WIDA 2025 - Engineering Finalists - Australian Defence Magazine

Following our announcement of the Women in Defence Awards 2025 finalist, ADM will be introducing each of our amazing finalists across the categories in more detail. Today we are focusing on the finalists in Engineering.

In this category, the judges were looking for entries that exhibited outstanding engineering technical proficiency in 2024, above and beyond what would be expected by their position description. The finalists in this category all showed a dedication to their profession, and an enthusiasm to mentor and encourage younger women into the field. They also demonstrated a willingness to volunteer and promote STEM in Defence and Defence industry to a wider public audience

The winners and Hall of Fame inductee will be announced at a gala dinner at The National Arboretum, Canberra, on 15 October 2025. Book your tickets here – we hope to see you there!

Jacinta Kearns Senior Technical Officer/Apprentice Supervisor, Surface Mount Assembly Supervisor CEA Technologies Jacinta successfully manages a dual-command role: leading the Surface Mount Assembly work centre while supervising CEA’s entire apprentice cohort of 54 individuals. She has built and sustained a thriving apprenticeship program while simultaneously delivering operational excellence. Her efforts resulted in measurable improvements in apprentice engagement, cross-functional collaboration, and workforce retention. Under her leadership, the Surface Mount Assembly line has achieved outstanding, repeatable quality control (QC). She spearheaded advancements in product traceability across the manufacturing process, recognising traceability as a force multiplier for compliance and accountability. Her improvements reduced troubleshooting time and supported continuous improvement.

Xiaoyan (Yanny) Li Principal Consultant and Senior Systems Engineer Downer Professional services Yanny lead two critical components of the LAND 4140 program: Beyond Line-of-Sight Communications and the High-Capacity Data Network as well as supporting LAND 400 Phase 3 resolving a major performance issue with the vehicles’ situational awareness system in low-light conditions. She volunteers with Robogals and the ANU Momentum Program, advocates for cross-disciplinary collaboration, and models’ inclusive leadership in every space she occupies. Her leadership has created space for under-represented voices in technical environments.

Seema Odhavji Senior Engineer within Maritime Explosive Ordnance System Program Office QinetiQ Australia Seema conducted explosive ordnance engineering assessments for each variant of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) which will be used on the Hobart Class Destroyers and ANZAC Class Frigates, ensuring that the new acquisitions were safe and suitable for the Royal Australian Navy and compliant with Australian legislation. She contributed to the successful firing of the NSM during Exercise RIMPAC 2024, a major milestone to achieving the objectives of the National Defence Strategy. She currently helps young engineers within the Guided Weapons & Explosive Ordnance Group by holding sessions weekly to increase their knowledge.

Georgia Prout Electronics Engineer PentenAmio Georgia was responsible for designing and assembling multiple hardware elements of the TrapRadio product which won the Australian and UK divisions of the inaugural trilateral AUKUS Electronic Warfare Innovation Challenge. As a result of the win, a contract was signed with Defence’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator to evolve TrapRadio for defined missions. Georgia holds the attendance record for meetings of PentenAmio’s women’s network where female colleagues get together to share information, air their concerns and support one another.

Caroline Skinner Marine Engineering Officer HMAS Supply, Royal Australian Navy In 2024 Caroline was integral in the management of the complex engineering changes needed to improve the capability and reliability of the Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment enterprise, followed by a transition to a new role as the Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) onboard HMAS Supply at time of considerable turmoil for the ship and crew. Caroline took the technical and personnel challenges of her new role in her stride, performing well beyond the level expected of a new MEO. Above and beyond her normal MEO duties, she took on the additional responsibility of overseeing the WE department, as well as a number of roles normally executed by the Executive Officer. She regularly participates on formal Oral Examination boards to qualify Navy Senior Sailors and Officers.