Presenting the Finalists for the 2026 Benchmark Security Awards

Quick Overview

• The Benchmark Security Awards honour Australian pioneers in cybersecurity across a range of industries.
• Finalists represent government, industrial, education, healthcare, finance, retail, and telecommunications fields.
• This year’s awards are presented by TechBest and techpartner.news.
• The awards ceremony is scheduled for 11 November at W Hotel Sydney.
• Major sponsors include Saviynt, Airlock Digital, and Delinea.

Honouring Cybersecurity Excellence in Australia

The Benchmark Security Awards are back at the forefront, celebrating the successes of Australian cybersecurity leaders and collaborators. Acknowledging excellence in both public and private sectors, these awards shine a light on the individuals and organisations leading strong cybersecurity initiatives across Australia.

Introducing the Finalists

This year’s finalists comprise an extraordinary array from diverse sectors, demonstrating the extensive cybersecurity knowledge available nationwide.

Government Sector

• Sandeep Taileng, State Trustees
• Arthur van der Merwe, ASIC
• Robert Munoz, Department of Education, Victoria
• Prashant Singh, Department of Education, Western Australia
• Adam Cartwright, Australia Post
• Ada Aydin, Melbourne Park

Industrial & Energy Sector

• Brahman Thiyagalingham, GME
• Siddharth Rajanna, Bingo Industries
• Andrew Webster, BlueScope

Education Sector

• Lee Swift, Catholic Education, Western Australia
• Andrew Nathan, University of Newcastle
• Andrew Tolhurst, University of Sydney
• Vlad Vyshnivetskyy, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
• Tara Dharnikota, Victoria University
• Aathioli Sivaprakasam, Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst
• Luke Bampton, Monash University

Healthcare Sector

• Nicole Neil, Fresh Clinics
• Deb Holliday, Sydney North Primary Health Network
• Mohammad Shahmalecki, Ramsay Health Care
• Varun Acharya, Healthscope
• Peter Param, Anglicare Sydney
• Nyoman Wijesinghe, Bendigo Community Health Services

Finance Sector

• Sue Perera, Commonwealth Bank
• Amit Sharma, HCF
• Graham Fairley, PEXA
• Saleshni Sharma, W. R. Berkley
• Annie Tran, DBS Bank
• Sunil Rodhan, IPH
• Jonathan Woods, QBE
• Simon Dalli, McMillan Shakespeare

Retail Sector

• Igor Chacon, Servo
• Jason Hargenrader, Treasury Wine Estates
• Edwin Kwan, Domain Group
• Alexander Haroun, Central Equity

Not-for-Profit Sector

• Johan Sulaiman, Heart Research Institute
• Vishwanath Nair, Baptist Care
• Doug Hammond, Uniting
• Joanne Fisher, Diabetes Australia
• Nikki Peever, CAUDIT
• Leana El-Hourani, Mission Australia
• Lou Runyard, UNICEF Australia

Telecommunications Sector

• Natalie Lemieszek, Aussie Broadband
• Clive Reeves, Telstra
• Sudheera Edirisinghe, Optus

Details of the Awards Ceremony

The awards ceremony is set to occur at the renowned W Hotel Sydney on 11 November. This gala occasion promises to be an exhilarating evening of acknowledgement and festivity, uniting leaders and innovators from Australia’s cybersecurity realm.

Supporters and Partners

The Benchmark Security Awards are proudly backed by industry frontrunners Saviynt, Airlock Digital, and Delinea. Their contribution facilitates the recognition of excellence and innovation within cybersecurity.

Conclusion

The Benchmark Security Awards illuminate the individuals and organisations achieving remarkable advancements in Australian cybersecurity. With finalists across various industries, the awards underline the vital importance of cybersecurity in all sectors.