About the AIPIO Awards Scheme

Discover the AIPIO Awards Scheme, recognising excellence and outstanding contributions in the intelligence profession.

AIPIO AWARDS

AIPIO Awards for Excellence in the Intelligence Profession

Nominations open 1st of February 2026 to 30th June 2026

Award Nomination

These prestigious awards aim to recognise individuals and groups who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and contributions to the intelligence profession in Australia.

This year, we are seeking nominations across four categories:

The AIPIO “Intelligence Professional of the Year”

This award aims to recognise an individual who has made a significant and commendable contribution to the intelligence profession in Australia, specifically acknowledging an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, or other notable achievements within the intelligence profession

AIPIO Emerging Intelligence Professional (EIP) Award

This award aims to recognise and celebrate excellence among emerging professionals across various intelligence sectors, acknowledging outstanding contributions over the preceding 12 months.

The AIPIO "Intelligence Group of the Year"

This award is designed to recognise a group that has demonstrated exceptional performance or innovation in the intelligence profession. This award aims to acknowledge outstanding achievements, thought leadership, and the introduction of revolutionary practices within the intelligence profession.

The AIPIO "Intelligence Publication" Award

This award is designed to recognise excellence in research, and writing, on issues relevant to the intelligence profession in Australasia.

We encourage all professionals in the intelligence field to participate in this esteemed recognition process. Nominations can be submitted by colleagues, supervisors, or self-nominations. Finalists will be selected based on their outstanding achievements and contributions to the profession. The AIPIO Board will only issue awards where nominations are of the highest standard and there will only be one award for each category.

We would like to thank our Awards Sponsor, for their support in bringing these awards to life.

For more information about the AIPIO Awards for Excellence in the Intelligence Profession, please contact engagement@aipio.asn.au.

David Irvine AO Memorial Award

Instituted by the AIPIO Board in 2023, the David Irvine AO Memorial Award is an annual recognition dedicated to honouring an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the intelligence progression in Australia.
The AIPIO Board will select the successful recipient
The distinguished recipient of the David Irvine AO Memorial Award will receive:

A unique David Irvine AO memorial Trophy
$5,000 grant to encourage ongoing innovation and contribution to the intelligence profession

The AIPIO President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution

The AIPIO President’s Award recognises profound contribution to the intelligence profession through service, commitment, leadership and advocacy.
This Award is given solely at the discretion of the AIPIO President.
The AIPIO Presidents Award for Outstanding Contribution recipient will receive:

An AIPIO trophy
A framed citation

Key Dates

Nominations are open from 2nd of February 2026 to 30th June 2026.
Nominations forms must be submitted via the online nomiation links.
Supporting materilas for the Publicaton Award (including a copy of the paper) may be emailed to the Engagements team at: engagement@aipio.asn.au.
The AIPIO team will notify award nominees shortly after, with awards to be presented during the AIPIO National Conference.
No serving AIPIO Board Member is eligible to receive an award

2025 AIPIO Awards Winners

2024 AIPIO Awards Winners

David Irvine AO Memorial Award winner
Hayley Van Loon

The AIPIO Intelligence Professional of the Year
Rachael King

The AIPIO Emerging Intelligence Professional of the Year
Simeng Yuan

Highly Commended Emerging Intelligence Professional of the Year
Owain Holmes

The AIPIO Intelligence Group of the Year
Tactical and Operational Intelligence Section, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Finalists for the AIPIO Intelligence Group of the Year
Criminal Groups Intelligence Unit / Raptor Intelligence Unit, NSW Police Force

Finalists for the AIPIO Intelligence Group of the Year
Intelligence Team, Royal Automobile Club of Queensland

2023 AIPIO Awards Winners

Publication Award
Helen Glazebrook

Individual Award
Emma Munro
Highly Commended – Glenn Rowe

Organisation Award
NSW Police Force, State Intelligence, Strategic Intelligence & Capability, Professional Development Cell

Emerging Intelligence Professional Award
Alistair Coombe
Highly Commended – Jerome Le Duc

Innovation in Intelligence Award
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services & Protegas Australia

Presidents Award
Dennis Richardson AO

2022 AIPIO Awards Winners

AIPIO Individual Award 2022
Elissa Wright

AIPIO Publication Award 2022
Professor Paula Jarzabkowski, Dr Corinne Unger & Dr Katie Meissner, for ‘Terrorism and Violent Protests: Where do these Disruptive Events Meet?’

AIPIO Emerging Intelligence Professional Award 2022
Venessa Ninovic

2021 AIPIO Awards Winners

AIPIO Individual Award 2021
Bianca Handyside

AIPIO Innovation in Intelligence Award 2021
WA Police Intelligence Services Division

AIPIO Organisation Award 2021
Protegas

AIPIO Publication Award 2021
Dr John Coyne, ‘Towards the 3.0 Intelligence Professional’

AIPIO Emerging Intelligence Professional Award 2021
Felicity Le

2020 AIPIO Awards Winners

AIPIO Individual Award 2020
Helen McGarry

AIPIO Publication Award 2020
John Fahey

AIPIO Organisation Award 2020
Intelligence Rising

AIPIO Innovation in Intelligence Award 2020
Charles Sturt University

AIPIO Young Intelligence Professional Award 2020
Meagan Goodwin

2019 AIPIO Awards Winners

Individual Award
Sharyn Johns

Organisation Award
NSW ICAC

Publication Award
Stephen McCombie, PhD, MIT, CISSP-ISSMP CFE
Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia
stephen.mccombie@mq.edu.au

James D. Ramsay, PhD, MA, CSP
Professor of Security Studies, University of New Hampshire, Durham New Hampshire, USA
james.ramsay@unh.edu

Allon J. Uhlmann, PhD
Lecturer in Intelligence, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia
allon.uhlmann@mq.edu.au