Champions of Safety Awards.
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The Winners of Champions of Safety Awards Queensland 2026 edition were announced!
2026 Shortlists
Rising Star
WINNER! Donny Lawrence James
/ Alice Springs Town Council
Greg Hogan
Founder / Orange Card Pty Ltd
Leneila Lynne
Co-Founder & CEO / Acumind
Lina Gillespie
Founder and CEO PowerSkills AI / PowerSkills AI
Madalyn Cheetham
HSE Coordinator - Victoria and Tasmania / BOC Limited
Rebecca Parnell
Safety Advisor / Bega
Pioneer
WINNER! Peter Westbrook
Head of HSE / Gilbarco Veeder-Root ANZ
Brett Simpson
Incident Response Manager / Ventia
Daniel Nicholls
Head of Work Health & Safety / Quayclean Australia Pty Ltd.
Dennis Bastas
Head of People & Logistics / Coco Republic
Kylie Winson
Group Safety & Australia HSEQ / Signet
Michael Schaefer
CEO / SA2050
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WINNER! Kanae Dyas
Chief Safety and Compliance Officer / PowerSkills AI
Brandon Hitch
CEO / The Crane Industry Council of Australia
Dean McCulloch
Site Supervisor / CoMade
Michelle Boundy
Multi Award Winner in Government | Speaker | Founder / She Inspires Me
Sandra Gauder
Group Manager HSEQ / Avada Group
Thinus Neethling
Senior Principal Engineer & Electro-Explosive Hazards (EEH) Desk Officer – GWEO Systems Division / K39 Consulting
2026 Queensland Awards Gallery.
Award Categories.
Rising Star
A Rising Star is an emerging talent showing exceptional promise and dedication, poised to make significant contributions and shape the future of their field.
Pioneer
A Pioneer is a trailblazer who leads the way in exploring new frontiers, introducing innovative methodologies, and driving progress in their field, embodying courage, vision, and determination.
Icon
An Icon is an individual who has achieved iconic status through their lasting influence, excellence, and significant contributions in their industry, serving as an inspiration for generations.
Judging Panel
Michelle Boundy
Multi Award Winner in Government | Speaker | Founder / She Inspires Me
Scott Reardon
Paralympic Gold Medallist & Founder / SISU Collective
Tarek Farhat
WHS Consultant / iHSEQ
Amanda Anderson
Global Mental Health Project Leader | Mental Health Ambassador / L'Occitaine Group
Craig Salter
Founder / Safety Champion Software
Patrizia Cassaniti
Founder and Director / Touched by Christopher Foundation