The Australian Marine Industry Awards Gala Dinner, a highlight of ASMEX 2026, was held on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 at The Langham Gold Coast, bringing together 203 guests from across Australia and internationally to celebrate Australia’s marine industry.
Designed to recognise the people and businesses driving Australia’s globally respected marine sector, the Awards honoured standout achievements across export, superyacht and commercial marine categories. This year’s program attracted a strong number of submissions, reflecting the industry’s continued growth, innovation and commitment to excellence.
The evening commenced with Mayor Tom Tate’s ASMEX Reception, generously hosted by the City of Gold Coast, where guests gathered over networking drinks to connect ahead of the anticipated awards presentations.
Australian Marine Industry Awards: Image – Salty Dingo 2026
Guests then moved into the Gala Dinner, where Jeremy Spear, President of AIMEX and Director of Spear Green Design, welcomed attendees and reflected on the growth of AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and ACMG over the past year. He was followed by Maryanne Edwards, Chair Judge and Consultant at Global Marine Business Advisors, who spoke to the high quality of this year’s award submissions.
The formal award presentations commenced with the introduction of the State Finalists of the Australian Marine Industry Apprentice of the Year. Adam Chanter, Director of Marine Futures, welcomed each of the finalists to the stage, including Western Australian State Finalist Mitchell Dick from Austal, Queensland State Finalist Laura Hillman from Riviera Australia and New South Wales State Finalist Charlotte Anderson from Birdon Group. . Each finalist was presented with a certificate in recognition of their achievements, with the overall Apprentice of the Year winner announced later in the evening.
The presentation of the Export Awards followed, led by Awards judge Nav Bajwa, Director of Wholesale Banking and Financial Markets at Bank of Queensland.
Nav Bajwa presented the 2026 Exporter of the Year Award to Savwinch, recognised for their strong growth and impact in international markets. Savwinch’s rapid expansion reflects their commitment to innovation, product quality and global distribution, delivering Australian-made marine solutions to a growing number of overseas markets whilst strengthening the reputation of Australian manufacturing globally.
The 2026 Junior Exporter of the Year was presented to Topargee RV, Caravan & Marine Accessories, a female-led business that identified a clear gap in the market and transformed it into a global opportunity. From attending international events such as Metstrade with the AIMEX delegation, the company has grown into an emerging exporter now operating across seven international markets, delivering innovative, Australian-designed solutions that address critical fuel reliability challenges, with export sales continuing to grow year-on-year.
Danielle Wayne and Kylie Trabona, Co-Founders, commented, “We are incredibly proud to be named the 2026 Australian Marine Industry Junior Exporter of the Year recognising, Topargee’s innovative water and fuel monitoring solutions that solve real problems for RV and marine travellers. It is incredibly rewarding to see Australian-designed products gaining traction internationally. This recognition is a proud milestone for our team and our growing export journey.”
The highly competitive Superyacht category followed, with the three awards presented by Paul Sorrell, General Manager of Main Beach Superyacht Marina.
Marine Structures received the 2026 Superyacht Industry Project, Design or Manufacturer of the Year Award for its Port Denarau Marina project, which utilised its Australian-engineered Super Elite Marina System to deliver Fiji’s first mega yacht berth capable of accommodating vessels up to 115 metres. The project highlights the strength of Australian marine engineering and the value of collaboration with Pacific Island partners.
The 2026 Superyacht Industry Service Provider of the Year, the most contested award category, was awarded to Carter Marine Agencies Australia. In 2025, the company connected visiting superyachts with more than 320 world-class marine service providers across Australia, supporting over 1,500 jobs annually and generating significant regional economic impact across berthing, logistics, tourism and regional communities.
Award Winners – Image: Salty Dingo 2026
Sarah Toxward, General Manager, Carter Marine Agencies Australia, commented; “I am incredibly honoured to have Carter Marine Agencies recognised among such a strong group of industry peers. Much of our work happens quietly behind the scenes, so to be recognised for vision, commitment and performance over the past year is very rewarding and it reinforces the importance of collaboration across our industry. Every successful yacht visit is the result of many people working together and I am proud that Carter Marine Agencies plays a role in connecting visiting yachts with the exceptional capability Australia has to offer.”
A new addition to the awards program, the 2026 Superyacht Facility of the Year, was awarded to Coral Sea Marina Resort. As the only 5 Gold Anchor Platinum and Superyacht Ready marina on the Great Barrier Reef and with the largest superyacht berthing capacity in the Whitsundays, the marina continues to lead the way in infrastructure following major upgrades completed in 2025.
The Commercial Awards followed, presented by Mayor Tom Tate, City of Gold Coast, with this year’s program featuring two awards following the merger of the Tourism Operator and Hospitality Operator categories into one, alongside the stable Commercial Project, Design and Manufacturer of the Year.
CHAPMAN’s Charter Division was awarded the 2026 Commercial Marine Operator of the Year, recognised for exceptional fleet utilisation and high-volume charter activity across Australia’s key marine destinations, consistently operating at peak capacity while supporting major national and international events.
The 2026 Commercial Marine Project, Design or Manufacturer of the Year was awarded for the second consecutive year to Norman R. Wright & Sons for the two-year refit of the 1962 timber vessel South Pacific II. The project successfully combined traditional shipwright techniques with advanced engineering upgrades, delivering full structural renewal and elevating the vessel to a higher commercial survey capability.
In recognition of exceptional merit, the judges awarded a Highly Commended Certificate to Marine Structures for their Coffs Harbour project. The redevelopment showcased innovation and scale through a complete marina transformation, enhancing durability, safety and operational performance in regional marina infrastructure in Australia.
The awards then moved on to the Industry Wide categories, open to all members of AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and ACMG, recognising excellence in innovation, marketing and emerging talent across the Australian marine industry.
Corey Rattray-Wood, General Manager, Mulpha Events presented the 2026 Marine Industry Innovation of the Year Award to Muir Engineering for their advanced anchoring system, which uses a horizontal planetary drive winch to redefine superyacht anchoring. The system integrates key components into a compact design, reducing deck footprint by up to 40 percent while improving efficiency, safety and installation
Integ Marine Group received the 2026 Australian Marine Marketing Strategy of the Year, presented by Jeanette Harris, Director of Property and Marina, Hamilton Island Marina. The company’s strategic repositioning as a leading marine glazing partner across the Southern Hemisphere, supported by a strengthened digital presence and targeted global campaigns, has significantly expanded its international reach and brand visibility.
Darren Dench, Managing Director of Integ Marine Group commented; “This recognition highlights the importance of marketing in promoting not only our business across Australia and overseas, but also the broader Australian marine industry and everything it represents globally. Our approach is fully integrated across all channels – ensuring a consistent message about who we are, what we do, and the value Australia offers as a world-class destination for marine services and experiences. Ultimately, all of these efforts contribute to bringing more vessels into Australian waters and supporting the growth of our industry.”
The highly anticipated 2026 Australian Marine Industry Apprentice of the Year was presented by Robert Petheridge, General Manager, TAFE Queensland. This career-defining award recognises outstanding emerging talent, with the recipient awarded return flights and accommodation to attend Metstrade in Amsterdam, where they join the Australian delegation and participate in the global Young Professionals Club.
The 2026 Apprentice of the Year award was bestowed on Laura Hillman of Riviera Australia, who impressed the judges with her rapid progression from a 17-year-old apprentice, her strong technical development and genuine passion for the marine sector. Consistently demonstrating initiative and a willingness to embrace opportunities beyond her role, Laura is set to benefit from and embrace the journey to Amsterdam and the opportunities it will offer.
State Finalists of the Australian Marine Industry Apprentice of the Year – Charlotte Anderson, Mitchell Dick & Laura Hillman: Image – Salty Dingo 2026
The evening culminated in the presentation of the 2026 Marine Industry Champion of the Year, presented by Steve Bay, Director of International Business at Rivergate Marina and Shipyard and awarded to Jamie Bruce, CEO and major shareholder of Birdon.
Jamie has led the transformation of the family-owned business into a global marine engineering and defence organisation, achieving significant international growth and expanding through strategic acquisitions and securing major contracts with the United States Army, Navy and Coast Guard.
With turnover surpassing A$500 million, Jamie Bruce’s leadership reflects both strong commercial success and a clear vision for advancing Australian sovereign capability on the global stage. His commitment to innovation, sustainability and industry development makes him a highly deserving recipient of this prestigious honour.
Jane Hilsdon, Chief Marketing Officer at Birdon commented; “Charlotte Anderson’s recognition as NSW Apprentice of the Year, alongside Jamie’s as Marine Industry Champion of the Year, reflects the depth of talent and leadership across Australia’s maritime sector, celebrating both a promising career just beginning and a lifetime of contribution. Together, they embody the people, capability and shared commitment that continue to strengthen our industry’s future.”
Reflecting on the evening’s events, David Good, CEO, AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and ACMG commented; “The Australian Marine Industry awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of the entire industry and also highlight individual excellence. The 2026 winners demonstrate the innovation, professionalism, diversity and ongoing contribution to Australia’s economic and maritime future.”
AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and the Australian Commercial Marine Group would like to acknowledge and thank the judging panel for the 2026 Australian Marine Industry Awards: MaryAnne Edwards, Chair Judge, Global Marine Business Advisors; Barry Jenkins, Former Chairman, Superyacht Australia; Dr Thomas Wechselberger, Project Manager, Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, QLD; Stephen Quigley, Managing Director, One2three Naval Architects; Nav Bajwa, Director Wholesale Banking and Financial Markets, Bank of Queensland; Sean Griffin, Commercial Consultant; Gillian Carter, Director, Pacific Marine Design; Kristina Agustin, Founder & Principal Digital Navigator, Southern Sky AI.
AIMEX extends our gratitude to the 2026 Australian Marine Industry Awards Major Partners, Award Presenting Partners and Supporting Sponsors, each listed below;
MAJOR PARTNERS – Invest Gold Coast, Queensland Government and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.
PARTNER – Volvo Penta
AWARD PRESENTING PARTNERS – Bank of Queensland, Hamilton Island, Marine Futures, Main Beach Superyacht Marina, Rivergate Marina & Shipyard and TAFE Queensland.
