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 our Indigenous category.
In this category, judges were looking for entries that exhibited a remarkable contribution to Defence or defence industry from an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander woman. The finalists in this category are all-rounders who demonstrated excellence in their roles in 2025, a clear commitment to personal values, and a willingness to advocate for others and support community.
The winners and Hall of Fame inductee will be announced at a gala dinner at The National Arboretum, Canberra, on 29 October 2025. Book your tickets here – we hope to see you there!
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Aimee McCartney Operating well beyond her formal responsibilities, Aimee bridged Defence capability with lived cultural experience and responsibility to community. She actively supported Indigenous men and women serving within the Royal Australian Air Force, maintaining awareness of wellbeing, engagement, career progression and retention. This was complemented by sustained leadership, cultural advocacy, national representation as an Indigenous officer, and international recognition as an Aboriginal artist. |
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Brianna Briscoe Alongside the delivery of high‑quality aviation maintenance that directly enabled Navy operational capability, Brianna’s most significant achievements in 2025 were in advancing Indigenous representation, connection and understanding across Defence. Her artwork has been adopted in official Navy branding, including murals, canteen packaging and uniforms, ceremonial items, including challenge coins, presented to international partner nations. |
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Greta Stephensen In 2025, Greta helped develop and implement an automated testing suite that significantly improved testing efficiency and turnaround. This improvement accelerated delivery, reduced engineering effort and created a repeatable, scalable workflow with lasting impact on the program. She is a mentor in the CSIRO Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy Program and is a member of the Sydney US Consulate Youth Council. |
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Jemila Darr Jemila led pre-construction contamination investigations, where she coordinated fieldwork, stakeholder engagement, and technical analysis to inform project design and construction methodologies. Despite challenging site conditions and logistical constraints, she successfully delivered high-quality technical outputs that supported project approvals and reduced environmental risk. She actively supports programs that promote STEM pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and contributes to Indigenous engineering networks that create opportunities for connection, mentorship, and career progression. |
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Sophie Bloomfield Throughout 2025, Sophie was involved in the development of the inaugural Defence First Nations Commitment, establishing a model that fortifies Defence’s cultural responsiveness and operational effectiveness. Recognised as a foundational document for Defence, she led extensive consultation with a wide array of internal and external stakeholders, including First Nations communities, Defence personnel, and whole-of-government partners. Sophie regularly participates in forums, engagements, and events that promote Defence career pathways to young First Nations women. |
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