Click here to view the stories of all our amazing winners and finalists!
ADM is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Women in Defence Awards (WIDA) following an exciting ceremony held 15th October at the National Arboretum in Canberra.
More than 400 people gathered to celebrate a one-of-a-kind line up of women in the defence community: from uniformed personnel and Australian Public Service members to women in a range of roles in defence industry in both primes and SMEs.
Our winners this year represent a spectacular cross-section of women whose achievements, leadership and innovation in 2024 deserve to be recognised. We’d also like to extend a huge congratulations to all our finalists.
The winners of WIDA 2025 are:
Operations
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Operations category is Tania Mitchell. Tania is a Global Mobility (GM) Operations Lead with ASC.
Tania is accountable for operational delivery of ASC’s global mobility activity for the AUKUS program, which involves mobilising ASC employees to international locations on various assignments. This is a first of its kind program. Over a period of eight months, Tania helped mobilise 133 long-term secondees, their partners and families to Hawaii. The only spouse visa pathway does not provide work rights, and it prohibits them from opening bank accounts.
Tania developed strategies, support programs, found resources and adapted policies for the transition. Tania led an operation that was the first of its kind for Australia, in a new sector, with no guidebook or precedent. She showed outstanding organisation and planning, extraordinary empathy, and a deep commitment to rapidly growing Australia’s AUKUS workforce.
She supported not only the ASC secondees but recognised that including and supporting their families was crucial to success of this operation. The judges were impressed with the depth of feeling shown in her references.
Marketing & Communications
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Marketing & Communications category is Sarah Vesey. Sarah is a Public Affairs Officer with the Australian Army.
Sarah is a Primary School Teacher by day and an Army Public Affairs Officer by night. Sarah has been fundamental in the development and provision of strategic communications plans to ADF Drone Racing team. Sarah also leads the coaching, training and preparation of young Defence drone racing pilots to be confident in talking to media. In 2024, she extended her role as PAO, leading the team to victory at the recent Military International Drone Racing Tournament as the Team Manager.
Sarah’s work raising the profile of ADF Drone Racing is a commendable example of a MarComms strategy well planned and executed. The judges were impressed with her boundless energy and ability to seamlessly juggle three quite different and demanding roles. She proactively seeks ways to support and uplift those around her, not only in Australia but also internationally.
Technical Trade
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Technical Trade category is Sophia Mintram. Sophia is an Able Seaman Aviation Technician Aircraft - Helicopter Support Facility Assistant with the Royal Australian Navy.
Sophia exceeded all expectations of rank and position, and has been directly responsible for the uplift of standards, enhancing the quality of business rules and safeguarding the future of Helicopter Support Facility (HSF) aviation operations. Employed in a wholly unfamiliar role to what she has trained for, Sophia made it her mission to understand her role in supporting facility/aerodrome function and to promote better management of available resources. She independently investigated, researched and produced a bespoke Quality Management System for HSF and aerodrome management. Her initiative has driven progressive change and continuous improvement.
Sophia’s skill and adaptability in taking skills from her speciality and applying those skills to a completely new and unfamiliar area struck a chord with the judging panel. She is an active participant in outreach activities that promote a career path for other young women, is vocal in breaking down gender barriers and demonstrates what a contemporary female role in defence can look like.
Legal / Contracting
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Legal / Contracting category is Tara Maschotta. Tara is a Senior Manager – Commercial – Corporate, Insurance & Business Winning with Babcock Australasia.
Tara led transformative commercial legal reforms at Babcock that elevated contracting capability across the organisation. Identifying inconsistent processes and outdated templates, she drove a company-wide initiative to standardise key contract documentation, aligning legal frameworks with current Defence expectations and operational priorities. She is a trusted mentor to junior women across Babcock, empowering them to step into more senior roles with confidence. Tara is an ongoing committee member of the Australian Insurance Law Association and Football Director & League Delegate at her local AFL club.
Tara is a compelling candidate, community-spirited leader and role model. She is the epitome of 'owning it', and her collaborative and can-do approach clearly benefits all parties. The judges highlighted her commitment to both her defence and external communities noting that she is a shining star across three traditionally male dominated fields: Defence, AFL and Insurance Law.
Engineering
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Engineering category, presented by Downer, is Caroline Skinner. Caroline is a Marine Engineering Officer on the HMAS Supply with the Royal Australian Navy.
In 2024, Caroline was integral in managing the complex engineering changes needed to improve Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment enterprise, followed by a transition to a new role as the Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) onboard HMAS Supply. Caroline performed well beyond the level expected of a new MEO by taking on the additional responsibility of overseeing the WE department, as well as several roles normally executed by the Executive Officer. She regularly participates on formal Oral Examination boards to qualify Navy Senior Sailors and Officers.
Caroline went above and beyond her prescribed duties completing tasks on schedule across a wide variety of roles in an exceedingly complex environment. She is an active contributor to STEM outreach and demonstrates an exceptional emotional intelligence when dealing with critical safety issues. The love she has for her role and the ways she finds ways to share that joy and passion of engineering with those in and outside her immediate sphere of command had a significant impact on the judging panel.
Executive Management
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Executive Management category, presented by Downer, is Captain Kristen Watts. Kristen is the Director Workforce Design and Integration in Military Workforce Design Division with the Royal Australian Navy.
As the inaugural Director of Workforce Design and Integration in the newly established Military Workforce Design Division, Kristen led transformative change at a time of significant organisational upheaval. Within just six months, with a 50% staff capacity, Kristen delivered a suite of solutions, including: a Workforce Design Handbook, standardised templates for workforce planning, guidance documents, a dedicated webpage and governance processes. She is an active Australian Defence Force Academy and Maritime Personnel Community mentor.
The judges were inspired by Kristen’s passion for lifting other women through a range of initiatives. She is an impressive person, both professionally and personally who has show incredible resilience and consistently goes above and beyond expectations across all areas.
Project Management
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Project Management category, presented by Hanwha, is Tiffany Noy. Tiffany is a Business Manager – Biosecurity Pest, with Biodiversity Australia.
Tiffany implemented a GIS Project Interactive Mapping Dashboard across all Defence biosecurity projects, leveraging ArcGIS technology to revolutionise project management. She led the rapid and effective response to a Red Imported Fire Ant outbreak across multiple active Defence aviation bases, achieving a 65% eradication rate. In 2024, she prompted a Middle Management Mentor Program to support women from operational and administrative backgrounds to progress based on demonstrated skill rather than academic qualifications. As a result, several women have stepped into leadership positions.
The judges were impressed with Tiffany’s non-typical career growth into Project management and her passion for giving other women, with similar backgrounds the same opportunity. In 2024 she demonstrated exceptional project management skills which had a significant impact on the Defence Estate in support of mission readiness.
Indigenous
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Indigenous category, presented by Babcock, Tracey Hoffmann. Tracey is a Nursing Officer with Joint Health Command.
Tracey is a descendant of the Gubi Gubi and Kulali people, and is an Army nursing officer. MAJ Hoffmann promotes readiness for 51 Far North Queensland Regiment soldiers across Cape York and the Torres Strait. In 2024, Tracey organised for a Defence Dental Team to provide dental care to all community members, not just soldiers.
During her tenure, there has been a dramatic rise in vaccination rates to soldiers, better quality medical reporting, and increased medical support for communities across the region. She impressed the judges through her transformation of the Cape York and Torres Strait communities.
ICT & Cyber
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the ICT & Cyber category, presented by Thales, Brionee Harvey. Brionee is a Petty Officer Communications Information Systems, Royal Australian Navy.
Brionee had the challenge of establishing the Communication Centre on the new Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boat (ECCPB), Australian Defence Vessel Cape Naturaliste. There were many issues never encountered before and not detailed in the ECCPB Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). She worked closely with external agencies and other CIS to develop solutions, which were later approved for the ECCPB fleet. She assisted in defect investigation and rectification on board the other ECCPB. Brionee mentored her peers through this process.
The judges highlighted Brionee’s independent work with no guidance that had a lasting, measurable long-term impact. She gathered, research and processed knowledge and then bundled up that knowledge so that it could be shared with others. She took a real time ICT problem and provided a portable, real-world solution. She is consistently working above and beyond what is expected of her rank and role and is trusted both personally and professionally by all around her.
Rising Star
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the Rising Star category, presented by Synergy Group, is Emily Margerison. Emily is a Reliability, Availability and Maintainability Engineer with Airbus.
In 2024, Emily maintained her senior RAM Engineer role and assumed the responsibility of the RAM Lead SME. One of Emily's key achievements involved orchestrating a collaborative brainstorming session with stakeholders to address long-standing issues affecting aircraft reliability—issues many deemed 'beyond resolution.' Leveraging cross-functional expertise, the sessions yielded concrete ways forward that, once implemented, improved the aircraft's reliability and maintainability for Defence.
Emily was selected by the judges due to her tenacity in her role, maintaining her position of senior RAM Engineer whilst simultaneously assuming the responsibility of the RAM Lead SME, and her ability to rise above challenges.
People & Culture
The winner of the 2025 Women in Defence awards in the People and Culture category, presented by Smart Group, Tracey Hoffmann. Tracey is a Nursing Officer with Joint Health Command.
Tracey supports 51 Far North Queensland Regiment (FNQR) soldiers. Her tenure working in Far North Queensland has seen a dramatic rise in vaccination rates in FNQR soldiers and she has created a better-quality medical reporting system between community health providers and Defence. She provides mentoring to female soldiers and officers with health issues or if they require support on how to best manage the soldier welfare. Tracey adds a personal touch to her duties ensuring soldiers receive the upmost medical support.
The judges chose Tracey due to her profound impact on 51 FNQR soldiers and the wider community across Cape York and the Torres Strait. She demonstrably goes above and beyond what is required of her. Tracey is the first ever double winner of ADM Women in Defence Awards.
Hall of Fame 2025
The recipient of the 2025 Women in Defence awards Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award, is Amanda Holt. Amanda is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Sypaq Systems.
Amanda has been involved in military systems for decades. At Adacel, ADI and Thales, she developed interoperable combat, communications and simulation systems for the Royal Australian Navy. In 2007 she joined SYPAQ. Following four years as General Manager, Defence and Aerospace and Chief Engineer, in 2015 Amanda was appointed Chief Executive Officer and in 2025, Managing Director.
Amanda is a Fellow and Engineering Executive of Engineers Australia, a member of the RMIT Aerospace Engineering Advisory Board and a member of the Defence Council Victoria. She is also the Co-Chair of the Defence Maritime Domain Industry Forum, and Co-Chair of the Army’s Land Environment Working Group. In 2023 she joined PWR Holdings as a Non-Executive Director and in 2024 she was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of CEA Technologies by the Australian Government.
Amanda’s commitment to the industry is not limited to the present. From a young age she knew she wanted to be an aerospace engineer, spending her Christmas lunches tackling maths problems with her extended family. A passion she seeks to pass on, using her position to advocate for STEM pathways for the next generation.
Amanda is a strong voice for the Defence industry, trusted counsel to Government and dependable leader for SYPAQ, absolutely dedicated to the SYPAQ motto of “Creating a world that works”.
She is the mother for two amazing young women who she has raised with the loving support of her husband Martin.
