Australia’s most influential leaders gathered at Crown Melbourne on Wednesday, 12 November, as The CEO Magazine hosted the 14th annual Executive of the Year Awards.

Recognized as the nation’s most prestigious business awards event, the awards shine a spotlight on the individuals steering organizations through disruption, growth and purpose-driven transformation.

This year’s cohort reflected a rapidly evolving business landscape where innovation, resilience and human-centered leadership are shaping long-term value creation across every sector.

“What continues to impress me is the depth of leadership talent in Australia – not just the scale of commercial achievement but the character behind it,” says The CEO Magazine Founder Chris Dutton.

“These are leaders who make bold decisions, build exceptional teams and show up for their people in the moments that matter most. I’d like to extend a huge congratulations to all of our winners and finalists on their outstanding achievement.”

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Winners were selected by an esteemed judging panel led by Dutton and The CEO Magazine Co-Founder and Executive Director Anna Dutton, joined by Christian Stevens, CEO of Flint and Farmers Finance Australia; Colleen Callander, Founder of Callander & Co; James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel; Jason Price, CEO of Capgemini; Jérôme Debreu, CEO of Kiekert; John Karagounis, CEO and Executive Chair of The CEO Circle; Jose da Silva, Group CEO and Executive Director of Wilson Group; and Louise Baxter, CEO and Executive Director of Starlight Children’s Foundation.

The 2025 Executive of the Year Award winners

Winner: Jane Oppenheim, CEO, Ego Pharmaceuticals

Runner-Up: Mark Middleton, CEO, Icon Group

Highly Commended: Michelle Aquilina, CEO, MoleMap Australia and New Zealand

Recipient: Jan Owen, Principal, AdaptabilityQ

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

Runner-Up: Ryan Edwards-Pritchard, CEO, ANNA Money

Highly Commended: Declan Sherman, CEO, Infragreen

Winner: Mark Baker, CEO, BESIX Watpac

Runner-Up: Damien Vella, CEO, Breen Resources

Highly Commended: Scott Power, CEO & Group Director, BMD

Winner: DJ McCready, Co-Founder, Mountain Culture Beer Co

Runner-Up: Laura Goldberg, COO, Hurricane’s Grill

Highly Commended: Fiona Rose, CEO, Fitness Passport

Winner: Steven Fordham, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Blackrock Industries

Runner-Up: Chris Williams, CEO, Global Engineering and Construction

Highly Commended: Joseph Oliver, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Delorean Corporation

Winner: Mark Middleton, CEO, Icon Group

Runner-Up: Michelle Aquilina, CEO, MoleMap Australia & New Zealand

Highly Commended: Yasser Zaki, Global CEO, Tender Loving Care

Winner: Edward Chung, Managing Director & CEO, TechnologyOne

Runner-Up: James Lancaster, Founder & CEO, Renew IT

Highly Commended: Nicholas Flood, Vice President IBM Technology & Country Leader IBM Australia, IBM

Winner: Jane Oppenheim, CEO, Ego Pharmaceuticals

Runner-Up: Martin Merrick, President & CEO, Volvo Group Australia

Highly Commended: Stuart Whiley, CEO & Managing Director, ASC

Winner: Sonya Smart, CEO, VMCH

Runner-Up: Deborah Thomas, CEO, Camp Quality

Highly Commended: Justine Cain, Group CEO, Diabetes Australia

Winner: Scott Stavretis, CEO, Acquire Intelligence

Runner-Up: David Gagovski, CEO & Managing Director, Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane

Highly Commended: Ainslie van Onselen, CEO, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Winner: Scott O’Neill, CEO, Rethink Group

Runner-Up: Timothy Cocaro, Founder & CEO, canibuild

Highly Commended: Ron Bakir, CEO, Homecorp

Recipients:

Future Skills Organisation

SMEC

Deloitte Australia

AMP

Hays Specialist Recruitment

SunRice

Commonwealth Bank

Capability.Co