Ruth Wraith OAM announced the winners of the 2026 AWE Recognition Awards at the Awards Ceremony on 15 September 2026.
Nominees for this year’s Awards play a wide range of roles and come from a range of different organisations across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Collectively these women paint a picture of emergency management and disaster resilience across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific – one where everybody has an important role to play, from leaders and front-line responders to technical experts, researchers, trainers and volunteers.
Congratulations to all our 2026 AWE Recognition Award winners!
Leadership
For a woman whose vision, influence and example has shaped the future of emergency management and disaster resilience.
Professor Michelle Villeneuve
Michelle is an outstanding scholar and advocate whose work has transformed disability-inclusive emergency management in Australia and internationally. As Deputy Director of the University of Sydney’s Centre for Disability Research and Policy and an ARC Fellow, she led major research, policy, and practice initiatives, including Collaborating4Inclusion, P-CEP, and the nationally recognised DIEM Toolkit. Michelle’s ability to unite disability, health, community, and emergency services has strengthened preparedness, response, and recovery for people with disabilities. Her leadership, impact, and commitment to inclusive disaster risk reduction make her a highly deserving recipient of recognition.
Michelle is an outstanding scholar and advocate whose work has transformed disability-inclusive emergency management in Australia and internationally. As Deputy Director of the University of Sydney’s Centre for Disability Research and Policy and an ARC Fellow, she led major research, policy, and practice initiatives, including Collaborating4Inclusion, P-CEP, and the nationally recognised DIEM Toolkit. Michelle’s ability to unite disability, health, community, and emergency services has strengthened preparedness, response, and recovery for people with disabilities. Her leadership, impact, and commitment to inclusive disaster risk reduction make her a highly deserving recipient of recognition.
Jacinta is a visionary leader strengthening the resilience of emergency services through technology, organisational capability and people. Her influence extends across Triple Zero Victoria and the wider emergency services sector, while her advocacy for women and emerging leaders builds the diverse, confident and resilient workforce needed for the future.
Shannon is an exceptional leader whose empathy, operational expertise and genuine commitment have helped shape a stronger emergency services culture. Through advocacy, collaboration and a people-focused approach, she empowers frontline staff, champions their voices and drives positive change across emergency operations. Her leadership is grounded in care, compassion and a strong commitment to supporting others.
Knowledge & Capability Development
For a woman who has contributed to building skills, knowledge, training, and capability across the sector.
Kat and Nic, in their exceptional support to the EMV State Lessons and Evaluation Team, have demonstrated outstanding positivity, passion and commitment to Lessons Management. Their leadership during complex multi-agency incidents and contribution to state level learning activities have strengthening collaboration, informed decision-making and driven meaningful continuous improvement across the broader emergency management sector and also increased the level of capability and engagement within the lessons and exercising space within their home agency, the Department of Transport and Planning.
Margaret has made an outstanding contribution to disaster management and resilience in the Townsville Disaster District (across Townsville, Hinchinbrook and Palm Island. Through exceptional leadership, expertise and collaboration, she has strengthened preparedness, capability and interagency coordination. Margaret is approachable, professional and highly committed to building resilience across communities. As a woman working in disaster management, her support, encouragement and leadership are especially important.
Madi should be recognised for her outstanding contribution to knowledge and capability development through her voluntary leadership with the AWE Network Mentoring Programme. By connecting mentors and mentees, fostering professional growth and sharing international expertise, she has helped strengthen skills, confidence and collaboration across the emergency management sector.
Hannah is an outstanding educator, mentor and leader who strengthens capability across emergency management. Through coaching, training and genuine investment in others at Triple Zero Victoria, she builds confidence, develops potential and empowers people to succeed. Her dedication, operational experience and commitment to continuous learning make her highly deserving of recognition.
Kate is an exceptional natural hazard, climate, and risk communicator who makes complex natural hazard and climate change information accessible, relevant and useful to people across Aotearoa. Through her leadership in public education, science communication, stakeholder and community engagement, capability development and cross-sector collaboration, she strengthens understanding and supports evidence-informed decision-making and risk reduction. Through her generous sharing of knowledge through social media posts and her weekly newsletter, she connects research with practice and helps people understand risk and what they can do to reduce it.
Laura has systematically strengthened emergency management capability across the NSW Public Safety Network through IMT training, standardised incident response processes aligned with AIIMS, and operational leadership. Her dedicated work in training, process development, and SES volunteering embeds capability at every level, enabling effective emergency response.
Since 2021, Stacey Lock has transformed Tauranga City Council’s Emergency Operations Centre from fewer than 30 volunteers to a highly capable team of 150+ trained staff. Through innovative training, collaborative operational leadership, and regionally adopted programs and processes, she has significantly enhanced emergency preparedness, capability, and response across the Region.
Community Resilience & Inclusion
For a woman who has contributed to strengthening communities through resilience-building, inclusion, and locally led action.
Leading with empathy, integrity, and a commitment to partnership, Godelieve has successfully implemented disaster recovery and resilience initiatives for children, young people, and families across regional NSW and Victoria. By equipping local professionals with the skills and confidence to deliver the Seasons for Growth suite of programs, she has fostered long-term community capacity, strengthened resilience outcomes, and enabled locally led change that endures beyond immediate recovery efforts.
As an exceptional leader, Georgia Esplin made a lasting impact in the community-led approach to flood recovery and resilience building in Maribyrnong. Through her involvement in initiatives including the Neighbourhood Flood Network, Community Flood Plan and award-winning Insurance Project, she empowered diverse communities, strengthened local capability and created lasting, inclusive recovery outcomes.
Emma expertly led the delivery of the Flood Resilient Homes exhibition. This event was delivered as part of the Resilient Homes Fund Industry and Community Education Program and was the culmination of four years of research, innovation, and meaningful community engagement. Through exceptional collaboration across government and drawing from community she helped transform lessons learned and lived experience into practical resilience education for all.
Through exceptional leadership of the Queensland Resilient Homes Fund Industry and Community Education Program, Nicki has strategically empowered communities, engaged industry, and built lasting partnerships that embed flood resilience knowledge across Queensland, creating a network of champions who will continue supporting safer, more resilient communities.
Emergency Management and Disaster Resilience Practice
For a woman who has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in operational practice and in planning, response, recovery, and collaborative practice.
Kylee Clubb is a firefighter, cultural fire practitioner and First Nations leader whose work connects Country, culture, fire and community. Through frontline service, bushfire mitigation, AUS-WTREX, disaster resilience and research, she is creating pathways for First Nations women to lead, while helping shape more inclusive, culturally informed and resilient emergency management.
Paula is a strategic and values-driven leader in community outcomes, emergency management, and recovery. As Head of Community Outcomes & Emergency Management and Recovery Manager at Tauranga City Council, she leads initiatives that strengthen community resilience, support inclusive recovery, and enhance emergency preparedness. Known for her collaborative and people-centred approach, Paula brings together diverse stakeholders to deliver positive outcomes and advance best practice in emergency management locally and nationally.
As an Operational Media Advisor and Manager with the NSW State Emergency Service, Emily has ensured communities receive trusted information during emergencies, helping people make informed decisions that protect lives and property. With her professionalism, sound judgement and a strong commitment to public service, Emily’s work behind the scenes may go unseen, yet its impact is felt across the state.
Sergeant Jess Paul is an exceptional leader whose dedication to emergency management, staff development and community resilience has strengthened disaster preparedness, response capability and collaboration across South West Queensland, leaving a lasting impact on both communities and the emergency management sector. Jess’s inclusive, collaborative leadership champions, supports and empowers women in the sector.
Jess has demonstrated exceptional leadership in developing the Wellington CDEM Group’s first ten-year Strategy and supporting five-year Group Plan. Through strategic vision, inclusive engagement and a strong focus on implementation, she has created shared direction and strengthened regional emergency management. Her vision, persistence and inclusive leadership is helping build a safer, more resilient Wellington region, centred on the people it serves.
Tracey Fraser is an exceptional emergency management leader, whose calm, authentic leadership strengthens coordination, partnerships and capability. Mentoring and empowering others, she leads with integrity through challenging circumstances, bringing people together to deliver better outcomes in complex high risk environments. Her leadership has created lasting benefits for communities and Aotearoa.
Sheryll demonstrated exceptional operational leadership during critical incidents affecting the NSW Public Safety Network. Her coordination of asset deployment, staffing, and logistics during floods and severe storms enabled service continuity for emergency responders. She leads with composure under pressure, managing complex stakeholder groups and delivering outstanding outcomes.
Marnelle demonstrated exceptional operational leadership during critical incidents affecting the NSW Public Safety Network. Her coordination during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and severe storms prevented network loss through strategic generator deployment and asset management. She leads with composure under pressure, managing complex stakeholders and delivering positive outcomes.
Summer demonstrates exceptional dedication, resilience and leadership in managing Australia’s national Emergency Alert contracts. Her outstanding technical, commercial and operational expertise, collaborative approach and ability to translate complex issues into actionable insights have supported critical national decision-making, strengthened emergency warning capability and advanced community safety. Summer is an exemplary and insightful role model for emerging female leaders especially within the public service.
Monique has transformed WCC’s EOC Intelligence capability through inclusive leadership, practical innovation and exceptional commitment. With kindness and empathy, she has inspired an engaged volunteer team, strengthened operational practice, embedded emergency management training into staff onboarding, and is consistently one of the first people to step forward when support is needed.
Advancing Gender Equity & Mentoring + Ally
Advancing Gender Equity & Mentoring – for a woman who has made a significant contribution to creating pathways for others through mentoring, advocacy, and action on gender equity.
AWE Ally Award – for an individual who is acknowledged as an ally of women with an extensive and proven record of working to advance gender equity and inclusion in the emergency and disaster resilience sector.
Jen really walks the talk with everything she does, actively uplifting others. her outstanding contribution to advancing gender equity through mentoring, leadership and capability development. As a coordinator of the AWE Mentoring Programme and a leader at WREMO, she has empowered women, strengthened professional networks, and helped build a more connected, capable and inclusive emergency management sector.
Matt Harry is the kind of ally who has women’s backs, even when they aren’t in the room. He creates opportunities, mentors, builds confidence, champions women’s capability and speaks up when it matters. His genuine, consistent support helps women step forward, lead and contribute more fully across emergency management.
Research, Policy, & Innovation
For a woman who has contributed to the development and advancement of knowledge, turning evidence, ideas, and policy into better practice and stronger outcomes.
Megan has shown how powerful thoughtful and engaging graphic design can be in emergency management. Her immersive and engaging flood resilience display developed for Queensland’s Resilient Homes Fund transformed complex information into practical, relatable learning experiences, helping communities better understand their options and demonstrating the critical role of communication in building resilience.
Lauren combined strategic thinking with practical delivery to build EOCC (Emergency Operations Centre Cockpit) which boosts staff capability and cuts cognitive load by surfacing councils’ own plans and checklists in real time. Developed solo alongside her full-time EM role, Lauren’s innovation has been recognised for its global leadership, drawing sector-wide interest. She shows exceptional initiative, ownership and personal responsibility, consistently turning ideas into real operational tools.
Jenny is recognised for her hard work and outstanding contribution to strengthening community resilience through science communication, public engagement and locally led action. From founding EarthFest to supporting the Chatham Islands Festival of Science, Jenny’s generous contributions make natural hazard science accessible, empowering communities to better understand risk and prepare for the future.
Jane is a genuine champion of research and evidence-based practice. She cleverly draws people together and connects science for decision-makers. She has led national disaster resilience policy and now builds QFD capability. While being an incredibly supportive mentor, Jane’s passion turns ideas into outcomes that support decision-makers to do the best for community.