Alana Flack, Mitch Deam and Derek Feebrey (Trendspek)

The results are proven:

• Up to 70 percent reduction in asset and operational risk
• Over 40 percent savings on inspection, maintenance and reporting costs
• Tens of thousands of labour hours removed from high-risk site tasks
• Tangible progress toward ESG and sustainability goals.

Today, Trendspek is in use across more than 40 countries, including the UK, Europe, North America and the UAE. Engineers in Australia use it to assess infrastructure abroad. Leading global engineering firms rely on it to deliver smarter outcomes and Australian capture providers are using it to expand their role, deepen client relationships and unlock new business models.

The wow factor lies in how Trendspek elevates uncrewed systems from a field activity to a cornerstone of strategic decision-making. What starts as data capture becomes a living digital record used at the highest levels of asset governance.

Innovation Award - Operations

The Innovation – Operations award will go to the organisation or individual that has developed novel and innovative operational capabilities to benefit customers. (eg. airspace integration, swarming, novel applications).

Toll Uncrewed Systems are enhancing aeromedical response by developing and operationalising a safe, efficient, and standardized framework for integrating uncrewed systems into emergency aeromedical and search & rescue (SAR) airspace.  The work is enhancing public safety outcomes and driving industry-wide innovation and regulatory reform within the Australian drone ecosystem.

Toll Uncrewed Systems initiated a collaborative program with Toll NSW Ambulance Helicopters – Aeromedical Rescue Services aimed at the safe integration of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) into traditionally crewed airspace used for lifesaving and patient outcome missions overcoming one of the most complex challenges in modern aviation - shared & coordinated operational environments between manned and unmanned aircraft. This strategic initiative represented a national first in jointly developing practical airspace solutions that supports aeromedical, SAR, and patient outcome emergency missions, particularly in the Blue Mountains remote, hazardous, and communication-challenged environments, where uncrewed systems provide unique operational advantages.

Impact of the initiative:

• Enhanced Emergency Response: Integrated UAS operations offered real-time situational awareness, rapid deployment, and extended reach to inaccessible areas, significantly improving patient outcomes in time-critical rescue missions.
• Safety in Remote Communities: By augmenting UAS aeromedical services in the Blue Mountains and regional areas, UAS extended critical capabilities to vulnerable situations and improve equity in patient & healthcare access.
• Disaster Resilience: UAS provided scalable support in natural disaster scenarios such as the 2025 NSW & QLD flood and search missions—where traditional resources were delayed or inaccessible. Industry Impact
• Regulatory Evolution: The initiative has been shaping uncrewed industry standards and influencing national policy through practical, safety-tested approaches that both CASA & Air Services Australia adopted to support manned-unmanned airspace integration and aeromedical operations well above 400FT and Beyond Line of Sight.
• Technology Advancement: By operationalising sense-and-avoid, ADS-B, and airborne communication systems in real-world scenarios, the program accelerated technological readiness across the uncrewed sector especially within the Group 3 VBAT probram.
• Sector Collaboration: The integration model promoted a culture of cooperation between traditional aviation, emergency services, regulators, and uncrewed system developers—setting a precedent for future partnerships.

Key Program Achievements and Objectives

1. Joint Operational Standards: Developed to safely govern simultaneous operations of crewed and uncrewed aircraft in mission-critical airspace, ensuring uniformity in procedures, safety protocols, and communication flow.
2. Real-Time Tracking and Remote ID: Implementation of drone tracking systems for real-time airspace awareness. These systems empower helicopter crews and command centers to actively monitor drone locations and flight paths—reducing the risk of conflict and enabling smarter mission coordination.
3. Advanced Collision Avoidance Systems: Deployment of TCAS ADS-B, and onboard sensors to equip uncrewed platforms with sense-and-avoid capabilities. This enhanced flight safety and enables dynamic risk mitigation in crowded or low-visibility environments.
4. Next-Gen Emergency Communications: In May 2023, the team successfully converted an offline mobile device into an emergency beacon—demonstrating innovative solutions for maintaining connectivity during operations in communication-deprived regions.

Wayne Condon (Toll Uncrewed Systems) and Andrew Crowe (AAUS President)

Toll Uncrewed Systems is at the forefront of pioneering change in both the impact of aeromedical aviation and the development of Australia’s uncrewed aviation industry.

Through these programs, Toll is delivering a clear pathway for safer, smarter, and more inclusive aerial operations, unlocking a new frontier in lifesaving technology and setting new standards for the industry at large whilst gaining CASA BLOS and specialist approvals

Aydin Koken (Flight Safety Foundation) accepts the Education and Safety award from Andrew Crowe (AAUS President). 

As a valuable output of the Program, the data and trends from the audits are analysed, collated, and published in reports. These reports are used to provide vital information to enhance safety throughout the RPAS industry. Additionally, the Program maintains a comprehensive database of reported RPAS incidents and accidents, providing an extra tool of invaluable data for future analysis.

In summary, the BARS RPAS Program provides an efficient means of monitoring, assessing and analysing risks associated with RPAS/Drones/UAV. It aims to educate aircraft and RPAS operators (both large and small) and contribute to enhancing the safety standards for uncrewed aerial systems in Australia and globally.

Social Impact Award

The Social Impact Award replaces the Humanitarian Achievement Award and will recognise individuals or organisations who demonstrate a mission, capability or technology that has a positive impact on society or has focused on the betterment of the uncrewed industry as a whole.

2025 Winner: Australian Defence Drone Racing Associations

Since inception in 2017, drone racing across Defence has grown to include over 100 pilots and numerous supporting members, becoming one of the leading sports with the highest level of engagement across the ADF. The sport enables communication and social skills as members engage in a technically challenging team sport while learning hard skills such as piloting, racing, and design/construction/repair of UAS platforms. The Associations leverage a fun and collaborative sporting environment as a platform for broader social benefit to the Australian UAS industry. This is achieved through team led initiatives which bring together industry, international military teams, civilian clubs and organisations, school aged children, and other government stakeholders to encourage interest in STEM pathways and UAS technology, all of which are critical for the future of the UAS industry.

The Associations demonstrate social and industry benefit through a wide range of initiatives, such as:

• Providing a national and international platform for representation of the ADF, individual services, and the Australian UAS industry through drone racing events and engagements; -
• Fostering teamwork, leadership, and community across the Australian UAS industry through participation in and promotion of a unique sport;
• Social integration of Australian Defence members with Australian UAS industry participants to foster ongoing networking and collaborative innovation;
• Developing a positive perspective about Defence drones and their benefits, while also introducing the concepts of safe operation of drones in a civilian context; -
• Directly partnering with and promoting (domestically and internationally) sovereign Australian organisations working in the UAS technology space.

Over the past eight years, the Associations have achieved significant social and industry success. This includes promoting UAS racing and associated STEM learning among Defence, Australian Industry, international partner nations, and the broader Australian public.

The Associations deliver benefits for both social engagement with UAS technologies and the uncrewed industry as a whole by facilitating understanding of the link between STEM education, UAS career pathways, and the breadth of applications for UAS technologies (including for sport!). These objectives are achieved through a tiered approach from direct engagement at the grassroots level, through to sponsorship and promotion opportunities for organisations, social media content creation (the Army association alone has over 2,800 Facebook followers), and competition success within and outside of Australia.

The Associations achieved significant progress toward the goal of promoting UAS technology and associated STEM learning among Defence, Australian Industry, and the broader public. Last year provided the opportunity for international engagement with counterparts from the UK, NZ, Singapore, USA, Jordan and several continental European countries. 

Alex Brown and Keirin Joyce (representing ADF Drone Racing Associations) with Andrew Crowe

The Associations have demonstrated the breadth of this impact through representation over the past year at:

• Australian International Airshow 25
• National Science Week
• Science Alive! Adelaide
• School visits
• Cadet unit visits
• ADFA Open Day
• National Drone Racing Championships
• Military International Drone Racing Tournament 24 in London, UK
• Military International Drone Racing Tournament 25 in Lewis, NY, USA

Diversity & Inclusion Award

The Diversity & Inclusion Award will recognise individuals or organisations who have made an outstanding contribution to supporting diversity and fostering inclusion within the uncrewed systems industry.

Global Drone Solutions (GDS) has been a committed advocate for improving diversity and inclusion within the uncrewed systems industry since our inception. As a leading CASA-approved drone training organisation, GDS has developed targeted initiatives that promote access and participation across gender, age, cultural background, and geography.

Recognising the traditionally narrow demographic of the aviation and technology sectors, GDS has implemented a range of programs and partnerships that encourage inclusion:

• Custom training programs for Indigenous Rangers and individuals from disadvantaged or remote communities, focusing on practical applications such as land mapping, environmental monitoring, and cultural heritage protection.
• Free school-based drone education seminars and introductory workshops, particularly in regional and low-income areas, aimed at inspiring young people—especially girls—to explore careers in drone technology and STEM.
• Active support of three drone racing clubs, fostering inclusive and community-driven spaces where youth from all backgrounds can engage with robotics and aviation.
• Recruitment policies that ensure equal opportunity across gender and age groups. Our instructor team includes individuals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, reinforcing inclusion through representation.
• Ongoing partnership with WeRobotics, offering free online drone training to communities in developing countries where access to quality education and resources is limited.

GDS approaches diversity and inclusion not as a one-off campaign, but as an embedded principle in how we train, communicate, and grow.

The outcomes of our diversity and inclusion efforts are both measurable and expanding:

• Over 6,000 pilots trained from a wide spectrum of industries and backgrounds.
• Indigenous and community-based participants have gone on to apply their drone skills in land conservation, compliance, and visual storytelling—creating local employment pathways.
• Our school programs have reached hundreds of students, helping build future capability in areas often overlooked by the tech and aviation sectors.
• Internationally, our free online training via WeRobotics has helped individuals in regions affected by disaster, poverty, or displacement gain life-changing drone skills.

GDS continues to broaden who gets access to drone technology, ensuring that opportunity in the uncrewed industry is not limited by geography, gender, or background.