Following our announcement of the Women in Defence Awards 2026 finalists, 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 2025, 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 29 October 2026. Book your tickets here – we hope to see you there!
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Bec Salvage During 2025, Bec led delivery across multiple Deployed ICT work packages supporting Defence operations, including cyber security uplift, operational sustainment, digital modernisation, and critical ICT support services within complex and high-pressure environments. The key achievement was her leadership of the program that supported the transition and sustainment of the new cyber hardened fleet environment. She led and mentored a team of more than 40 ICT and cyber professionals. |
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Brianna Manning During Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, acting in a role significantly above her level, Brianna directly contributed to mission outcomes through initiative, technical competence, and composure under pressure. Throughout 2025, she dedicated significant personal time to mentoring junior female sailors, providing guidance on career progression, goal setting, and navigating professional challenges. She also supported women transitioning into the cyber workforce from training establishments. |
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Char-lee Holloway Char-lee led the successful rollout of the Defence Health Knowledge Management System in Adelaide and Canberra. Through clear communication and inclusive leadership, she aligned a diverse and geographically dispersed stakeholder group, transforming fragmented delivery efforts into a coherent and unified approach. She enhanced clarity in decision making, introduced structured readiness checkpoints aligned with Royal Commission expectations, and strengthened risk management practices. |
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Katrina Dawe In 2025, Katrina played an instrumental role in establishing and delivering the Assured Command and Control cell within the Fleet Information Warfare Centre, significantly enhancing Fleet resilience, readiness and assurance in command and control capabilities. Through this process Katrina has been instrumental in establishing and maintaining relationships with international partners, particularly the USA and Japan. She also spearheaded the comprehensive planning and deployment strategy for the maritime cyber incident response team. |
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Tracey Hemley During 2025, Tracey fundamentally reshaped how Army planned, governed and synchronised capability and training through digital systems. Engaged to support the adoption of the Defence Synchronisation Tool, she expanded her remit from divisional support to enterprise reform. In the process, she became the central authority within Army Headquarters, delivering training, tailored system configurations, and ongoing support across multiple formations. In parallel, Tracey acted as a software architect, to design new system fields, tools and structured training modules. |
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