Following our announcement of the Women in Defence Awards 2026 finalists, ADM will be introducing each of our amazing finalists across our categories in more detail. Today we are focusing on the finalists in Marketing and Communications!
Judges were on the lookout for entries that exhibited excellence in delivering communications/marketing/stakeholder engagement beyond the expectations of their job description. The finalists conceived and/or implemented strategies in 2025 that were creative, original, and delivered exceptional outcomes for their organisation or client.
Many are also excellent ambassadors for Defence or Defence industry, championing Defence’s vision in their pursuits outside of work.
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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Alisha Welch In 2025, Alisha led a comprehensive print and digital marketing campaign to increase Amentum's brand awareness in Australia following a global merger. Formerly known as "Jacobs Australia", "Amentum Australia" lost 30 years of established brand recognition within Defence and defence industry. She continued to lead workforce communication, playing a key role in creating a positive culture and improving retention during a time of immense organisational change. |
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Diana Wilk In 2025, Diana played a critical role assisting CEA Technologies navigate from a privately-owned company into a Government Business Enterprise with new expectations around governance, accountability and parliamentary scrutiny. She established and strengthened key corporate affairs, reporting and communications functions and improved internal communications, engagement with government stakeholders, strengthened governance processes, enhanced CEA's ability to manage reputational and parliamentary risks and delivered the company’s first Statement of Corporate Intent and Annual Report. |
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| Fiona Boughton Head of Marketing, Defence Force Recruiting Adecco Australia Fiona led the development of a comprehensive three‑year Marketing Strategy, reinforced by an annual Communications Strategy across paid, owned, and earned media for Defence Force Recruiting. Her leadership saw application performance increase by 28 per cent year on year in 2024–25, with the highest ADF intake since 2009. By aligning people, partners, and practice around a clear and compelling marketing and communications vision, Fiona has shifted how DFR marketing operates. |
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Hinako Shiraishi In 2025, the entire ship’s company of HMAS Sydney got behind Hinalo’s creative and popular ideas for social media content, which often depicted a day in the life of a crewmember. Coming from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, she brought a deeply personal understanding of the complexities faced by women in Defence. She helped women reconnect with the purpose and positive influence of their contributions, reframing their visibility as impactful rather than burdensome. |
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Jessica Coe In 2025, Jessica singlehandedly transformed ASC’s digital presence, developing and implementing the organisation’s first cohesive social media strategy, focused on clear, platform-specific storytelling. Using these platforms and shifting the focus toward people-centred storytelling rather than corporate messaging she not only increased external engagement but, by showcasing employee achievements and everyday contributions, helped build pride within the workforce. |
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Jessica Wedding In 2025, Jessica established and led AECOM’s first dedicated defence marketing and communications capability. She designed and delivered a Defence Brand Elevation Strategy, translating complex capability into compliant, compelling narratives tailored to Defence audiences. She directly supported Defence contract wins exceeding $14.5 million in the process and redefined the role of marketing from a support function to a strategic capability. |
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