The Composites Australia Annual Industry Awards – 2026
The 2026 Composites Australia Awards were presented at this year’s Annual Conference, with Association President Lynden Vikingur welcoming Luke Preston, CEO of the ACM CRC, to present the awards. Together, the recipients’ achievements are strengthening Australia’s sovereignmanufacturing capability. Congratulations to all our winners!
🔹 Lifetime Achievement Award: Owen Hall. For his contribution to the composites industry in Western Australia across more than four decades, spanning fabrication, teaching, technical sales, production management and process development.
🔹 Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Contribution Award: Murray Scott , Chairman, Advanced Composite Structures Australia. For exceptional leadership and transformative contributions to aerospace engineering and advanced composite technologies.
🔹 Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding Contribution Award: Leigh Spencer, R&D Technical Services Manager, RPC Technologies Pty Ltd. For a distinguished career and outstanding contribution to the advancement of composites technology, engineering and industrial capability.
🔹 Distinguished Service Award: Genelle Coghlan, Managing Director, Colan Australia Pty Ltd. For exceptional leadership, stewardship and service to the Australian composites industry, with her service to the association spanning nearly two decades.
🔹 Engineer of the Year Award: Tom Murphy, Senior Design Engineer, Dennis Southam & Associates (DSA), part of the Novafast group. For professional excellence in engineering within composites manufacturing.
🔹 Engineering Team Excellence Award: Carbon Revolution Pty Ltd – Ashley Denmead, Steven Agius, Tim Corbett and Tim de Souza on behalf of the engineering team at Carbon Revolution. For outstanding engineering achievement in advancing automated composite manufacturing and global production capability.
🔹 Apprentice of the Year Award: Lionel Morell, Hart Marine. Working towards his MEM30719 Certificate III in Marine Craft Construction, recognised for his commitment to a multi-year trade qualification. Award sponsored by allnex Composites.
🔹 Manufacturing Excellence Award: Lee Charlton, Engineering Manager, Sykes Rowing/Sykes Racing. For 35 years of contribution to the manufacture of Australia’s high-performance composite rowing boats.
Each award recipient has pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in composite technology and manufacturing. The dinner was generously sponsored by MVPAustralia.The Composites Industry Awards 2026 serve as a platform to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements within the composites sector. Acknowledging the importance of excellence, commitment and ingenuity, these awards honour both individuals and organisations that form the sector. Award categories invite nominations for organisations, apprentices, staff, associates, and innovative products that signify progress and achievement in the industry.
