Following our announcement of the Women in Defence Awards 2023 finalists on 4 September, ADM will be introducing each of our amazing finalists across the 10 categories in more detail. Today we are focusing on the finalists in Operations.
In this category, the judges were looking for entries that demonstrated outstanding operational skills, well above and beyond the roles defined by their position descriptions, in logistical, service and support roles with Defence and Defence industry during 2022. The finalists in this category all overcame significant personal and/or professional obstacles to shine in their chosen fields. They also contributed to the wider community through their volunteer and mentoring roles.
Lieutenant Commander Gemma Casserly
J35 Indo-Pacific and Major Fleet Unit Maritime Operations Planner
Royal Australian Navy
Gemma is the J35 Indo-Pacific and Major Fleet Unit Maritime Operations Planner for Navy. In 2022 she expertly planned and executed all Indo-Pacific regional presence deployments. Concurrently, she championed efforts to refine standard hails and responses to Chinese vessels in the region, enhanced standing rules of engagement for deployed assets to increase interoperability with our regional partners, and worked to enhance lethality with our closest allies. Domestically, Gemma was instrumental in force generating eighteen Major Fleet units. She also coaches the ADFA women’s rugby team and is a participant in the ADFA families sponsor program.
Hannah Crossley
EMOS Operations Manager
Downer Defence
In 2022 Hannah was Acting EMOS Operations Manager at RAAF Amberley, one of the biggest bases in the Downer Defence portfolio. Hannah delivered in spades and reinvigorated the workforce with her strong expectations and support for all. Her outstanding work during 2022, which was noted by the customer, client, and recognised internally within Downer Defence, allowed Hannah to be awarded her own base and take on the challenge of EMOS Operations Manager at Canungra at the start of 2023.
Ping Goodwin
SHE Project Business Partner – Maritime
BAE Systems Australia
Ping is the Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE) Project Business Partner – Maritime for BAE Systems Australia. In 2022 she enhanced the ‘Supervisor Rotation’ program, enabling more supervisors at the Osborne shipyard to rotate through the SHE team, which contributed to a stronger safety culture. Ping also launched the ‘Apprentice Rotation’ program to educate new workers on SHE roles and responsibilities. Ping did all this while remaining an active participant in the ‘Sustainability Squad’, which proactively implements sustainability improvements at maritime sites, and ‘Building Blocks’, which promotes gender diversity and inclusion.
Major Tania Osborn
Senior Clinical Advisor for Garrison Health Pharmacy
Australian Army
Tania fulfilled the role of Senior Clinical Advisor for Garrison Health Pharmacy in 2022 for Army. Outside of her job description she developed a pharmacovigilance program which has significantly improved the health, safety and well-being of service men and women, providing protective safeguard measures in response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The benefits of Tania’s Opioid Stewardship Campaign alone include a 25% improvement in rationalised opioid prescribing for Defence members undergoing chronic or persistent pain management, a 14-fold increase in uptake of Individualised Opioid De-escalation Action Plans, and a 20% reduction in high-risk opioid prescribing.
The winners and Hall of Fame inductee will be announced at a gala dinner at The National Arboretum Canberra on 25 October 2023. Book your tickets here – we hope to see you there!