Our 2026 Excellence Award Winners

The 2026 TasICT Technology Excellence Award Winners have been announced at a gala industry event.

The full list of award winners shows the breadth and maturity of Tasmania’s digital economy — from workforce development and cyber resilience to social innovation, AI capability, major project delivery and long-term industry leadership.

TasICT President David Mills thanked all nominees, finalists and winners for their contribution to the Tasmanian tech sector, noting Tasmania’s tech sector is now a driving force for Tasmania’s digital economy.

2026 TasICT Technology Excellence Awards – Winners

• Technology Industry Rising Star – Abir Hossain Khondoker
  A high-achieving ICT student and emerging professional who has delivered real business value through web development, workflow automation and digital marketing. With active industry leadership and internships at CSIRO and Rapid Circle, he is a standout contributor to Tasmania’s ICT community.
• Top Tasmanian Technology Innovator or Start-up 2026 – Pivot Maritime International Pty Ltd – Marine Rescue Boat Simulator – The Marine Rescue Boat Simulator prepares volunteers to operate rescue vessels in perilous conditions: heavy seas, restricted visibility, dangerous bar crossings. Purpose-built with planing hull hydrodynamics—a world first—it enables high-risk scenario training that’s too dangerous to practice on water, building the muscle memory that saves lives when the call comes.
• Development of Technology Employment Opportunities – Hydro Tasmania – Graduate IT Program – Hydro Tasmania’s graduate ICT program delivers flexible rotations, strong mentoring and clear pathways to permanent employment, building critical skills and retention. Through industry engagement, inclusive practices and proven outcomes, the program develops diverse talent and strengthens Tasmania’s ICT workforce, earning national recognition as a leading early careers initiative.
• Social Innovation Technology Award – Bank of us & Secret Lab – Big Plans
  A free, fully offline story-based game for children aged 5 to 8 that teaches financial literacy in a safe, engaging environment. With no ads, tracking or data collection, it represents financial education delivered as a genuine public good, built entirely in Tasmania.
• Best Cyber Security Initiative – Phriendly Phishing
  A human-centred “train not trick” approach to cyber security that focuses on behavioural change and building cyber resilience cultures. The platform combines awareness training, phishing simulation and employee engagement to educate and protect organisations from cyber risks.
• Best Delivery of a Technology Project – CareSuper – Stratos Program
  CareSuper rebuilt its entire technology foundation—cloud, integration, identity and data—in 18 months without member disruption. Delivered on time and on budget, with uptime improved from 88 to 99.99 per cent and female technology leadership increased from 0 to 36 per cent. The program supports a national member base, including one in three working Tasmanians.
• Best Technology Initiative or Industry Collaboration – University of Tasmania, TasNetworks & Amazon Web Services
  Led by Kristy de Salas (UTAS), Angela Macmanamey and Sophie Williams (TasNetworks), and Alexa Donovan (AWS), this initiative is building Tasmania’s end-to-end AI capability pipeline—upskilling staff, running industry-focused student hackathons and creating paid internship pathways for emerging talent.
• President’s Award – Neil McGregor, YouMimic
  Founder of YouMimic, a Tasmanian AI avatar company reimagining how organisations communicate. By combining storytelling, technology and entrepreneurship, Neil is building a globally relevant, applied AI business from Tasmania.
• Hall of Fame Inductee – Ian Warner – Executive Chairman – ISW, FAICD, FIEE, Fellow ACS – inducted into the TasICT Hall of Fame in recognition of his sustained and significant contribution to Tasmania’s ICT sector. As founder of ISW, former IBM State Manager, TasICT Past President and long-serving Treasurer, Ian has helped build local technology capability, support graduate pathways, create enduring Tasmanian careers and demonstrate the global potential of Tasmanian software and innovation.  

Details of all finalists are available in the programe – and check out the Photo Gallery of the evening here

Winners Photo Gallery