Page 50 - Australian Defence Magazine Sep-Oct 2022

50 WOMEN IN DEFENCE AWARDS
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
WIDA 2022
ADM is delighted to announce the finalists of the Women in Defence Awards 2022. Our panel of judges were thrilled with the diverse, talented and high-calibre group of invididuals nominated this year.
Across all categories, judges looked for entries that demonstrated outstanding success in their careers and particularly in 2021; showed a commitment to values and behaviours that led to success; overcame personal challenges; and went above and beyond their position descriptions to advance the reputation of the defence sector or to mentor and guide others. Each category’s unique judging panel also considered more specific challenges and circumstances to arrive at a list of finalists, all of whom are outstanding in their fields.
COMMUNICATIONS
WING COMMANDER DEANNA NOTT OF WINGS PUBLIC RELATIONS
Deanna is the Managing Director of Wings Public Relations. She is also a Wing Commander serving as the Air Force’s Deputy Director Values and Behaviour and the longest serving public affairs officer in the RAAF. The judges were impressed by Deanna’s significant contribution to Defence and Defence industry over 28 years, and her outstanding achievements in 2021 including securing the communications contract to promote Pacific Airshow Gold Coast. Her ongoing passion and commitment to defence as both a military officer and communications professional – all while balancing a range of pro bono activities for community organisations – is exemplary.
SIOBHAN MACCANA OF BAE SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA
Siobhan is a Communications Manager within BAE Systems’ national Communications team. The judg- es were impressed with Siobhan’s original and creative approach to telling stories about defence industry and people through the delivery of a new industry-leading podcast ‘Technically Possible’ in 2021. Siob- han overcame various challenges which could have been a showstopper for this podcast, including the high levels of security within the defence industry, to triple anticipated listenership targets to more than 11,000 to date, attracting listeners from more than 30 countries.
CLARE GRANDISON OF DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GROUP
In 2021, Clare executed various science communication activities for the research program she leads
as Discipline Leader Environmental Signatures for Defence Science and Technology Group. Amongst these, she established a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary community of practice online to connect stakeholders in the environmental signatures interest area and educate the broader Defence communi- ty. Clare was a stand-out candidate due to how passionately she represents Australian Defence science in public fora and contributes to the Australian STEM development pipeline, including supporting female participation in science.
CINDY SLAVEN OF NAVANTIA AUSTRALIA
Cindy is Chief Marketing & Communications Officer for Navantia Australia and was instrumental in supporting Navantia’s decision to enter the land domain in 2021. Cindy’s strategy for delivering the chal- lenging task of introducing a naval design and sustainment company to Army culminated in her success- ful planning and execution of Navantia Australia’s first involvement in the Land Forces exhibition. The judges also noted her dedication to publicly supporting and promoting the defence industry workforce at events, as well as the high esteem to which her colleagues hold her, indicative of her invaluable contribu- tion to the Navantia brand.