2026 Winner - Department 13 – Bilby Counter-Drone Technology

Department 13’s Bilby counter-drone system represents a significant advancement in detection and tracking technology. Designed for complex and contested environments, Bilby delivers precise drone identification and tracking — enabling operators to respond effectively to emerging airborne threats.

What impressed the judges was the balance of sophistication and practicality. This is not a laboratory concept — it is operationally deployed, delivering real-world performance in environments where reliability is non-negotiable.

Bilby strengthens Australia’s ability to safeguard major events, critical assets, and defence applications, contributing directly to national security and industry resilience.

Ben Westgarth from Department 13 accepting the Innovation - Technology Award from AAUS President Andrew Crowe

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).

2026 Winner: Freespace Operations

Freespace is recognised for redefining what operational drone capability can look like through its Cooperative Lift platform. Co-founded by Ken King and Leonard Hall — both pioneers in advanced autonomy and aerospace systems — Freespace brings together deep technical expertise and operational vision to solve one of the industry’s hardest challenges: scalable heavy-lift autonomy.

Their Cooperative Lift system synchronises multiple autonomous Callisto 50 aircraft into a single coordinated platform, delivering heavy-payload capability without relying on a single large airframe. This distributed, redundant architecture unlocks new possibilities across logistics, disaster response and critical infrastructure support, particularly in remote and demanding environments.

By combining advanced autonomy, real-world validation and scalable system design, Ken and Leonard have moved cooperative multi-aircraft operations from theory into practical deployment. Freespace’s work represents a significant step forward in industrial drone operations — innovative, scalable and globally relevant — and a powerful example of Australian leadership in operational autonomy.

Richard Hall and Ken King from Freespace Operations pictured with Andrew Crowe (AAUS President).

2026 Winner: Toll Uncrewed Systems

Toll Uncrewed Systems is recognised for its outstanding leadership in advancing RPAS safety within complex, high-consequence operational environments. Under the leadership of Wayne Condon, the organisation has developed and implemented a structured RPAS training and integration program within the NSW Ambulance Aeromedical Division — bridging the operational divide between crewed helicopter operations and uncrewed systems.

This program has embedded strong safety governance, scenario-based training, communication protocols and risk mitigation practices into real-world aeromedical and emergency response missions. Importantly, it has fostered a shared safety culture between pilots, aircrew officers and RPAS operators — ensuring that uncrewed systems enhance, rather than compromise, mission safety.

Wayne’s leadership has demonstrated how professional training, operational discipline and structured integration can safely expand RPAS capability in some of Australia’s most demanding aviation environments. Toll Uncrewed Systems’ work sets a benchmark for safety-led uncrewed integration across the sector.

Wayne Condon (Toll Uncrewed Systems) accepts the Education and Safety award from Andrew Crowe (AAUS President). 

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.

2026 Winner: Australian UAV Service

The Australian UAV Service is recognised for setting the national benchmark for how uncrewed systems can deliver enduring public benefit.

For over a decade, AUAVS has embedded drone capability into frontline emergency response, fire management, coastal safety and education programs across Australia. From supporting NSW SES operations during floods and severe weather events, to managing the NSW Rural Fire Service RPAS Program end-to-end, AUAVS has strengthened situational awareness, improved responder safety and helped protect lives and property.

Its Shark Surveillance Program — now one of Australia’s largest and longest-running UAV safety initiatives — has flown tens of thousands of missions to monitor coastal safety, reinforcing public confidence and delivering real-time, lifesaving outcomes.

Beyond operational response, AUAVS invests in the future workforce through STEM education and inclusive training pathways, building capability in the next generation of drone professionals.

Australian UAV Service exemplifies the social power of uncrewed systems in action — practical, scalable and delivering measurable community impact across the nation.

Andrew Crowe pictured with James Bassam, Oliver Heys and Mark Atkins (representing Australian UAV Service) 

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.

2025 Winner: Ghost Net Ranger Groups / DCCEEW - Office of Chief Remote Pilot

The Ghost Net Ranger Groups, in partnership with the Office of the Chief Remote Pilot, are recognised for transforming access to uncrewed technology through Indigenous-led capability development across Northern Australia.

By embedding drone and AI skills within First Nations ranger programs, this initiative has empowered remote communities to lead critical environmental protection work — mapping ghost nets, monitoring marine debris and strengthening coastal management — using advanced RPAS and AI tools.

Importantly, this program has not simply introduced technology into communities; it has built accredited training pathways, created employment opportunities, and ensured operations are delivered in culturally appropriate and locally governed ways. Indigenous rangers are now licensed pilots, AI data analysts and operational leaders — applying uncrewed systems to protect Country while strengthening community capability.

This initiative demonstrates that diversity and inclusion are not peripheral to innovation — they are central to it. The Ghost Net Ranger Groups and the Office of the Chief Remote Pilot have set a powerful example of how uncrewed systems can expand opportunity, build resilience and deliver meaningful outcomes for people and the environment.

Andrew Crowe, Rakrakpuy Marika, Steph Salee and Dr Renee Bartolo (representing the Ghost Net Ranger Groups/ DCCEEW)

NextGen Achievement Award

The NextGen Achievement Award will recognise young individuals that demonstrate elite capability and leadership in their field within the uncrewed systems sector.