Australian of the Year

2027 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS: ACT NOMINEES ANNOUNCED 

People making an impact across human rights, volunteering, equality, healthcare, inclusion and connection are among the Australian Capital Territory nominees announced today for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards. 

Sixteen people from across the Territory have been named as nominees for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards for ACT, with nominees recognised in each of the Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero categories. 

Among this year’s nominees are a researcher investigating the health impacts of a changing climate, a human rights lawyer,  a young man changing lonely lives through walking, a lifelong Rotary volunteer, a man connecting horses and people with disability, and a woman bringing seniors together over a cup of tea. 

The nominees are: 

2027 Australian of the Year for ACT 
Professor Hilary Bambrick - Climate impact advocate (Canberra) 
Dr Karen Demmery - Trauma recovery champion (Kaleen) 
Jasmine Fellows - Science editor (Gungahlin) 
Martin Hodgson - Human rights advocate (Monash) 

2027 Senior Australian of the Year for ACT 
Dr Neal Fogarty - Rotary volunteer (Garran) 
Dr Andrzej Kilian - Scientist and inventor (Kaleen) 
John Riley - Riding for the disabled coach (Weetangera) 
Christine Warren - Founder, Sassy Seniors (Kambah) 

2027 Young Australian of the Year for ACT 
Kaitlyn Farquhar - Social justice advocate (Gungahlin) 
Zakary Pino - Loneliness changemaker (Dickson) 
Laura Prince - Child poverty prevention advocate (Gordon) 
Jemma Rule - Youth advocate (Canberra) 

2027 Australia’s Local Hero for ACT 
Adriane Boag - Accessible art programs producer (Canberra) 
Dr Sarah Bombell - Obstetrician and lactation consultant (Monash) 
Micaela Centenera - Motherhood and community champion (Pearce) 
Nate Swift - Community cafe owner (Gordon) 

The ACT nominees are among 130 people being recognised across all states and territories in the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards. 

National Australia Day Council CEO Carrie Leeson said the nominees for the ACT demonstrate the importance of connection, service and community spirit. 

"The ACT nominees share a deep sense of compassion and a common determination to improve lives, whether it’s in their own communities, across Australia or throughout the world,” said Ms Leeson. 

The 2027 ACT award recipients will be announced on Wednesday 11 November in Canberra. The ceremony will also be available to watch via livestream at australianoftheyear.org.au 

The ACT Award recipients will then join recipients from the other states and territories as finalists for the national Australian of the Year Awards, announced in Canberra on 25 January 2027. 

 ENDS 

Detailed nominee biographies follow and are also available at australianoftheyear.org.au. 

Photos for download: Photos provided by the nominees for editorial use can be downloaded from here: ACT Nominee Photos - supplied by nominees   (please use photo credits where noted on file names) 

Media contact:   Nicole Browne, media opps  0414 673 762   nicole@mediaopps.com.au