Aurecon Design Academy named Best in Class at Australian Good Design Awards
Aurecon Design Academy wins Best in Class at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards, celebrating the company's decade-long investment in developing its people.
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Asia Pacific engineering consultancy Aurecon has been recognised in two categories at the Defence & National Security Workforce Awards, held on 23 April 2026.
South Australian-based Sarah Mortimer was awarded ‘Best Project Manager Under 35', and the Defence-Aurecon Ascend Program was named a finalist for 'Best Diversity and Inclusion Program/Initiative'.
These achievements underscore the dedication and impact of Aurecon’s work to support Australia’s Defence and national security objectives.
Sarah is the Lead Project Manager on two strategically significant Defence projects with a combined value of $403 million, supporting AUKUS initiatives and several other Defence capabilities. She leads a high performing team of Assistant Project Managers, offering day-to-day direction, mentoring and development opportunities that build both individual and collective capability.
Sarah is recognised by Defence as a trusted advisor to the Commonwealth, consistently delivering outcomes that enhance Australia’s Defence capability and support national security objectives. This was evidenced by eight client testimonials.
Sarah has also been named in the prestigious 2025 ADM 30 Under 30 list, which recognise the exceptional contributions of the under-30 demographic within the Defence industry.
Damon Howes, Aurecon’s Industry Director, Defence & National Security said, “Sarah’s achievements reflect a concerted effort to address the evolving needs of the Defence sector while navigating the challenges inherent in large-scale infrastructure projects. Sarah’s ability to lead teams, engage and communicate effectively with stakeholders, and deliver high-quality outcomes under pressure has contributed to the resilience and operational readiness of Australia’s Defence infrastructure. Sarah is passionate about mentoring, and is dedicated to empowering early career professionals, helping them build confidence and capability within the team.”
Defence-Aurecon Ascend is a significant part of the Defence gender equality strategy and supports Aurecon’s Inclusion@Aurecon plan. Through Defence and Aurecon’s investment in this program it continues to have a sustained positive impact, driving greater representation of women in senior leadership positions, catalysing innovation at a broader scale, and creating a legacy with an enduring impact.
Since its 2020 launch, 120 women across Australia have participated in the program. This year’s program launched on 23 April and is delivered in partnership with Inkling Group. The program is an evidence based, best in class initiative designed to develop courage and capability among high-potential women.
This latest recognition builds on a strong track record of industry and international acclaim for the Ascend Program. In recognition of its impact, this award-winning program was named Best Diversity & Inclusion Program or Initiative at the inaugural Defence and National Security Workforce Awards in 2024. Ascend also received international recognition with a Silver Brandon Hall Group™ Excellence Award® in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion awards for Best Leadership Development for Women in 2024.
Additionally, Ascend has been awarded Transformation Project of the Year by the Australian Institute of Project Management at the 2022 Project Management Achievement Awards at both State and National level.
Scott Powell, Aurecon’s Chief Operating Officer said, “These honours shine a light on what Aurecon people achieve every day, delivering complex, high-profile Defence projects and programs, with expertise and commitment. Through programs like Ascend, we are also creating a ripple effect of capability and leadership, enabled by a strong team-of-teams approach.”
Presented by Defence Connect, the Defence & National Security Workforce Awards recognise the depth of talent in the defence and national security sectors, as well as those workforce initiatives that are transforming the way security professionals operate as Australia prepares to embark on a period of rapid technological transformation.
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Aurecon Design Academy wins Best in Class at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards, celebrating the company's decade-long investment in developing its people.
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