1. Get to know more about the categories for awards by downloading the criteria for judging. Simply fill out the form below and select the category you want to download.
2. Check the boxes of the categories you want to download. Click the category name to see description.
CDO of the Year Chief Data Officer
This award recognises the chief data officer (CDO) who has most effectively strengthened cyber resilience capabilities within their organisation while driving business growth through data strategy and transformation through their participation in the cyber industry. All CDOs are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
CDO of the Year Chief Digital Officer
This award recognises the chief digital officer (CDO) who has most effectively strengthened cyber resilience capabilities within their organisation while driving business growth through digital strategy and transformation through their participation in the cyber industry. All CDOs are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Chief Knowledge Officer of the Year
This award recognises the chief knowledge officer who has most effectively strengthened cyber resilience capabilities within their organisation while driving business growth through knowledge management initiatives and intellectual capital strategies, and transformation through their participation in the cyber industry. All chief knowledge officers are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Chief Risk Officer of the Year
This award recognises the chief risk officer who has most effectively strengthened cyber resilience capabilities within their organisation while driving business growth through risk management strategies and transformation through their participation in the cyber industry. All chief risk officers are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
CIO of the Year
This award recognises the chief information officer (CIO) who has most effectively strengthened cyber resilience capabilities within their organisation while driving business growth through ICT strategies and operations through their participation in the cyber industry. All CIOs are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
CISO of the Year
This award recognises the chief information security officer (CISO) who has most effectively strengthened cyber security capabilities within their organisation while driving business growth through capitalising on market opportunities through their participation in the cyber industry. All CISOs are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
CTO of the Year
This award recognises the chief technology officer (CTO) who has most effectively strengthened cyber capabilities within their organisation while driving business growth through technological research and development strategies and capitalising on market opportunities through their participation in the cyber industry. All CTOs are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Consultant of the Year Enterprise
This award recognises the consultant who has delivered outstanding work for their organisation/institution and/or client while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities through their participation in the cyber industry. It is open to any consultant employed by a business with 200 or more staff, who is at any point in their career and has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the cyber industry and is on a rapid career trajectory with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their organisation. All cyber consultants working across strategy, operations, supply chain, SME, cyber, security, analytical, professional services, graduate, IT transformations, delivery, decommissioning, supportability modelling, and other related disciplines are encouraged to participate.
Cyber Consultant of the Year SME
This award recognises the consultant who has delivered outstanding work for their organisation/institution and/or client while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities through their participation in the cyber industry. It is open to any consultant employed by a business with less than 200 staff, who is at any point in their career and has demonstrated a commitment to excelling in the cyber industry and is on a rapid career trajectory with their work central to the commercial success, growth or development of their organisation. All cyber consultants working across strategy, operations, supply chain, SME, cyber, security, analytical, professional services, graduate, IT transformations, delivery, decommissioning, supportability modelling, and other related disciplines are encouraged to participate.
Cyber Lawyer of the Year
This award recognises a lawyer who has demonstrated excellence practising in cyber and data security, advising on high-stakes legal matters concerning the industry.
Cyber Professional of the Year Defence
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in the defence sector, either as a public servant or external consultant, who has most effectively driven demonstrable departmental success or business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation through their participation in the cyber industry. All cyber professionals supporting the defence sector are encouraged to participate, irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Professional of the Year Financial Services
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in any of the industries listed below, either as an in-house employee or external consultant, who has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation through their participation in the cyber industry. ● Banking ● Investment services ● Insurance services ● Superannuation services All cyber professionals supporting the above industries are encouraged to participate, irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Professional of the Year FMCG Retail and Hospitality
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), retail, or hospitality industries, either as an in-house employee or external consultant, who has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation through their participation in the cyber industry. All cyber professionals supporting the FMCG, retail or hospitality industries are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Professional of the Year Government
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in the government sector, either as a public servant or external consultant, who has most effectively driven demonstrable departmental success or business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation through their participation in the cyber industry. All cyber professionals at any level of the Australian government are encouraged to participate, irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Professional of the Year Healthcare
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in the healthcare industry, either as an in- house employee or external consultant, who has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation through their participation in the cyber industry. All cyber professionals supporting the healthcare industry are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Professional of the Year Industries Logistics and Critical Infrastructure
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in any of the industries listed below either as an in-house employee or external consultant who has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation through their participation in the cyber industry. ● Primary industries ● Logistics ● Transport ● Construction ● Critical infrastructure management ● Manufacturing All cyber professionals supporting the above industries are encouraged to participate, irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Professional of the Year Professional Services
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in any of the industries listed below, either as an in-house employee or external consultant, who has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation through their participation in the cyber industry. ● Accounting/audit services ● Financial advisory services ● Business analytical services All cyber professionals supporting the above industries are encouraged to participate, irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Professional of the Year Technology Media and Telecommunications
This award recognises the cyber professional operating in a technology, media, and telecommunications organisation, either as an in-house employee or external consultant, who has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of the cyber resilience capabilities of their organisation. All cyber professionals supporting the technology, media, and telecommunications industries are encouraged to participate, irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Rising Star
This award recognises the emerging cyber professional who has most effectively shaped their business’s success while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities. It is open to any individual in the first five (5) years of their career within a cyber capacity who has demonstrated a commitment to excelling professionally in a cyber capacity, as well as being on a rapid career trajectory and has made a positive contribution to the cyber security industry. Professionals across all areas of the cyber industry, including primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations or any other cyber business, are encouraged to participate.
Cyber Security Champion of the Year Internal
This award recognises an in-house employee who drives and upholds the practices of cyber security within the organisation or company. This individual can be employed in an IT role or other department that oversees the cyber security practices for the organisation or company. All employees are encouraged to participate irrespective of location, company size, or years of experience.
Cyber Security Graduate of the Year
This award recognises the graduate who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to building a successful career in cyber security, irrespective of company or organisation. It considers the activities, strategies and actions of the graduate to create a point of difference to positively contribute to their company/organisation’s cyber security practices and shape an exciting career path. Graduates from all academic disciplines working in the cyber security field are encouraged to participate.
Female Cyber Leader of the Year
This award recognises the female cyber leader who has most effectively shaped their business’s success while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities. It is open to all female professionals who hold a management/leadership position in a business, organisation, or institution that supports the cyber industry. Female cyber leaders working across all areas of the cyber industry, including primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations, or any other cyber business, are encouraged to participate.
Indigenous Cyber Business of the Year
This award recognises the Indigenous cyber business that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities through its participation in the cyber industry. It includes all Indigenous cyber businesses, regardless of specialisation, operating across domains such as land, aerospace, naval, space, medical, packaging, textiles or clothing, engineering services, systems engineering and integration, C4ISR, multidomain, logistics and warehousing, professional services and administration, sales, marketing and communications, facilities services and construction, hospitality, consumables, and all other cyber-related disciplines. All Indigenous cyber businesses are encouraged to participate, irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Indigenous Cyber Security Leader of the Year
This award recognises the Indigenous cyber security leader who has most effectively shaped their business’s success while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities. It is open to all Indigenous cyber security leaders working in a business, organisation or institution that supports the cyber industry. Indigenous cyber security leaders working across all areas of the cyber industry, including primes, SMEs, university or research institutions, consultancies, industry associations, or any other cyber business, are encouraged to participate.
Cloud Data Security Provider of the Year
This award recognises the cyber business that has delivered the most effective and innovative cloud or data security solution over the past year. It is open to all businesses working within the cyber industry that aim to strengthen Australia’s cyber security capabilities. All cloud and data security service providers are encouraged to participate, irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Cyber Consulting Business of the Year Enterprise
This award recognises the enterprise-level cyber consultancy that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities through its participation in the cyber industry. It includes all cyber consulting businesses, regardless of specialisation, such as strategy, operations, supply chain, security, analytical, professional services, graduate, IT transformations, delivery, decommissioning, M&A, supportability modelling, and other related disciplines. All cyber consulting firms are encouraged to participate, irrespective of revenue or geographic location/s.
Cyber Consulting Business of the Year SME
This award recognises the SME-level cyber consultancy that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities through its participation in the cyber industry. It includes all cyber consulting businesses, regardless of specialisation, such as strategy, operations, supply chain, security, analytical, professional services, graduate, IT transformations, delivery, decommissioning, M&A, supportability modelling and other related disciplines. All cyber consulting firms are encouraged to participate, irrespective of revenue or geographic location/s.
Cyber Training Business of the Year
This award recognises the training institution or business that has most effectively capitalised on market opportunities and driven demonstrable business growth while supporting the strengthening of Australia’s cyber and national security capabilities through its participation in the cyber industry. This award recognises all training organisations, including tertiary education providers, vocational education providers, and professional skills providers. All training businesses are encouraged to participate, irrespective of revenue or geographic location/s.
GRC Provider of the Year
This award recognises the cyber security business that has developed the most effective and innovative governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) service of the year. It is open to all GRC service providers working within the cyber industry, regardless of specialisation, that aim to strengthen Australia’s cyber security capabilities. All GRC service providers are encouraged to participate, irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
In house Cyber Security Response Team of the Year
This award recognises the in-house cyber security response team that has best adapted to and overcome the challenges of operating in the cyber security domain throughout 2025. It is open to all in-house cyber security response teams, regardless of the industry in which the parent company operates. All businesses with an in-house cyber security response team are encouraged to participate, irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Network Ransomware Security Provider of the Year
This award recognises the cyber business that has developed the most effective and innovative network, ransomware, or endpoint protection solution over the past year. It is open to all networks, ransomware or endpoint security providers working within the cyber industry, regardless of specialisation, that aim to strengthen Australia’s cyber security capabilities. All endpoint security companies are encouraged to participate, irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Research Institution of the Year
This award recognises the research institution that has developed the most effective and innovative cyber security research and development throughout 2025. It is open to all research institutions that are currently working within the cyber security domain, regardless of specialisation, that aim to strengthen Australia’s cyber security capabilities. All research institutions are encouraged to participate, irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
Security Operations Threat Detection Provider of the Year
This award recognises the cyber business that has provided the most effective and innovative security operations, threat detection, or intelligence solution over the past year. It is open to all SIEM, SOC or threat detection service providers working within the cyber industry, regardless of specialisation, that aim to strengthen Australia’s cyber security capabilities. All service providers are encouraged to participate, irrespective of size, revenue or geographic location/s.
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Thank you for your interest in the Australian Cyber Awards 2025.
Please find the attached category descriptions.
For any additional information, or any questions, please contact Imogen Taylor at [email protected] or alternatively call 0405 174 723.
We look forward to seeing your submission.
Best wishes,
Australian Cyber Awards team
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