Women in Technology unveils Queensland awards winners
Fri, 2nd Oct 2026 (Today)
Women in Technology has announced the winners of its 2026 Women in Technology Awards, the 29th annual edition of the Queensland programme.
Winners were named across 11 categories spanning research, leadership, entrepreneurship, public sector work and community impact. The awards recognised women, allies, organisations and teams working across Queensland's science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors.
Among the individual winners, Dr Sarah Flaim received the Consumer Strength Champion award, while Dr Katie O'Connor won Emerging Science Star and Dr Jessica Korte took out Emerging Tech Star. Michelle MacRae received Excellence in Industry Leadership, Dr Nikky LaBranche won Excellence in Research, and Lisa Sarago was named Future Focused Business Achiever.
Other winners included Becki Cook for First Nations Change Maker, Associate Professor Melissa Fanshawe for Lifting Communities, and Kaye North for Raising the Regions. Virgin Australia won Employer of Change, while the Female Founders team within the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation won Public Sector Excellence.
Several entrants were also highly commended, including Dr Sarah Hartman in Emerging Science Star, Djookian co-founders Kirby Bentley and Leah Kaslar in First Nations Change Maker, CSIRO Robot Responders in both Lifting Communities and Public Sector Excellence, and Dr Lou Puslednik in Raising the Regions.
The awards drew nearly 200 nominations across the 11 categories, reflecting a wide range of work including biomedical research, environmental science, health technology and digital innovation.
The ceremony at Brisbane City Hall brought together representatives from industry, government, research and education. The awards are intended to raise the profile of women working across STEM and to recognise organisations supporting inclusive workplaces and broader participation.
Sector reach
The awards have run for 29 years and form part of Women in Technology's broader effort to build networks and visibility across the sector. The association says it has 12,500 members and affiliates, alongside a wider support network of more than 73,000 people across Australia.
That reach makes the programme one of the more established recognition schemes for women in Queensland's technology and science sectors. This year's winners came from industry, research institutions, government and community-focused initiatives, highlighting STEM activity beyond large corporate employers.
Category partners included Powerlink Queensland for the Lifting Communities Award, the University of Queensland for the Excellence in Research Award, Queensland University of Technology for the First Nations Change Maker Award, and Auto & General for the Emerging Tech Star Award.
Iyari Cevallos, Chair of Women in Technology, pointed to the awards theme in remarks issued alongside the results.
"This year's theme, 'Inspiring Excellence,' is about celebrating the ambition, talent and determination that drive women in STEM to achieve extraordinary things.
"Our 2026 winners are leading with courage, challenging the status quo, driving innovation and creating impact across Queensland and beyond.
"They are raising the bar in their fields while inspiring the next generation to see what is possible. Their achievements demonstrate the strength of Queensland's STEM community and the vital contribution women make to its future."