Inc
Ms Denise von Wald, Chief Executive, Education Adelaide
Mr Michael Zorbas, General Manager Government Relations, Stockland Corporation Limited

Mr Asad Ansari, Solicitor, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, VIC
Mr Subho Banerjee, Deputy Director, Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, QLD
Mr Andrew Barlow, Executive Director, Max Super Pty Ltd, VIC
Mr Blake Beattie, Director, Inspire Consulting & Life Changing Experiences Foundation, NSW
Ms Amanda Briskin, Creative Director, MiMCo, VIC
Mr Christopher Brown, CEO & Managing Director, Tourism & Transport Forum Australia, NSW
Ms Simone Burford, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister, Australian Government, ACT
Mr Martin Callinan, Shadow Cabinet Advisor, Australian Labor Party, ACT
Ms Melina Chan, Founder, Venture Tribe, VIC
Mr Jason Chang, Partner, KPMG, VIC
Ms Emily Chew, Articled Clerk, Baker & McKenzie and Founding Member,
Melbourne Bahá’í Legal Group, VIC
Dr Roger Chung, Medical Researcher, NeuroRepair Group, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, TAS
Mr Li Cunxin, Manager – Asian Desk, Bell Potter Securities Ltd, VIC
The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, QLD
Mr Ross Fox, Chief of Staff to Senator The Hon Michael Ronaldson, VIC
Ms Anne Frankenberg, General Manager, Victorian Opera, VIC
Mr Marty Gauvin, Managing Director, Hostworks Group, SA
Ms Alex Gordon, Principal, Climate Policy Australia, NSW
Ms Kim Hamilton, Senior Policy Officer, Student Learning Division, Department of Education and Training Victoria, VIC
Mr Andrew Harris, Lecturer, The University of Sydney, NSW
Ms Allison Henry, National Director, Australian Republican Movement, NSW
Mr Justin Herald, Managing Director, Major Motivation, NSW
The Hon Joe Hockey MP, Minister for Human Services, Australian Government, NSW
Ms Danielle Hughes Brown, Editor/Publisher, Highlife Downs Living Magazine, QLD
Ms Kyla-Jane Hunt, Special Projects Co-ordinator, Urban Seed, VIC
Ms Hatice “Hutch” Hussein, Team Manager, Settlement & Family Relationship Support Services Northern Migrant Resource Centre, VIC
Mr John Ilhan, Chief Executive Officer, Crazy John’s, VIC
Mr Darryn Keneally, Director, In2Life, SA
Dr Greg Lavery, Clean Energy Manager, Origin Energy Retail Limited, SA
Dr Jeffrey Looi, Director, Research Centre for the Neurosciences of Ageing, ACT
Mr Phillip Lynch, Director and Principal Solicitor, Human Rights Law Resource Centre Ltd, VIC
Mr David McAllister AM, Artistic Director, The Australian Ballet, VIC
Mr Hal Morris, Executive Director, Australian Logistics Council, NSW
Ms Rachel Peck, Principal, Peckvonhartel, ACT
Mr Stephen Richards, Head of Equity Derivatives, Westpac, NSW
Mr Sean Rooney, Australian Government Business Manager, CSIRO, ACT
Mr Nick Rowley, Head of Carbon Management, ECOS Corporation, NSW
Mr Jonathan Sampson, Director and CEO, Accel, VIC
Dr Chris Sarra, Director, Indigenous Education Leadership Institute, QLD
Ms Jane Sloane, Executive Director, Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation, SA
Flight Lieutenant Tania Smith, C130 Avionics Logistics Manager, Air Lift Systems Program Office, Royal Australian Air Force, NSW
Ms Louise Staley, Director, Staley & Company, VIC
Mr Paul Steele, Chief Operating Officer/Company Secretary, World Vision Australia, VIC
Mr Marc Stigter, Program Director, Executive Education, Melbourne Business School, VIC
Ms Katherine Teh-White, Managing Director, Futureye, VIC
Mr James van Smeerdijk, Chief Executive Officer, Allen Consulting Group, VIC
Mr William Varey, Executive Director, Forsyth Consulting Group, WA
Ms Malinda Wink, Project Coordinator, Corporate Responsibility Index,
St James Ethics Centre, NSW
Ms Mary Wooldridge, Director, Foundation Boroondara, VIC
Mr Alan Wu, Chairman, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, VIC
Ms Gretchen Young, Senior Project Officer, Health Hearing Program, Queensland Health, QLD

Mr Jeremy Greaves, Anglican Parish of Katherine
Ms Clare Payne, Macquarie Bank
Ms Alicia White,Telstra
Detective Chief Inspector, Mr Jason Breton, Coffs Harbour Police
Ms Elena Douglas, Advance – Australia Professionals Abroad
Mr Brer Adams, Chief of Staff
Mr Paul Hameister, MAB Corporation
Ms Phoebe Coyne, Broome HYPE Project
Mr Simon Illingworth, Detective Sergeant/Ethical Strength
Mr Dean Smith, Insurance Australia Group
Mr Waleed Aly, Islamic Council of Victoria
Mr Hugh Evans, Oaktree Foundation
Mr Joshua Frydenberg, Deutsche Bank
Mr Francis Leach, SEN115 AM
Cr Clare O’Neil, City of Greater Dandenong
Ms Jerril Rechter, Footscray Community Arts Centre
Dr Farnaz Sabet, Royal Darwin Hospital
Mr Michael Long,Australian Football League
Mr Dave Glazebrook, Lighthouse Foundation
Mr Denis Moriarty, Our Community Pty Ltd
Mr Phong Nguyen, Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria
Dr Nouria Salehi OAM, Australian Afghan Volunteer Association
Mr Marc Purcell, Oxfam Australia
Mr Jason Yat-sen Li, Insurance Australia Group
Dr James Moody, CSIRO Land & Water
Ms Dolone Chakravarti, Freehills
Mr James Beckford-Saunders, Mental Illness Fellowship
Mr Troy Williams, IBM Australia
Mr George Catsi, RPAtv
Mr Jeremy Cox, Economic Policy Advisor
Chief Inspector, Mr Sandy Nadazdy, NSW Police
Mr Dorjee Sun, Honey Roasted TV
Mr Tim Orton,The Nous Group
Dr Erica Wood,Australian Red Cross
Mr Darren Saffin, Melbourne Junior Chamber of Commerce
Mr Tom Parker, City of Melbourne
Mr Ian de Cruz,Victorian Department of Infrastructure
Dr Joseph Doyle, University of Melbourne
Mr Paul Rogers, Clayton Utz
Dr Sandra Eades, University of Newcastle