The finalists for the 2026 Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards have been announced, among the nominees are leading businesses, prominent advocates for inclusion, and trailblazing researchers.
Among the nominees is Professor Sophia Nimphius from Edith Cowan University. Professor Nimphius is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sport) at the Western Australian institution and Professor of Human Performance.
This year’s ceremony on 29 May at Sydney’s prestigious ICC Grand Ballroom will bring together Australia’s most progressive organisations and their LGBTQ+ inclusion champions.
This year’s celebration will be hosted by the dynamic duo Ricardo Gonçalves and Richelle Harrison Plesse from SBS, with a special performance by acclaimed artist Natalie Bassingthwaighte.
Proudly produced by Pride in Diversity, ACON’s nationally renowned workplace inclusion program, these Awards spotlight organisations that are creating real, measurable impact for LGBTQ+ employees and setting new standards for inclusive leadership across diverse industries.
Established in 2011 as Australia’s premier recognition program, the Awards are grounded in the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), the nation’s definitive benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. The event celebrates organisations at every stage of their inclusion journey, from building strong foundations to pioneering innovative practices that transform Australian workplaces into environments where everyone can thrive.
Director of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, Dawn Emsen-Hough said the program was working to break down barriers.
“All Australians deserve the right to bring their best selves to work. We know that isn’t always the case, but these finalists are actively dismantling those barriers to create environments where everyone belongs.”
“Their dedication to inclusion delivers not just cultural benefits but also tangible business advantages, helping to build organisations where both people and performance flourish.
“Being recognised as an AWEI finalist is a significant achievement. It reflects organisations and individuals who have made a deliberate and sustained commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.”
“Importantly, this work is being done in a broader environment where we are seeing some organisations step back or lose focus. That makes the leadership shown by our finalists even more notable. They have stayed the course, continued to invest, and remained focused on delivering meaningful outcomes for their people.”
“These finalists are not only improving the day-to-day experiences of LGBTQ+ employees, but they are also contributing to stronger, more resilient and higher-performing workplaces. In doing so, they are helping to set the standard for inclusion across Australian business.”
The 2026 Awards will return to the iconic ICC Sydney Grand Ballroom, where CEOs, senior executives, HR and diversity practitioners, employee network leaders, and LGBTQ+ employees and allies will gather to celebrate this year’s trailblazers and continue advancing Australia’s workplace inclusion journey.
2026 AUSTRALIAN LGBTQ+ INCLUSION AWARDS FINALISTS
CEO OF THE YEAR AWARD
Glenn Morgan (he/him), Deutsche Bank
Stuart Rose (he/him), ISS Facility Services Australia & New Zealand
Claire Ross (she/her), Mercer Super
Mark Nielson (he/him), Talent International
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD
Gary Starr (he/him), Australia Post
Kaele Stokes (she/her), Dementia Australia
Heather Hicks (she/her), KPMG Australia
Claire Ross (she/her), Mercer Super
LGBTQ+ INCLUSION INNOVATION AWARD
“Activating Parents as Allies for LGBTQ+ Inclusion,” Capgemini
“Dan’s Diner Midsumma Activation,” Endeavour Group
“Rainbow Immersion,” PwC Australia
“PRYSM Committee,” Spark North East Link
LGBTQ+ ROLE MODEL AWARD
Ellie Watts (they/them), Australian Retirement Trust
Sarah Tell (she/her), Brisbane City Council
Michelle Pallas (she/her), KPMG Australia
Claire Alexander (she/her), Russell Kennedy Lawyers
Dr. WiL Robles (he/they), Swinburne University of Technology
NETWORK LEADER OF THE YEAR
Amy Ewing (she/her), Ampol
Harry Coulter (he/him), Ashurst
Craig Rath (he/him), Datacom
Cath Emery (they/them), NSW Police Force
Jesse Brown (he/him), Westpac Group
SALLY WEBSTER ALLY AWARD
Chloe Batchelor (she/her), AGL Energy
Gary Starr (he/him) Australia Post
Peta Camilleri (she/her), Capgemini
Paula Gerber (she/her), Monash University
SAPPHIRE INSPIRE AWARD
Professor Sophia Nimphius (she/her), Edith Cowan University
Sylvia Yeo (she/her), Dementia Australia
Declaration: Professor Sophia Nimphius and OUTinPerth co-editor Graeme Watson are colleagues at Edith Cowan University.
