Finalists announced for PM's Veteran Employment Awards
The Hon Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
A career in Defence builds lifelong skills and experience that can be transferred to the civilian workforce when then time comes to transition out of the ADF.
Technical skills combined with a capacity for teamwork, adaptability and working under pressure can help businesses thrive and veterans find meaningful post-transition employment.
Celebrating exemplary examples of collaboration between business and the veteran community is an important way we can build awareness of the options for transitioning ADF personnel.
Today the Albanese government is proud to announce finalists for the 2025 Prime Minister’s National Veteran Employment Awards.
The annual Awards recognise champions of veteran and partner employment while celebrating the accomplishments of veteran and partner employees and entrepreneurs.
In keeping with the 2025 Awards theme, ‘Celebrating our growing community’, three new Award categories have been introduced this year:
- Best Regional Veteran Employment Initiative
- Best Veteran Employment Commitment Initiative
- Champion of Veteran Employment.
I encourage organisations to join the Veteran Employment Commitment, which recognises organisations supporting veteran employment. Veterans and partners looking for employment can use this tool to search for employers.
The 2025 winners will be announced in November during a ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.
Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists (listed below), for leading the way in veteran and partner employment and uplifting veteran communities across Australia.
| Category | Finalists |
|---|---|
| Veteran Employee of the Year | Kurt Brissett, Built Taylor Cowell, Saab Australia Darren Nolan, Ventia |
| Partner Employee of the Year | Belynda Jane Abbott, University of Canberra Shannon Hennessy, VESPIIA Savannaha Wells, RSL LifeCare |
| Veteran and/or Partner Entrepreneur of the Year |
Christine Gilchrist, Spouse Force Daniel Stevens, Seitec Emily Pyke, UndaTech |
| Small Employer of the Year | Defendable Technologies Human Quotient Group Axon Property Group |
| Medium Employer of the Year | EON Protection Military & Emergency Services Health Australia Veterans in Construction |
| Large Employer of the Year | NSW Government Veterans Employment Program Ventia Wilson Security |
| Best Regional Veteran Employment Initiative | INLOC Group Macksville Hospital Ventia |
| Best Veteran Employment Commitment Initiative | Australian War Memorial Human Quotient Group NSW Government Veterans Employment Program |
| Champion of Veteran Employment | Empirical Solutions Kelly Hopkins, Hays RSL Queensland WithYouWithMe |
For more information about the Awards, please visit the Veteran Employment Program website https://www.veteransemployment.gov.au/awards
Media contact:
Stephanie Mathews (Minister Keogh’s Office): 0407 034 485
DVA Media: media.team@dva.gov.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608