Australia’s top executives take the spotlight | The CEO Magazine

Kellie Barnes, CEO of dop, has been named The CEO Magazine’s 2026 CEO of the Year at a black-tie ceremony at ICC Sydney’s Grand Ballroom.

Bobby Lehane, Group CEO and Managing Director of PICA Group, was named runner-up, while Louis Droguett, Co-Founder and CEO of Software@Scale, received highly commended recognition.

Supported by major sponsor Polestar and hosted by Larry Emdur, the awards brought together executives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to celebrate outstanding leadership across Australian business.

The milestone event also honored Carol Schwartz AO with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her contribution to business, philanthropy and the broader Australian community.

Meet the 2026 Executive of the Year Awards winners

BANKING, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
AARON BASSIN
Co-Founder and CEO, Bridgit

Runner-up
ADAM GRINGLAS
Managing Director, Jadig Finance

Highly Commended
REDOM SYED
Managing Director, Flint Group

CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
ALI MOBARAK
Associate Director, Decode Group

Runner-up
MAT FARMER
Director, Endfire Engineering

Highly Commended
COLIN CALDER
Group Managing Director, CABER Group

CONSUMER AND LIFESTYLE
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
SUE BADYARI
CEO, World Expeditions

Runner-up
SIMON THOMPSON
Managing Director, Anytime Fitness Australia

Highly Commended
MICHAEL RAMSEY AND MARK ARMSTRONG
Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, STRONG Pilates

ENERGY AND MINING
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
HEUSON BAK
CEO, Solar Naturally

Runner-up
NIKHIL JAYARAJ
CEO, Regen Power

Highly Commended
SANJIV MANCHANDA
CEO – Projects, Hancock Prospecting

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR

Winner
ROBYN GROBBELAAR
Executive Assistant to Chief Economist, Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Runner-up
MELISSA RUTTERS
Executive Assistant to CEO, CBH Group

Highly Commended
STEVIE WEINE
Executive Business Partner, KWY Aboriginal Corporation

HEALTHCARE
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
MARK WOODLAND
Co-Founder and CEO, Kismet

Runner-up
STEPHEN BECSI
CEO, Apollo Care

Highly Commended
MARK O’BRIEN
CEO, Prestige Inhome Care

IT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
KELLIE BARNES
CEO, dop

Runner-up
SLADEN MOSES
Founder and CEO, Lexin Solutions

Highly Commended
RATTESH GUMBER
Founder and Managing Director, IT Alliance Australia

MANUFACTURING
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
ALAN WONG
Founder and CEO, IND Technology

Runner-up
DAVID ANTONACCI
CEO, Teeny Tiny Homes

Highly Commended
NICK CARTHEW
Managing Director, AME Systems

NOT-FOR-PROFIT
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
SARAH WILLIAMS
Founder and CEO, What Were You Wearing? Australia

Runner-up
WAYNE ANDREWS
CFO, University of Sydney

Highly Commended
DEBORAH THOMAS
CEO and Managing Director, Camp Quality

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
DAVID GAGOVSKI
CEO and Managing Director, Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane

Runner-up
TAMARA RYF
CEO, The Clicks Group

Highly Commended
DEBBIE DAVIS
CEO, Beaumont People

PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND REAL ESTATE
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
Bobby Lehane
Group CEO and Managing Director, PICA Group

Runner-up
Fiona Yang
Co-Founder, Plus Agency

Highly Commended
Lloyd Edge
Founder and Managing Director, Aus Property Professionals

STARTUP
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Winner
LOUIS DROGUETT
Co-Founder and CEO, Software@Scale

Runner-up
LOUIS SISK
Co-Founder and CEO, Doccy

Highly Commended
BEN KING
Founder and CEO, Aviato Consulting

VIRGIN UNITE 100% HUMAN AT WORK

Winner
MANTEL GROUP

See the winners celebrate and explore more memorable moments from the evening in our highlights gallery.