From 307 nominations, we recognised the achievements of 28 outstanding finalists at a prestigious award ceremony at Adelaide Town Hall, hosted by The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Dr Jane Lomax-Smith AM.
All finalists were presented with a special blown glass trophy designed by South Australian artist Nicole Ayliffe for Jam Factory.
The winners of each award category were also announced. Our winners were further presented with a beautiful ‘Lucky Drop’ trophy designed by South Australian glass artist Llewelyn Ash for the Jam Factory.
Bravo to all of our talented finalists and winners.
Maria Sinche-Gonzalez
Dr Jegathisvaran Balakrishnan
Zachary Bailey
Dr Jegathisvaran (Jega) Balakrishnan is a pioneering innovator in intelligent transport systems, specialising in AI-driven car parking and accessible parking technologies. His work explores the integration of machine learning, sensor networks, and smart infrastructure to optimise urban parking, reduce congestion, and enhance accessibility for people with disabilities. He is also a mentor to graduate engineers, having guided over 50 emerging professionals in engineering innovation and applied research.
Jaclyn Schapel
Malcolm Berce
Matthew Kirkbride
Steven Hansen
Champion of lifelong learning, Steven Hansen is now an Education Supervisor within the Australian Corrections ecosystem. He has trained and worked in Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia, and launched his own highly successful hospitality business in Singapore. He returned to Adelaide in 2015 pursuing a new goal of imparting skills and knowledge to the next generation.
Beth Mooney
Ni Wang
Sonali Patel
Beth Mooney is an emerging dance artist. Living with scoliosis and spinal fusion, Beth investigates the limits and possibilities of a non-traditional spine, using her lived experience to drive her creative process. She has worked with major companies, festivals, and artists including the OzAsia Festival, Illuminate Adelaide, Carclew, DanceHub SA, Netflix, and RTÉ. Alongside her performance work, Beth is committed to community arts engagement. She teaches workshops across schools, youth programs, and regional communities throughout South Australia.
Ella Wakely
Emma O'Connell
Ian Henderson
Krystina Harpas
Emma has been working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service Oral Health Program as a Remote Area Oral Health Assistant for the past 4 years. During this time, she has helped to bring critical dental healthcare to areas with limited access. Through both clinical work, as well as supporting operations and logistics, Emma has demonstrated consistent dedication, care and adaptability to the local and wider community.
Jonathon Evans
Micheal Djoric
Nathan Murray Bishop
A passionate advocate for community service, Nathan Bishop has raised funds through his emerging charity organisation, PALS (Positive Actions, Lasting Solutions), to honour his three uncles who were cared for in the hospice. He has also supported ReachOut Australia through his fundraising efforts, contributing to more than $20,000 raised across six initiatives since May 2023. Nathan’s dedication has been acknowledged through several recent awards, including the Sports Association for Adelaide Schools’ Blue Round Medal for promoting mental health awareness and the City of Prospect Young Citizen of the Year 2025.
Delphine De’Salisbury
Federico Jano
Sarah McGurgan
Shahy Radwan
Shahy Radwan is a passionate community leader and cultural heritage advocate dedicated to empowering multicultural communities in Australia. Her career spans community development, settlement services, and cultural engagement, supporting migrants, refugees, and women from diverse backgrounds to achieve their goals. Shahy has collaborated with leading institutions, including the South Australian Museum and the National Museum of Australia, promoting inclusion, diversity, and cultural understanding.
Irene Rowe
Dr Mamun Ala
Rebekah Smith
Tahlia Riessen
Dr Ala is a Senior Lecturer in Leadership and Management at the Australian Institute of Business, where he also serves as Mentor and Advisor for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and an Academic Integrity Officer. Since 2015, he has mentored many international students through the UniSA Business Career Mentor Program, supporting their professional confidence and cross-cultural success. Beyond academia, Dr Ala contributes to multicultural communities as Secretary of the Dhaka University Alumni Association of South Australia and as a presenter on Radio Bangla Adelaide.
Anthony Julianto
Ivory Xin Zhang
Zaachariaha Fielding
With over 25 years as a chef and 5 years as an educator, Anthony Julianto brings a blend of industry expertise, innovation and care to culinary training. Now a Cookery Trainer and Assessor at Alliance College, he recently led the RTO’s 2024 pilot launch of the Certificate III in Patisserie and is now supporting trainers in education innovation and resource development. He is the founder of Ed-Spectrum, a digital culinary platform that promotes VET through storytelling and research. Recognised as the 2025 SA VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year, and a 2025 Australian Training Awards national finalist, Anthony is committed to fostering meaningful, inclusive and curiosity-led education.
Through the Chief Executive Award, TAFE SA Interim Chief Executive Adam Kilvert recognised a graduate who is applying their VET training to create innovative solutions that enhance educational opportunities within the Deaf community. The recipient was selected for their commitment excellence, professional courage, and strong civic spirit.
Tahlia Riessen is an educator and accredited Auslan-English interpreter dedicated to improving accessibility and literacy outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. She co-developed a literacy intervention program, now implemented across eight sites in Australia and New Zealand, significantly enhancing student literacy outcomes. Tahlia’s career has spanned interpreting and supporting Deaf students as a Bilingual School Support Officer. Now a teacher, she remains deeply passionate about interpreting and continues to advocate for equitable communication access across settings.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which TAFE SA stands.
Freecall 1800 882 661