The CEO Magazine is proud to reveal the finalists for the 2025 Executive of the Year Awards – Australia. Now in its 14th year, the awards celebrate the nation’s most inspiring business leaders across a diverse range of industries.

From trailblazing CEOs to rising executives, the finalists represent the very best in leadership, innovation and impact. This year’s nominees embody resilience, vision and a commitment to driving growth and positive change within their organizations and beyond.

Banking, Financial Services and Insurance Executive of the Year

Damian Allan Brander
Managing Director, The Australian Lending & Investment Centre

Declan Sherman
CEO, Infragreen

Geoffrey Henderson
CEO, Unimutual

Jamie Twiss
CEO, Beforepay Group

Matthew Fenning
Co-Founder, CEO & Managing Director, Esencia Wealth

Peter Maloney
Group CEO, Lextech

Ryan Edwards-Pritchard
CEO, ANNA Money

Stefan Feldmann
Head of APAC & Managing Director – HDI Global SE Australasia, HDI Global SE

Tracey Warren
Founding Partner & CEO, F5 Collective

Construction, Transport and Logistics Executive of the Year

Abdullah Haddara
Director – Head of Operations, Haddarco

Bradley Gallivan
Director, AURÉI GROUP

Christopher Tyas
Co-Founder & Director, CADRE Australia

Damien Vella
CEO, Breen Resources

Kurt Saunderson
Founder & Managing Director, KASE Group

Mark Baker
CEO, BESIX Watpac

Mohammed Haddara
Director – Head of Construction, Haddarco

Peter Jones
Managing Director, Prological

Sam Ghassani
CEO, Reliance (Aus) trading as I’m In The Right

Scott Power
CEO & Group Director, BMD

Consumer and Lifestyle Executive of the Year

Anthony Ghattas
Chair, United Cellars Australia

Craig Hooley
COO, Minor Hotels Australasia

DJ McCready
Co-Founder, Mountain Culture Beer Co

Fiona Rose
CEO, Fitness Passport

James Liew
Managing Director, Pacific Sea Urchin Australia

Laura Goldberg
COO, Hurricane’s Grill

Thaio Tomazetti
Founder and CEO, 2Stay Accommodation Group

Winson Tan
Managing Director, WA KAZOKU

Energy and Mining Executive of the Year

Chris Williams
CEO, Global Engineering and Construction

Edward Kocwa
CEO, BOSSCAP GROUP

Heuson Bak
CEO, Solar Naturally

Jake Warner
Founder & Managing Director, PSC Energy

Joseph Oliver
Co-Founder & Managing Director, Delorean Corporation

Maddy Gupta
Founder & CEO, Manhari Metals

Matthew Wilkins
CEO, Venergy Australia

Steven Fordham
Co-Founder & Managing Director, Blackrock Industries

Healthcare Executive of the Year

Anna Klis
Founding Director & CEO, ASAC Consultancy

Carmen Mendez
Founder & CEO, More than Support

Daniel Tan
Founder & Director, Dr Daniel Tan & Associates

James Fitsioris
Co-Founder, easykind

Kerry Bolton
Founder & CEO, Caring Lotus

Mark Middleton
CEO, Icon Group

Michelle Aquilina
CEO, MoleMap Australia & New Zealand

Paul Goudie
CEO, Altura Learning

Penelope Cooper
Founder & CEO, Ohana Community Services

Raj Khillan
CEO and Founding Director, Preeti-Raj

Vinay Rane
Medical Director, Melbourne Mothers

Yasser Zaki
Global CEO, Tender Loving Care

Information Technology and Telecommunications Executive of the Year

Craig Doran
Founder & CEO, Comtrac

Cyril Gabriel
CEO, Academy Xi

David Bowie
Executive Vice President & Executive Managing Director – APAC, MRI Software

Edward Chung
Managing Director & CEO, TechnologyOne

Gavriel Schneider
Group CEO, Risk 2 Solution

Hinney Lo
Founder & CEO, PixelForce

James Lancaster
Founder & CEO, Renew IT

Kate Massey
General Manager – APAC, Athos Commerce

Matt Barrie
CEO, Freelancer

Matt Smith
Founder & CEO, MyPass Global

Nicholas Flood
Vice President IBM Technology & Country Leader IBM Australia, IBM

Peter Maloney
Group CEO, Lextech

River Nygryn
COO, BullionFX

Saurabh Anand
Founder & CEO, The Architecture Practice

Manufacturing Executive of the Year

Ai Li Yang
Global Head of Sales & Head of NPD & Innovations, Beauty Brand X

Aniss Chami
Co-Founder & CEO, Vitex Pharmaceuticals

Cecily McGuckin
CEO & Managing Director, Queensland Steel & Sheet

Chris Gannon
Director, Gannon Fabrications

Jane Oppenheim
Scientific & Operations Director, Ego Pharmaceuticals

John Arneil
President & General Manager – Asia-Pacific, James Hardie

Josie Sykes
General Manager – Brickworks Victoria and Tasmania, Brickworks

Kevin Dennis
CEO, Krueger Transport Equipment

Maddy Gupta
CEO, Manhari Metals

Martin Broglia
Managing Director – Australia and New Zealand, Bonfiglioli

Martin Merrick
President & CEO, Volvo Group Australia

Moses Lim
CEO, Green Eco Technologies

Nathan Wardell
Managing Director, Packserv Australia

Pamela Jabbour
Founder & CEO, Total Image Group

Paul Hitchcock
CEO, Patties Food Group

Stuart Whiley
CEO & Managing Director, ASC

Not-for-Profit Executive of the Year

Amanda Glenwright
General Manager – Health Services, Youturn

Arabella Gibson
CEO, Gidget Foundation Australia

Cassandra Treadwell
Co-Founder & CEO, So They Can

Deborah Thomas
CEO, Camp Quality

James King
CEO, Unison Housing

Justine Cain
Group CEO, Diabetes Australia

Kim Crane
CEO, Paddle Australia

Laura Cowell
CEO – Australia Operations, TLC Impact Foundation

Linda Jorgensen
CEO, St Andrews Private Hospital Toowoomba

Lucas Patchett
Co-Founder & CEO, Orange Sky

Rochelle Courtenay
Founder & Managing Director, Share the Dignity

Sarah Corcoran
CEO, Plant Health Australia

Sonya Smart
CEO, VMCH

Taicea Agnew
CEO, Youth Opportunities Australia

Professional Services Executive of the Year

Aaron Coutts
Director of the Office for Veterans, Senior Victorians and Elder Abuse Reform, Victorian Government

Ainslie van Onselen
CEO, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Andrew Everingham
Founder & CEO, CAPITAL-e Marketing & Events

David Gagovski
CEO & Managing Director, Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane

David Jam
Founder & CEO, Vertical Scope Group

Gavriel Schneider
Group CEO, Risk 2 Solution

Lisa Macqueen
CEO, Cleancorp

Louis Droguett
Co-Founder & CEO, Software@Scale

Paul Eastwood
Managing Partner – APAC, Argon & Co

Peter Maloney
Group CEO, Lextech

Phil Ahmat
Co-Founder & CEO, MuraConnect

Rachel Carey
CEO, Allara Support Services

Scott Stavretis
CEO, Acquire Intelligence

Sonia Majkic
Co-Founder & CEO, 3 Phase Marketing

Tiffany English
CEO, Access Offshoring

Property Development and Real Estate Executive of the Year

Annie Ta
Founder & CEO, Infiniti Property Corporation

Chris Christofi
Founder & CEO, Reventon Investments

Goro Gupta
Founder & CEO, Ethical Property Investments

Grant Philipp
Founder & CEO, Office Hub

Karuna Mazzocchi
CEO, Coronis Group

Lloyd Edge
Founder & Managing Director, Aus Property Professionals

Marty Fox
CEO, WHITEFOX Real Estate

Paul Mancini
Co-Founder & Director, Mancini Made

Ron Bakir
CEO, Homecorp

Scott O’Neill
Founder & CEO, Rethink Group

Thaio Tomazetti
Founder & CEO, 2Stay Accommodation Group

Timothy Cocaro
Founder & CEO, canibuild