2025 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOMINEES FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCED
A man making football for children more inclusive, a microbiologist solving antibiotic resistance, an Olympic pole vaulter, a woman dedicated to helping others through therapeutic horse riding, an Indigenous business leader and a young man ensuring education for everyone are just some of the nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards for Western Australia.
The 2025 award nominees are:
2025 Australian of the Year for Western Australia
Kim Collard - Founder, Kulbardi, Kooya Australia Fleet Services and Bibbulmun Fund (Perth)
Dianne and Ian Haggerty - Agriculture pioneers (Mollerin)
Dr Kieran Mulroney - Inventor and applied microbiologist (Coodanup)
Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg - Paediatric anaesthetist (Subiaco)
2025 Senior Australian of the Year for Western Australia
Professor Patricia Dudgeon AM - Mental healthcare advocate (St James)
M’liss Henry OAM - Founder, Claremont Therapeutic Riding Centre (Wembley)
Angi McCluskey - Dementia care champion (Roleystone)
Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett AM - Co-founder, Wheelchairs For Kids (Perth)
2025 Young Australian of the Year for Western Australia
Jack Anderson - Co-founder, Elucidate Education (Applecross)
Shelley Cable - Accountant and advocate for First Nations economic empowerment (Mount Pleasant)
Isabella Choate - Intersectional living experience advocate (Rivervale)
Nina Kennedy - World champion and Olympic gold medallist, pole vault (Busselton)
2025 Local Hero for Western Australia
Cristiana Anca - Social entrepreneur and founder, Chris’ Kitchen (Fremantle)
Jennifer Ball - Founder, Worthy Australia (Baldivis)
Rob Geersen - Founder, Starkick (Menora)
Dr Jacinta Vu - Oral medicine specialist (Como)
The nominees for Western Australia are among 137 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The award recipients for Western Australia will be announced on the evening of Tuesday 12 November 2024 in a ceremony at Government House in Perth, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2025 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the nominees for Western Australia.
“The Western Australia nominees for 2025 are all dedicated to helping others and making a difference,” said Mark.
“Across a diverse range of interests and skillsets, they are all giving back, creating opportunities or breaking ground which impacts others in positive, often life changing ways.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios on the pdf below and can also be viewed from australianoftheyear.org.au.
Nominee photos can be downloaded from this link (note – all photos have been supplied by nominees):
Western Australia Nominee Photos
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au