HMA 2025

FORGING OUR FUTURE

2025 Award Winners

Apprentice of the Year: Nicole Clifton – Regal Rexnord and HunterNet Career Connections for her tremendous personal and professional growth, strong technical expertise and the way she fosters a productive, challenging and harmonious work environment.

Outstanding Start-Up: Australian Electric Vehicle Specialists

for their comprehensice EV solutions, strong team growth, diverse projects, and clear scaling plan. Judges praised their focus on fleet emissions, classic car preservation, and cost savings, alongside a culture of collaboration and talent

development.

Excellence in Export & Global Supply Chains: Banlaw for their clear market strategy, innovative solutions and practical approach to overcoming export challenges from regulatory compliance to logistics, cultural differences, and digital marketing

Rising Star: Brandon Lane - Elecbrakes for his technical capability, initiative, and calm under pressure...qualities that already mark him as a future leader in advanced manufacturing.

Excellence in Marketing: Classic Blinds & Shutters for their positive customer testimonials, new reseller interest, and strengthened supplier partnerships that demonstrate how Classic Blinds successfully created a new niche while reinforcing its reputation as an industry innovator.

Excellence in Product Design: SafeGauge – Push Rod and MultiTool Pro for their innovative and intuitive design that puts people first and enhances efficiency and accuracy in heavy machinery maintenance, all while keeping technicians safe in hazardous environments.

Excellence in Innovation: Design Anthology In our most popular category this year, with more finalists than ever in HMA

history, Design Anthology stood out for their clear, disciplined, and truly innovative approach.

Excellence in Manufacturing Capability: Elecbrakes for their structured execution, staff engagement, and measurable

gains in cost, quality, and capacity — identifying Elecbrakes as a leader in disciplined, data-driven improvement.

Collaboration Partnership Award: SupaCell (iQRenew & 4 Seasons Industries) described by judges as a standout - noting the clear governance, accountability,and commercialisation strategy established from the outset. They praised both

partners for taking the plunge to share ideas, commit funding, and build a business model that turns innovation into tangible impact.

Diversity in Manufacturing: Morgan Engineering for its strong DEI outcomes, leadershipdriven initiatives, and positive impact on workforce culture, community engagement, and innovation.

Excellence in Sustainability: Downer Rail & Transit Systems for their scalable, circular and sustainable approach to rail maintenance with real-world impact.

Digital Transformation: Jaegersoft (in partnership with Tomago Aluminium) for their outstanding digital transformation, with significant operational, safety, and financial improvements, strong employee co-design, customer engagement, and a modular, future-ready architecture that sets a new benchmark for the industry.

Excellence in Manufacturing Leadership: Tony Lobb – Brain Industries International for his commitment and focus on developing future manufacturing leaders. Known for his hands-on style, Tony works alongside his team on the shop floor, inspiring and empowering employees to solve problems, innovate, and achieve outstanding results.

Manufacturer of the Year (under 50 employees): Brain Industries - recognised for developing an outstanding manufacturing business with a strong export focus, supported by strong customer relationships and an engaged workforce.

Manufacturer of the Year (50 or more employees): Agrana Fruit Australia - awarded for high-quality production, innovation, strong export performance, investment in people, and application of best-practice production systems including ISO certification and lean principles.

Hall of Fame Inductee: Varley Group - honoured for its extraordinary contribution to the Hunter manufacturing landscape and nearly 140 years of continuous innovation across defence, emergency services, marine, health, cyber, and more.