WIDA 2025 - Legal / Contracting 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 our Legal and Contracting category.

In this category, judges were looking for entries that exhibited outstanding success in legal/contracting matters in 2024. The finalists in this category all demonstrate this level of success, with additional evidence of having overcome personal challenges to do so and for the impact their success had on the wider Defence and industry community.

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!

Tara Maschotta Senior Manager – Commercial – Corporate, Insurance & Business Winning Babcock Australasia Tara led transformative commercial legal reforms at Babcock that elevated contracting capability across the organisation. Identifying inconsistent processes and outdated templates, she launched and drove a company-wide initiative to standardise key contract documentation, aligning legal frameworks with current Defence expectations and operational priorities. Tara also collaborated with Babcock’s insurance brokers to deliver a significant reduction in premiums. She is a trusted advisor & informal mentor to junior women across Babcock where her ability to translate complex legal & contractual matters into practical insights empowers early-career professionals to step into more senior roles with confidence. Tara is also the former club president & ongoing committee member of the Australian Insurance Law Association and Football Director & League Delegate at her local AFL club.

Kimberley Saarenpaa Senior Consultant AeroPM Kimberley is the lead commercial resource within the Air Combat Systems Program Office (ACSPO), she secured over $20 million in cost savings through effective stakeholder engagement and requirement validation. She facilitated collaborative workshops to understand capability needs and briefed senior executives to refine negotiation positions throughout the tender process. She actively coaches junior staff and colleagues, through both formal programs and by offering informal guidance. Her willingness to share her knowledge, provide constructive feedback, and celebrate others’ successes means that she is sort out as a mentor.

Nathalie Sarlin Chief Executive Officer Buzzworks In 2024 Nathalie negotiated the grant of the US patent which led Buzzworks to a multi-million dollar, 20-year global exclusive licensing contract with a major American ballistic eyewear company to manufacture and sell their first export product. Nathalie is also the company secretary for the national board of DVConnect and company secretary and director on the national board of AIDN.

Lisa Tibbits Senior Legal Counsel Austal Limited In 2024, Lisa played a critical role in the (ongoing) negotiation of the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and Austal. Lisa has demonstrated strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, helping align commercial terms with the Government’s strategic objectives. Lisa’s legal expertise has been essential in managing the complexities of high-value government procurement and contract negotiation. She continues to ensure Austal’s full compliance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Defence contracting requirements, and the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct. She has mentored female colleagues, offering guidance on navigating complex legal frameworks and commercial negotiations.