Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 Featuring:
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 APAC Insider is proud to announce the launch of the Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026, honouring the leaders who are driving Australia’s economic momentum through strategic vision, innovation, and principled leadership. Championing Leadership in Australia’s Evolving Economy Australia’s business landscape is undergoing rapid change, shaped by technological advancement, sustainability commitments, regulatory expectations, and shifting workforce dynamics. In 2026, CEOs are leading the charge – building competitive, future-ready organisations and strengthening Australia’s role in the global marketplace. From trailblazing founders accelerating high-growth ventures to seasoned executives guiding Australia’s largest organisations through complex transformation, the Australian CEO Excellence Awards shine a spotlight on the individuals whose leadership defines excellence within one of the world’s most resilient and forwardthinking economies. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: https://apacinsider.digital/ AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. Ganbina: Most Empowering Indigenous Youth Programmes CEO 2026: Anthony Cavanagh 6. Walkinshaw TWG Racing: Motorsport Team CEO of the Year 2026: Bruce Stewart & APAC Insider HighPerformance Sports Excellence Award 2026 8. Inspired Recruitment: Education Recruitment CEO of the Year 2026: Lucas Leonard & APAC Insider Candidate Experience Excellence Award 2026 9. Pioneers Tutoring Australia: Education CEO of the Year 2026: Gabriella Gray & APAC Insider Innovation Award for Integrated Literacy & Therapy 10. 9X5 Consulting & Education360: Most Innovative Education Data Analytics CEO of the Year 2026: Matthew Willie & APAC Insider School Data Governance Excellence Award 2026 11. Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS): Best Indigenous Healthcare CEO 2026: Michael Graham & APAC Insider Community Impact Excellence Award 2026 12. Critical Infrastructure Technologies (CiTech): Communications Infrastructure CEO of the Year 2026: Brenton Scott & APAC Insider Engineering Excellence Award 2026 13. Deaf Australia: Deaf Advocacy CEO of the Year 2026: Shirley Liu & APAC Insider Accessible Communication Excellence Award 2026 14. AiMRed: Most Innovative AI-Driven Digital Marketing CEO 2026: Red Wang 15. Reventon: Best Holistic Wealth Planning CEO 2026: Chris Christofi 16. All About You Disability Support Pty Ld: Disability Support Leader of the Year 2026 (South East QLD): Allison Cosgrove 17. Gizmoto Group Pty Ltd/ Just Tint Melbourne: Best Automotive Aftermarket Provider 2026 (Victoria): Dan Ekanayake & APAC Insider Automotive Detailing Excellence Award 2026 Contents
Most Empowering Indigenous Youth Programmes CEO 2026: Anthony Cavanagh Ganbina is a First Nations run-and-led charity aiming to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to achieve true social and economic equality with non-Indigenous Australians within the next two generations. The organisation is steered by CEO Anthony Cavanagh, whose own personal journey has driven a lifelong desire to enact change. As Anthony is named in the Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026, we caught up with the CEO to learn more. Colonisation has had significant impact on Australia’s Indigenous population, with long-lasting trauma and intergenerational events. Many ramifications of colonialisation still shape lives to this day, seen in socioeconomic disparities, health issues, and the loss of language and cultural language. As a result, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are much more likely than nonIndigenous Australians to experience low education attainment, high unemployment rates, and welfare dependency. Since its inception in 1997, Ganbina has empowered 2135 children and young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to unlock their full potential and strive for a life free from these limiting barriers. The organisation works with young people throughout their primary and secondary school years to ensure that they can access the right education, career training, and life skills they need in their formative years in order to forge successful paths into adulthood. At the helm of this mission is Anthony Cavanagh, who has served as the CEO of Ganbina for 13 years. Anthony leads the Ganbina team with a passion for creating hope and opportunity, making extensive efforts to support his team in delivering on the Ganbina promise to the Indigenous community, supporters, and funders. He encourages each member of the team to keep their promises, uphold their commitments, and encourage Ganbina’s children and youth to be the best possible version of themselves. Anthony worked in community services for 25 years before joining Ganbina. He has gained invaluable experience working in a variety of settings, including supporting people with disabilities and disadvantaged children in a boys’ home. The CEO has found his life path to be ultimately driven by a desire to give back, sharing his own personal experiences with the hope that he can help children and young people envision a future for themselves that does not follow the same path he did. “From a very early age, I experienced a lot of family trauma,” he shared with us. “I had an alcoholic father, and my mother escaped with me, my brother, and sister. She, however, began associating with bikies and a drug syndicate a few years later. One day, she left home and never came back. The three of us were abandoned.” Anthony was 13 years old at the time. He and his siblings were separated, and Anthony was left to fend for himself. He slept on the streets, making his own decisions and planning an uncertain future with very little adult input or role-models around him. Through this chaos, Anthony managed to complete his education and graduate from high school. He asserts that his time at school was a key driver that kept him moving forward during this incredibly difficult period. After graduating, Anthony went to work. He was skilled with his hands, and undertook much manual labour for the first three to four years following high school. Then came his first professional services job in the late 80s, which provided him the opportunity to work in government welfare at a boys’ home. Once he built more experience, Anthony was offered more managerial and supervision roles, and he jumped at every opportunity. While some of these roles stretched his abilities at the time, each and every position taught Anthony an invaluable lesson. “What I endured as a young person has helped me to understand what disadvantage looks like,” he reflected, “and how education is the key for Indigenous people to overcome generational disadvantage, breaking the cycle for themselves and future generations. I was born into entrenched socioeconomic disadvantage and came out the other side. If you had told 13-year-old me – who was stealing fruit from market stalls and sleeping in alleyways – that one day I would become a CEO, I would have laughed at you.” Now, Anthony is passionate about the impact that education can have on a young person’s life, regardless of their life circumstances. He pours this passion into his work, so much so that it reflects throughout the entire Ganbina team. As CEO, he has made it his mission to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, ensuring that more Indigenous children and youth can enjoy a more positive perspective of their future, with a solid education behind them and a prosperous professional pathway before them. Ultimately, Anthony aspires to be the very best leader and CEO he can be. One of the key aspects of his strategy to achieving this is to surround himself with the experts. “It is impossible for one person to know everything and, with the growth and scope we’ve experienced over the years, I’ve surrounded myself with experts in various fields when I have been limited in my own capacity,” he said. “It’s important to recognise when you need help.” Initially, Anthony was limited by Ganbina’s financial capacity. He was prevented from hiring the expertise he sought until he first built the financial capital and stability Ganbina needed. In the early stages of his time with Ganbina, he learned that many of its long-term financial supporters were preparing to end their relationships with the organisation. These funders provided 40% of the organisation’s budget and without replacing that money, the team would have been forced to close its doors. Faced with this new hurdle, Anthony tasked himself with sourcing new funding and partnerships for Ganbina. Instead of having one or two large funders providing half of the annual budget, however, he made a strategic pivot and sourced more funders to support with much smaller amounts. This created a lower risk profile for Ganbina, though the admin and management of these new funders rose significantly, with Anthony spending approximately 70% of his day on reporting and letter writing when he really needed to focus on sourcing funding for programmes. “I knew I needed support, so I hired my first executive position with an executive assistant
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026| 5 role created in 2014,” Anthony recalled. “Since then, I have been able to create more financial stability for our organisation by dedicating more hours to fundraising and partnerships. In turn, I’ve been able to hire three General Managers and a National Expansion Project Manager to free up my time so I can focus on fundraising, as well as the overarching strategic vision for our organisation.” Anthony’s strategic thinking and ability to adapt has ultimately strengthened the position and financial stability of Ganbina. Whilst this year has been primarily focused on returning to the standards of service delivery offered prior to the 2022 catastrophic floods that impacted the local community of Shepparton, the organisation has seen significant success in recent years. 2024 and 2025 were particularly prosperous years, in relation to the achievements of both the organisation and its programme participants. Building on to this success, Ganbina proudly boasts more partnerships and corporate relationships, and has achieved higher visibility through its media campaigns and promotional work. The organisation shows no signs of slowing this huge growth trajectory and calls for support from national and international funders alike on this mission, with an estimated $11.06 million needed each year to achieve the ultimate Ganbina vision. Recently recognised as the Most Empowering Indigenous Youth Programmes CEO 2026, Anthony will lead his team down a path of continued growth and ambition over the next five years. Building on this momentum, Ganbina has a clear roadmap for expansion across the next five to ten years, including establishing offices in multiple states to broaden its national reach. These offices are intended to remain in place for as long as they are needed, supporting communities sustainably into the future. With these goals, Anthony intends to grow Ganbina into a national Australian programme, empowering countless children and young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to reach for the stars. With this mission in mind, Anthony concluded: “As we look forward, we remain focused on our long-term goals. We are committed to driving sustainable social change, expanding our reach, and continuing to transform communities by empowering our children and youth. I see a future where Ganbina continues to thrive, standing together, striving for our dreams, and creating strong, resilient young people.” Contact: Anthony Cavanagh Company: Ganbina Web Address: www.ganbina.com.au
Founded in 1990, Walkinshaw TWG Racing is the result of two iconic organisations being fused together. Both Walkinshaw Racing and TWG Motorsports were created to set new standards in the spectator sports industry and, by joining forces, the industry is now seeing even bigger and better developments year upon year. Here we celebrate CEO Bruce Stewart as his success in the sector continues to bloom, resulting in the tremendous growth of an already well-known organisation taking the motorsport industry by storm. Supercar racing began in Australia in 1960, when The Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) was founded. Since then, this branch of the motorsports sector has consistently evolved to meet the needs of a highly engaged audience looking for the utmost professionalism and passion for Supercar racing. With such a rich history behind it, Supercar racing has become a realm in which both spectators and professionals can truly thrive through dedication and commitment to the sport. Walkinshaw TWG Racing is a shining example of what it means to love motorsport, and its contribution to the industry speaks volumes. Two teams. Two countries. One Sport. This defines Walkinshaw TWG Racing as it unites Walkinshaw Racing and TWG Motorsports’ wealth of experience in the high-performance sport industry. Walkinshaw TWG Racing’s love for the Supercar Championship pushes it forward every day and its leadership team’s guiding hand ensures the longevity of what it brings to the track, and beyond. Every team has to stay ahead of the curve in order to succeed in such a competitive industry. CEO Bruce Stewart told us: “Motorsport is evolving rapidly through technology, data analysis, fan engagement and global manufacturer involvement. Staying competitive means investing in people, embracing innovation and learning from international highperformance environments. Curiosity and adaptability are essential.” In this respect, Walkinshaw TWG Racing consistently works on raising the bar from its leadership team down to grassroots individuals. With authentic, people-first, and inclusive leadership skills, Bruce cultivates an environment where talented people can feel entirely safe to challenge ideas, admit mistakes, and, of course, perform at their very best. When Bruce was part of Walkinshaw Andretti United, he was elevated to a Co Team Principal role before the global pandemic hit. During such a turbulent time, the organisation scaled back and he was then appointed as CEO of Walkinshaw TWG Racing. Since his title and responsibility shift in 2021, Bruce has been a beacon of light for the team, ensuring that each new project starts with clarity and is carried out with every individual of the team in mind. In order to meet the goals set, Bruce conducts himself with the company’s core values at heart. He makes it his daily mission to respect all, listen to all, and inform all so that everyone is on the same page. Bruce believes that people are the greatest asset and bestows his trust upon their expertise, for this belief supports team success, new opportunities, unwavering strength, and constant improvement. He said: “We will constantly review where we are strong and where we are not, to drive improvement. In planning, debriefs, practice, reviews. It’s never personal; we’re a team.” Speaking of teamwork, Walkinshaw TWG Racing’s Foundation Academy was created with team spirit and support at its core. The organisation identified a major flaw in the pipeline for motorsport talent in Australia, and it’s doing all it can to rectify this. Even through complications in and a lack of talent in this arena, Walkinshaw TWG Racing is futureproofing the sport with a devotion to developing people. The Walkinshaw Foundation Academy pushes people to the top of their game, from drivers to engineers, mechanics, and commercial staff, making sure to empower each and every individual as they step into such a competitive environment. The Walkinshaw Foundation Academy is shaping the next generation within the Supercar Championship, and Bruce is proud to be part of this mission. He told us: “We believe long-term success comes from culture, trust and creating an environment where people enjoy contributing to something bigger than themselves.” It is this dedication to improvement and camaraderie that is taking the industry to new heights, in addition to the strategic and technological advancements the company stands by, and at APAC Insider we’re proud to be a part of the team’s success story. Awarding Bruce with his accolades in this year’s Australian CEO Excellence Awards, we are sure to see this high-performance team culture grow well into the future to come. As a motorsport CEO in Australia, Bruce expands the realms of what is possible for motorsport leadership and, ultimately, what is possible for each valuable individual who makes the team flow seamlessly. The resilience of this team demonstrates how people can come together from any background and any experience to create something truly magical, and this legacy organisation will continue to be recognised for both results and leadership for the generations ahead. Congratulations again, Bruce. Walkinshaw TWG Racing’s success is testament to the hard work poured into the industry by its team members, of all positions, especially this award-worthy CEO altering the way businesses operate in the motorsport industry. Long may Walkinshaw TWG Racing’s success continue as its team dedicate themselves to the growth of what they know and love. Contact Details Contact: Bruce Stewart Company: Walkinshaw TWG Racing Website: www.walkinshawtwgracing.com.au LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brucestewart2016/ Motorsport Team CEO of the Year 2026: Bruce Stewart & APAC Insider High-Performance Sports Excellence Award 2026
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Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 8 Helping international primary and secondary schools to secure the best educators, Inspired Recruitment stands a new school of thought in the education sector’s recruitment market. Lucas Leonard is the co-founder and CEO of the organisation, a role that sees him engage directly with teachers and school leaders to preserve his connection to the human side of recruitment. Following his recognition in our Australian CEO Excellence Awards, we sat down with Lucas for more. The man behind the leading education recruitment agency in Australia, education CEO Lucas Leonard’s typical day looks a lot less corporate than what most people would imagine from someone in his position. This, he believes, is fundamental to why Inspired Recruitment has grown in the way that it has. Lucas established the company in 2022, after spending a number of years in various executive-level positions in the education space. The aim with Inspired Recruitment was to do things better, and this is something that starts within. One of Lucas’ primary aims is to create a workplace where people are genuinely happy. He explained: “I care a lot about culture because I genuinely believe happy people perform better. If someone hates waking up every morning to go to work, something is wrong.” By being open with his team and encouraging people to be themselves, Lucas is helping to foster a healthy, human working environment, which, in turn, is reflected outwards. Recruitment is often very transactional but Lucas has always wanted Inspired Recruitment to feel more human. It even created internal processes such as digital interviews as a result, allowing candidates to have a voice and an opportunity to show who they are beyond a CV. Lucas added: “A lot of teachers and educators feel overlooked during recruitment processes, especially overseas candidates who are trying to completely change their lives.” Inspired Recruitment exists to change that. Specialising in placing education professionals in permanent teaching jobs across primary, secondary, and higher education, Lucas and the team cover all Australian states and help create careerdefining opportunities for candidates, all whilst supporting school communities. This work is vital, as Lucas truly believes that teachers shape the future of society. He recognises that if he can help put educators in environments where they can thrive, then the impact goes beyond just recruitment. Despite a fondness for education, Lucas never really intended on working in this sector, or even becoming a CEO. His career began as a salesperson in a French hypermarket, a period he describes as being repetitive and uninspiring. His outlook changed forever one Father’s Day, when his father suffered a stroke in front of him and was unable to be saved. This shifted Lucas’ perspective on life, and his mum pushed him to go to university and study abroad. This decision set his course. Ending up at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Lucas completed a Bachelor of Business, followed by a marketing master’s at the local Swinburne University of Technology. He then took on several roles that taught him what he did and did not want out of a career, before he finally secured his role in education recruitment in 2018. Lucas briefly moved to recruitment in a different sector, but returned, this time for good, when COVID-19 hit Australia and education recruitment remained one of the few industries still open for trade. As for how he became a CEO, Lucas was constantly receiving calls from recruiters offering him new jobs. He told one of them, half joking, that he would only consider opening his own business. He was surprised then when he was introduced to Gareth from the Four Pillars Group, who specialises in investing in recruitment businesses. After numerous stages of discussions, plans, talking through his results, and more, Gareth and his business partner Darren decided to invest in Lucas’ vision. The rest, as they say, is history. With Inspired Recruitment today boasting a team of around ten the across NSW and WA, growing every year, and being led by a human-focused, relationship-driven CEO, this call was certainly the right one. Lucas’ career may have been diverse and challenging at times, but he has always been guided by his openness and authenticity, and we hope this shines through. On the back of this, we are delighted to recognise Lucas Leonard’s efforts in the field of teacher recruitment in Australia by celebrating him with two awards. “Success is important, but I think happiness, purpose, and the people you build the journey with matter even more.” Contact: Lucas Leonard Company: Inspired Recruitment Web Address: www.inspiredrec.com Education Recruitment CEO of the Year 2026: Lucas Leonard & APAC Insider Candidate Experience Excellence Award 2026 Inspired Recruitment
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 9 Pioneers Tutoring is leading Australia’s online tutoring landscape, supporting children from Kinder through to Year 12. The registered NDIS provider has made a name for blending personalised support, structured intervention, and evidence-based practices to empower children to become confident and capable learners. At the helm of this mission is Founder and CEO Gabriella Gray, an experienced educator who has earned recognition in the Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026. We spoke with Gabriella below to learn more. Gabriella Gray established Pioneers Tutoring in June 2014, and has since dedicated over a decade to building, refining, and improving the business. This was a time long before online education became mainstream, before allied health became the norm, and before the conversation around structured literacy evolved. Leading the charge in this new area of education, Gabriella structured the business as three integrated arms: tutors, learning support specialists, and allied health professionals. Under Gabriella’s guidance, Pioneers Tutoring has evolved from a face-to-face tutoring service into a leading provider of online literacy intervention, special education support, and telehealth allied health services. Supporting students across Australia and New Zealand, the business specialises in evidence-based literacy intervention, helping students with diverse learning needs and specific learning disabilities develop strong reading, writing, comprehension, and executive functioning skills. This is a mission close to Gabriella’s heart, as her own educational journey was far from conventional. The CEO pulled herself out of mainstream school at 13 years old. By 16, she had completed a Year 10 standard homeschool curriculum, a Certificate III and a Diploma of Children’s Services, and entered university early. There, Gabriella completed four units that earned her full entry into her teaching degree. From 16 to 18, Gabriella worked as an Educational Group Leader, responsible for 15 toddlers and two adult staff. By 18, she had become the Director of a 140-place childcare centre, responsible for 40 employees and 140 children at a time. This role saw Gabriella leading a workforce and maintaining a duty of care at a scale that most adults don’t take on until their thirties. “And I was doing it as a teenager who, not many years earlier, could not read or spell properly,” she added. After moving into teaching, Gabriella discovered a special interest in educational support. Pioneers Teaching was born soon after, in 2014. Since its inception, the CEO has made extensive efforts to remain at the forefront of best practices, even self-funding her way through intensive training in THRASS, Sound Waves, and other evidence-based structured literacy programmes to ensure that she has personally mastered all learning methodologies her tutors use. As Pioneers Teaching grew, Gabriella saw opportunity for further development. She expanded the business into integrated allied health, introducing Learning Support Specialists, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists to the team. Through this intentional structure, students are never bounced between providers or told their needs cannot be met by the team at Pioneers Teaching, ensuring that no child ever has to fight as hard for their education as Gabriella did. “Pioneers exists because the child is not the problem,” she told us. “Not having access to the right support model is. That belief is the foundation of every decision I make, every policy I write, every person I hire, and every child we support. I was the kid labelled slow, the kid who wrote ‘breckfest’ on the board in Grade 3 and learned shame before I learned spelling. Every child who comes to Pioneers Teaching gets the opposite of what I got.” “I’m not a CEO who learned about struggling learners from a textbook; I was the struggling learner. And every system at Pioneers Tutoring exists so the next kid doesn’t have to fight as hard as I did.” Gabriella’s focus for the year ahead is depth before breadth. Pioneers Tutoring has grown into a genuinely integrated service across tutoring, learning support, and allied health. Now, the priority is to tighten that integration, with better continuity between disciplines for its students, faster intake, clearer communication with families, and stronger internal data on the outcomes being produced. Looking further to the future, Gabriella shared: “I see myself doing exactly what I’m doing now, only at greater scale and with more refined systems underneath it. The work itself doesn’t change. The child still isn’t the problem. My job is still to build the model that proves it – and to keep building it until the next struggling reader, the next anxious speller, and the next child told they are ‘behind’ has somewhere to go that actually understands them.” Contact: Gabriella Gray Company: Pioneers Tutoring Australia Web Address www.pioneerstutoring.com.au Education CEO of the Year 2026: Gabriella Gray & APAC Insider Innovation Award for Integrated Literacy & Therapy Pioneers Tutoring Australia
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 10 Entrepreneur Matthew Willie is the founder and CEO of both 9X5 Consulting and Education360. Helping transform organisations through the power of technology, Matthew recognises how important it is for businesses in this day and age to secure a proficient IT partner and this is exactly what he strives to deliver through his companies. Recognised with two awards for his work in the education sector, we had the pleasure of speaking with Matthew for more on his roles and responsibilities. Most Innovative Education Data Analytics CEO of the Year 2026: Matthew Willie & APAC Insider School Data Governance Excellence Award 2026 Based in Melbourne, 9X5 Consulting creates purposedriven, tech-based solutions designed simply to transform lives. It blends technology, process, and people with an open, diverse and trust-based approach, unlocking digital futures where individuals have the tools they need to thrive. A 100% Australian-owned company, 9X5 Consulting turns ambition into enterprise-scale impact and offers services relating to software, hardware, IT support, project management, digital architecture, strategy/advisory and more. This same commitment to purposeful, people-centred technology extends to Education360, a 100% Australian-owned education technology platform powered by 9X5 Consulting. Built specifically for Australian schools, Education360 exists to foster data-driven decision making empowering educators to spend less time on administrative work and more time building bright futures for their students. By bridging the gaps between internal and existing systems and eliminating the inefficiencies of fragmented data management, the platform redefines what it truly means to manage school data, going well beyond the generic solutions that currently exist in the market. One of the many things tying these interlinked companies together is Matthew Willie, who is the founder and CEO of both. Matthew has long been interested in technology, dating back to his days in high school with the Commodore 64. After completing a Bachelor’s in Business Computing, Matthew secured his first role with Hewlett-Packard, initially working on the helpdesk but quickly moving into programming. This marked the first of many tech-based jobs in numerous companies, from management and partner roles to heading up sales and strategy. After more than 25 years working for others, Matthew decided to go into business for himself, bringing together the best of what he learned over the course of his career, plugging the gaps in the way consulting services are delivered and creating technology solutions aligned with the needs of real businesses. He explained: “I believed there was an opportunity to build a company that combined strong technical capability with a practical, client outcome-focused approach.” This meant creating an organisation offering advice and solutions. The result was 9X5 Consulting, which Matthew leads with a combination of strategic oversight and hands-on involvement. He added: “While I always maintain a close view of the company’s financial performance and overall direction, I also remain actively involved in working with our development teams on new initiatives, particularly around our platform Education360. This includes shaping product direction, discussing new features and ensuring that what we are building continues to align with the real-world needs of our clients.” Perhaps Matthew’s primary responsibility as CEO is to ensure that neither 9X5 Consulting or Education360 get left behind and this is why staying actively involved in the evolution of technology is something he dedicates a lot of time to. Within Education360, this is particularly important, as schools are facing increasing expectations around their data and compliance. To this end, the platform has recently invested in its NCCD360 pillar, which has quickly become the leading NCCD compliance software for schools in Australia. As this area of the education data analytics platform continues to grow, the longterm vision for Education360 is to cement itself as one the most encompassing data platforms available, in Australia and globally. The key to doing so remains following the practical philosophy that technology should solve real problems and deliver measurable outcomes and Matthew is keeping this in mind as he continues to guide 9X5 Consulting, Education360 and their clients to a more positive, innovative and impactful future. Finally, in accepting these awards, Matthew took the time to thank those around him and the contributions they have made to both 9X5 Consulting and Education360: “While this recognition is individual, it reflects the collective effort of a highly capable and dedicated team. The success of the business and the ongoing growth of Education360 are the result of a team committed to delivering high-quality outcomes and continuously improving what we do.” Recognising his team only solidifies Matthew Willie as a truly excellent CEO. For more on how Matthew can turn challenges into opportunities and digital aspirations into realities, check out his LinkedIn page, or visit his companies at the respective links. Contact: Matthew Willie Company: 9X5 Consulting & Education360 Web Address: https://www.9x5.com.au/ & https://www.education360.com.au/ 9X5 Consulting & Education360
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 11 Caring for the community since 1973, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) looks to respect the past, honour, the present, and help build the future of Aboriginal people across Australia. Michael Graham has been the CEO of VAHS for almost a decade, a position he came to after spending many years working in development and engagement roles, including within government and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. For more on the tremendous impact he has had on this space across his career, we spoke with Michael. Founded more than 50 years ago to address the specific medical needs of indigenous communities in Victoria, the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service has steadily expanded over the past five decades and today offers a range of medical, dental, and social services for the Aboriginal community. Close to VAHS’ heart is the belief that Aboriginal organisations should be led by Aboriginal people, and everything the company does is about creating opportunities for its people and ensuring access to safe, high-quality services. “I am particularly passionate about ensuring Aboriginal organisations are recognised not just as service providers, but as leaders in system reform and innovation.” CEO Michael Graham’s career has always centred on community, advocacy, and improving outcomes for Aboriginal people, and in his role as VAHS’ CEO, Michael has been able to reach new heights regarding this mission. No two days are ever the same for Michael, who may be working with government departments on health reforms the one day, before sitting with staff, elders, or members of the community to discuss challenges and solutions the next. This is why balancing strategy with people is key. “I oversee organisational growth, governance, funding, partnerships and service delivery, but also make sure to remain connected to the community because that is where the real accountability sits”, Michael told us. “I lead from lived experience, not just theory. I understand the realities our communities face because I have lived them, worked within them, and remained connected to them throughout my life.” In this way, Michael’s leadership is visible, approachable, and rooted in collaboration. Serving on its board before becoming the CEO of VAHS, Michael’s understanding of what the company aims to achieve runs deep, as does his knowledge of the areas of governance, accountability, and organisational leadership, which have all been supported by this previous appointment and his prior experiences across the likes of education, governance, and community roles. Michael added: “Those lessons shape how I lead today. I understand that sustainable change requires both strong systems and strong relationships.” Enacting this sustainable change across the areas of Aboriginal healthcare, dentistry, social services, and more, Michael’s approach is all about solving problems and reaping direct benefits for the community, and this is why communication is so critical. To this end, relationships are invested in before transactions, with trust as the foundation, regardless of whether the work is with government, community, or partner organisations. Sustainable growth is just as vital, with VAHS’ growth being driven by a willingness to innovate, but always within its core purpose. With the Aboriginal health and community services sector evolving rapidly, driven by the increasing recognition that culturally safe, community-controlled models offer stronger outcomes for Aboriginal people, Michael is focusing on ensuring that VAHS remains proactive in its approach to shaping the future of Aboriginal health leadership and community-led healthcare in Australia. Right now, this involves expansion, including growing preventative health initiatives and improving long-term outcomes. Commenting on this, Michael explained: “I would like people to understand that leadership in Aboriginal communitycontrolled organisations is about more than business outcomes. It is about responsibility to community, culture, and future generations.” He continued: “The work we do is not simply about delivering services, it is about creating environments where people feel safe, empowered, and connected.” VAHS remains dedicated to nurturing this kind of future moving forwards, and placing Aboriginal lives in Aboriginal hands. “Over the next five years, I want to see stronger Aboriginal-led systems across health, justice, and community services, with greater investment into community-controlled solutions.” Despite this being an individual award, Michael wanted a special mention to go out to the incredible staff, leaders, and communities that the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service continues to serve, and we are honoured to do so as we recognise CEO Michael Graham with two awards. Contact: Michael Graham Company: Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS) Web Address: https://www.vahs.org.au/ Best Indigenous Healthcare CEO 2026: Michael Graham & APAC Insider Community Impact Excellence Award 2026 Victorian Aboriginal Health Services (VAHS)
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 12 Critical Infrastructure Technologies (CiTech) delivers solutions in the form of high-capacity, rapidly deployable communications technology providing essential services to the areas where they are needed most. This includes the resources, emergency services, and defence sectors, all of which the company serves with the latest products. For more on both these solutions and Brenton Scott, CiTech’s award-winning CEO, we take a closer look at the company below. As industries, governments, the military, and society as a whole all become more dependent on communications and power systems to offer critical services and protect lives, companies specialising in supporting infrastructure like rapidly deployable radio towers have become critical enablers for all. Despite this necessity, the mobile/rapidly deployable sector has fallen behind compared to the major advancements in fixed infrastructure, and this has effectively constrained the capability of the systems and their people. Doing its bit to close this gap, CiTech in Western Australia is designing and manufacturing a range of high-capacity mobile antenna tower platforms that can support a variety of technology payloads and allow organisations to fully harness the power of these modern technologies. A fitting example of this is the aforementioned Nexus 16, an innovative and versatile radio communications tower that can be rapidly deployed to remote locations for the critical sectors that the company serves. Fitting within the confines of an average 20-foot shipping container, the Nexus 16 is home to a walk-in equipment room, battery reserves, solar arrays, and generators, creating a fully selfcontained communications solution. The Nexus 16 is also able to be transported via any truck that can accommodate a 20-foot container, meaning it offers exceptional adaptability. It then loads and unloads itself at the push of a button, adapting to uneven or sloping terrain and offering a feather-light touch due to its low ground impact. The robust, cyclone-rated 16m radio tower at the heart of this solution can be deployed in 30 minutes, contributing to the unparalleled efficiency and utility this solution stands for. All of these features make the Nexus 16 incredibly useful in settings such as mine operations, where it can be utilised to provide communication networks in remote locations; for emergency services, where quickly establishing reliable communication is critical; and defence, where it can be quickly deployed in response to an emerging threat. Far from the only pioneering product CiTech has introduced to the market, the full range of solutions the company offers includes the Nexus 20 – which builds on everything that makes the Nexus 16 great but adds more height, faster deployment, and enhanced power systems – and the CiNet support network, which was built to support the Nexus range and offer seamless integration across network management systems. All of these solutions can be accredited to the experienced team behind CiTech, with these experts in management and production playing a pivotal role in continuing to develop and revolutionise mobile radio tower technology. The man at the helm is Brenton Scott, the co-founder of CiTech and its CEO. Brenton provides his extensive experience in equity markets, capital raising, and public company accounting and auditing. His career encompasses more than 30 years in the accounting, childcare, financial services, technology, and marine industries, making him wildly experienced in many facets of Australia’s corporate landscape. Brenton also graduated Curtin University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. All of this knowledge makes Brenton the perfect person to spearhead a team of digital revolutionaries. Many of the specialist engineers comprising the CiTech team have worked together for almost a decade, developing robust communications for products relating to mining, defence, emergency services, telecommunications, and more. The diverse nature of the team also sees all major engineering disciplines covered, including mechanical, electrical, embedded firmware, telemetry, communications, climate control, manufacturing, network management systems, and cybersecurity, thus highlighting their versatility. Ultimately, from its location in South Fremantle, where it is sandwiched between the head offices of the world’s largest resources companies and Perth’s heavy industry hub, CiTech’s operation is supported by a 3,000 m2 factory with R&D labs and testing and production facilities, and even more so by a team of unequalled specialists led by Brenton Scott. As a result of the synergy that exists between its people and its solutions, Critical Infrastructure Technologies has established itself as a true industry leader. Brenton Scott has played a major part in this success over the last five years, and we are delighted to reflect that with two awards in this programme. Contact: Brenton Scott Company: Critical Infrastructure Technologies (CiTech) Web Address: https://citech.com.au/ Communications Infrastructure CEO of the Year 2026: Brenton Scott & APAC Insider Engineering Excellence Award 2026 Critical Infrastructure Technologies (CiTech)
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 13 Founded in 1986, Deaf Australia is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, a major milestone for a small non-profit organisation working on a national level. Representing Deaf and hard of hearingindividuals, as well as those fluent in and knowledgeable about Auslan, the organisation works with communities and decision makers to ensure Australia is compliant with the UN’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Award-winning CEO Shirley Liu told us more about what this entails following her recognition in our Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026. Driving change for Deaf and hard of hearing communities across Australia, Deaf Australia’s advocacy work, which is informed by community voices, sees it attempt to influence the decisions, systems, and services impacting Deaf (a term capitalised to show its cultural identity) and hard of hearing people across the country. As the peak national representative and advocacy organisation for the Deaf Community, Deaf Australia’s vision is a world where Deaf and hard of hearing people are fully engaged citizens, and where Auslan and other sign language are formally recognised and respected as a language of choice. Shirley Liu has been helping to spearhead these initiatives since she joined Deaf Australia in 2021, first as a community and development officer and then as a community and youth advocate. Around two and a half years into her journey with the organisation, Shirley was offered the role as interim CEO, becoming its official CEO in August last year. Bringing more than 15 years of experience in youth and community advocacy to the role, Shirley offers every project her unique blend of leadership, creativity, and impact. Every day is different for this CEO, who enjoys the sense of variety this role brings. All of her staff work from home due to Deaf Australia not having a physical office, and so Shirley harnesses the power of our technologydriven world to deploy her leadership skills across the organisation. By the end of each day, Shirley is reminded why she and her team do the work that they do – to solve the needs and realise the goals of the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Recognising that strong leadership comes from a combination of listening to lived experiences, valuing diverse perspectives, and creating inclusive environments where people feel heard, supported, and empowered, Shirley’s personal values are respect, accessibility, teamwork, transparency, resilience, honesty, and communication. These align with Deaf Australia’s strategic planning and help build trust with those it serves. This alignment is just one of the reasons why Shirley is right at home in her position as CEO. “I understood the importance of Deaf Australia even before joining the organisation,” Shirley told us, “as I was part of the Deaf community myself and knew how important it is for Deaf Australia to remain connected to and representative of the community.” Besides this synergy between herself and the organisation, Shirley also credits its former CEO Jen Blyth with believing in her and trusting both her work and her abilities as a leader. She gave Shirley the opportunity to step into higher-level responsibilities in the months before leaving. The core focus of Shirley’s role is strengthening the two-way relationship between Deaf Australia and the wider community, with both parties needing to engage with one another if deeper trust, communication, and impact are to be achieved. More, however, is needed if Deaf Australia is to achieve its goals, and that is why the organisation is currently looking to increase its profile through community incentives, digital engagement, and accessible online content. The latter two in particular are vital for change. For Deaf people, the issue is not solely about impairment or functional limitation, but about how society creates barriers, especially through limited recognition of and access to language. Sign languages are central to Deaf culture and identity, yet their importance is often overlooked or treated only as an accessibility support rather than a fundamental human right. Highlighting the critical role of language access would help reframe the discussion from focusing on disability barriers alone to recognising the cultural and linguistic dimensions of the Deaf Community. This shift would better reflect the lived experience of Deaf people and support more inclusive, equitable policy outcomes. As Shirley explained: “We understand that minority disability communities are often overlooked in mainstream society because accessibility is not always considered when designing platforms, systems, or content. This is why ongoing advocacy, accessibility, and co-design are so important.” Shirley’s collaborative and empowering approach to leadership helps to nurture this, and is something she is continuing to hone as she works in a space where people’s voices have long been underrepresented or misunderstood. Importantly, there is also a need to shift from a medical model of disability to a social model, particularly in relation to the Deaf community. For Deaf people, challenges are not only about impairment but about societal barriers, especially those related to language access. Without Deaf Australia, the Deaf and hard of hearing community may face greater difficulty having its issues heard and represented, and this alone makes Shirley Liu fitting of recognition. Contact: Shirley Liu Company: Deaf Australia Web Address: ww.deafaustralia.org.au Deaf Advocacy CEO of the Year 2026: Shirley Liu & APAC Insider Accessible Communication Excellence Award 2026 Deaf Australia
Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2026 | 14 Your pathway to digital excellence, AiMRed is Melbourne’s leading AI-driven digital marketing firm and an agency operating at the cutting edge. It combines traditional strategies with advanced AI to drive growth and engagement for brands, ensuring they stand out in the digital world. Red Wang – CEO of AiMRed – has more than a decade of marketing experience under his belt, and created AiMRed as a way of leveraging AI in this space. Red sat down with us for more insight into his work. Achieving success in the digital sphere is difficult, as fierce competition makes getting heard tough. However, the hybrid approach of traditional and AI marketing solutions AiMRed applies puts a brand’s biggest ideas within reach, helping them achieve unparalleled growth. Since opening its doors, the studio has already completed more than 150+ projects, generated over 112M+ content views, delivered 7K+ client lead growth, and helped clients achieve more than $25M+ in revenue growth. Thus, through this work, it is already shaping the future of marketing. Services offered by AiMRed cover everything from SEO and Google Ads to CRM, email marketing, website development, AI-data analytics, and more. It can also deliver its expertise across targeted campaigns for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. All of these services are delivered by a small team who blend creativity, strategy, and data to create tailored, resultsbacked solutions that exceed their clients’ marketing goals. Red Wang is the man at the helm here, establishing this performance marketing agency in Australia in 2024. Prior to setting up AiMRed, Red has spent more than a decade working as an in-house marketing leader across different industries and brands in Australia. Red’s involvement in all of these companies revolved around managing their marketing and social media, giving him more than ten years of hands-on experience in Australia’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. All of these positions have proven vital in Red growing AiMRed into a studio capable of getting results in a saturated market. As for his role as CEO of AiMRed, Red is not only firmly rooted in data-driven marketing strategy for clients, but also in the day-to-day workings of his own business. He explained: “A typical day for me is a mix of strategy, data review, and decision making. I spend a lot of time looking at campaign performance, identifying where growth is coming from, and where we can improve. What sets me apart is that I don’t separate strategy from execution.” He continued: “I’m still involved in the numbers, testing, and optimisation.” Red’s approach is certainly unique in the world of marketing, as he takes what is arguably a subjective field and grounds everything in data and measurable outcomes. By valuing clarity, accountability, and results, AiMRed can succeed in its aim of supporting its clients at every turn. Maintaining this is the real challenge, and this is why the young, forward-thinking team behind the form build systems that make performance transparent. Everyone at AiMRed knows what success looks like and how their work can contribute towards it. “I’ve always been more interested in what works, rather than what looks good.” Taking things a step further, Red commented: “When we take on a new client, the first thing we look at is how they generate revenue, not just how they market themselves. From there, we design a system that connects traffic, content, and conversion. Internally, I push the team to think in systems rather than tasks. It helps us scale results instead of just completing work.” As mentioned above, underpinning this data-driven approach to performance marketing is AI, which helps enhance the work Red and the team complete. The industry as a whole is quickly moving towards AI, automation, and data-driven decision making, but there remains a lot of unfocused noise, AiMRed’s difference is that it focuses on practical application, testing what works and integrating it into its systems. This, combined with a leader whose style is direct but prioritises autonomy, has laid the foundation for a studio that is continuing to grow by focusing only on what can be measured and proven. And, more excitingly, all of this is just the beginning for AiMRed. Whilst the next year is about strengthening its systems and expanding its client base with the right type of businesses, the long-term focus for AiMRed is to build something scalable and sustainable and help companies to grow through systems that are measurable, scalable, and efficient. It is this which continues to guide this digital marketing CEO and shape his data-driven marketing strategy, on the back of which he has been named the Most Innovative AI-Driven Digital Marketing CEO 2026 here in this programme. Contact: Red Wang Company: AiMRed Web Address: https://aimred.co/ Most Innovative AI-Driven Digital Marketing CEO 2026: Red Wang
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