WIDA 2025 - ICT & Cyber Finalists

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 ICT & Cyber.

In this category, the judges were looking for entries that exhibited outstanding ICT and/or cyber 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!

Brionee Harvey 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, with minimal training and multiple workflow inefficiencies. 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 in the develop solutions and draft updates for the procedures, which were later approved and distributed to the ECCPB fleet. She assisted in defect investigation and rectification on board the other ECCPB. Brionee trained her peers, passing on lessons learnt that were not in any of the references or SOPs. Her constant willingness to assist others made Brionee a point of contact for any technical questions.
Fusun Ozhan Head of Digital, Data & Cyber – Digital Portfolio Delivery BAE Systems Australia Fuson supervised over 50 digital projects, significantly enhancing both the digital employee experience & operational efficiencies. Her leadership led to the digitisation of travel & expense processes, implementing a new digital health & safety system that revolutionised workplace safety management. She transformed internal collaboration at BAE Systems through the adoption of Microsoft 365, making BAE Systems one of the first Defence Primes to transition to the cloud. Fusun’s projects consistently met deadlines and stayed within budget, addressing common misconceptions about IT project delays and overspending. She is a sort after mentor leveraging her extensive experience both within and outside the defence sector to help others refine their skills and achieve their professional goals.
Ristana Risteska Cyber Security Lead BAE Systems Australia In 2024, Ristana led targeted phishing education campaigns to reduce susceptibility across the enterprise, embedding best-practice follow-up training for staff who clicked simulated emails. Her constructive and educational approach fostered a culture of learning and accountability, rather than blame. Her work ensures that cyber risk is not just a technical issue, but a fundamental part of how Defence business is delivered. She worked closely with Indigenous and Veteran community groups to build more inclusive entry pathways into the defence workforce. Through mentoring, outreach, and advocacy, she supported long-term participation in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and cyber roles.
Karunya Sankar Kumar Senior Manager and Data Analyst Downer Professional Services Karunya designed and delivered a sophisticated Finance Dashboard which transformed the division’s financial visibility, saving over 40 hours of manual effort monthly, minimizing errors, and enabling evidence-based decision-making across more than 10 programs. Karunya independently led every stage of the project, from gathering requirements to implementation and training delivery, addressing inefficiencies that were hindering transparency and agility. Karunya volunteered to train and mentor staff, fostering a culture of data literacy and digital confidence. Karunya has fostered a cultural shift, showing that women can lead in Defence ICT with both empathy and excellence.