The Australian Marine Industry Awards Gala Dinner, a highlight of ASMEX 2026, was held on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 at The Langham Gold Coast. 203 guests from across Australia and internationally gathered to celebrate Australia’s marine industry, honouring standout achievements across export, superyacht and commercial marine categories.
An Evening of Industry Excellence
The evening commenced with Mayor Tom Tate’s ASMEX Reception, generously hosted by the City of Gold Coast, where guests gathered over networking drinks ahead of the anticipated awards presentations. Guests then moved into the Gala Dinner, where Jeremy Spear, President of AIMEX and Director of Spear Green Design, welcomed attendees and reflected on the growth of AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and ACMG over the past year.
He was followed by Maryanne Edwards, Chair Judge and Consultant at Global Marine Business Advisors, who spoke to the high quality of this year’s award submissions. The formal award presentations commenced with the introduction of the State Finalists of the Australian Marine Industry Apprentice of the Year, each presented with a certificate in recognition of their achievements.
Export Awards: Global Reach, Australian Made
The Export Awards were led by Awards judge Nav Bajwa, Director of Wholesale Banking and Financial Markets at Bank of Queensland. The 2026 Exporter of the Year was awarded to Savwinch, recognised for their strong growth and impact in international markets. Savwinch’s rapid expansion reflects their commitment to innovation, product quality and global distribution, delivering Australian-made marine solutions to a growing number of overseas markets whilst strengthening the reputation of Australian manufacturing globally.
The 2026 Junior Exporter of the Year was presented to Topargee RV, Caravan & Marine Accessories, a female-led business that identified a clear gap in the market and transformed it into a global opportunity. From attending international events such as Metstrade with the AIMEX delegation, the company has grown into an emerging exporter now operating across seven international markets, delivering innovative, Australian-designed solutions that address critical fuel reliability challenges, with export sales continuing to grow year-on-year.
Superyacht Awards: Engineering Australia’s Global Reputation
The highly competitive Superyacht category was presented by Paul Sorrell, General Manager of Main Beach Superyacht Marina. Marine Structures received the 2026 Superyacht Industry Project, Design or Manufacturer of the Year for its Port Denarau Marina project, which utilised its Australian-engineered Super Elite Marina System to deliver Fiji’s first mega yacht berth capable of accommodating vessels up to 115 metres — highlighting the strength of Australian marine engineering and the value of collaboration with Pacific Island partners.
The 2026 Superyacht Industry Service Provider of the Year, the most contested award category, was awarded to Carter Marine Agencies Australia. In 2025, the company connected visiting superyachts with more than 320 world-class marine service providers across Australia, supporting over 1,500 jobs annually and generating significant regional economic impact across berthing, logistics, tourism and regional communities.
A new addition to the awards program, the 2026 Superyacht Facility of the Year, was awarded to Coral Sea Marina Resort. As the only 5 Gold Anchor Platinum and Superyacht Ready marina on the Great Barrier Reef — and with the largest superyacht berthing capacity in the Whitsundays — the marina continues to lead the way in infrastructure following major upgrades completed in 2025.
Commercial Awards: Fleet Excellence and Heritage Refit
The Commercial Awards were presented by Mayor Tom Tate. CHAPMAN’s Charter Division was awarded the 2026 Commercial Marine Operator of the Year, recognised for exceptional fleet utilisation and high-volume charter activity across Australia’s key marine destinations, consistently operating at peak capacity while supporting major national and international events.
The 2026 Commercial Marine Project, Design or Manufacturer of the Year was awarded for the second consecutive year to Norman R. Wright & Sons for the two-year refit of the 1962 timber vessel South Pacific II. In recognition of exceptional merit, the judges also awarded a Highly Commended Certificate to Marine Structures for their Coffs Harbour project — a complete marina transformation enhancing durability, safety and operational performance in regional infrastructure.
Industry-Wide Awards: Innovation, Marketing and Emerging Talent
The Industry Wide categories, open to all members of AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and ACMG, recognised excellence in innovation, marketing and emerging talent. Corey Rattray-Wood, General Manager of Mulpha Events, presented the 2026 Marine Industry Innovation of the Year to Muir Engineering for their advanced anchoring system, which uses a horizontal planetary drive winch to redefine superyacht anchoring.
Integ Marine Group received the 2026 Australian Marine Marketing Strategy of the Year, presented by Jeanette Harris, Director of Property and Marina, Hamilton Island Marina. The company’s strategic repositioning as a leading marine glazing partner across the Southern Hemisphere — supported by a strengthened digital presence and targeted global campaigns — has significantly expanded its international reach and brand visibility.
Apprentice of the Year: Recognising Tomorrow’s Talent
The highly anticipated 2026 Australian Marine Industry Apprentice of the Year was presented by Robert Petheridge, General Manager, TAFE Queensland. This career-defining award recognises outstanding emerging talent, with the recipient awarded return flights and accommodation to attend Metstrade in Amsterdam, where they join the Australian delegation and participate in the global Young Professionals Club.
The award was bestowed on Laura Hillman of Riviera Australia, who impressed the judges with her rapid progression from a 17-year-old apprentice, her strong technical development and genuine passion for the marine sector.
Marine Industry Champion of the Year
The evening culminated in the presentation of the 2026 Marine Industry Champion of the Year, presented by Steve Bay, Director of International Business at Rivergate Marina and Shipyard. The award was presented to Jamie Bruce, CEO and major shareholder of Birdon. Jamie has led the transformation of the family-owned business into a global marine engineering and defence organisation, achieving significant international growth through strategic acquisitions and securing major contracts with the United States Army, Navy and Coast Guard.
“The Australian Marine Industry awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of the entire industry and also highlight individual excellence. The 2026 winners demonstrate the innovation, professionalism, diversity and ongoing contribution to Australia’s economic and maritime future.”
— David Good, CEO, AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and ACMG
Judging Panel and Partners
AIMEX, Superyacht Australia and the Australian Commercial Marine Group acknowledge and thank the judging panel for the 2026 Australian Marine Industry Awards: MaryAnne Edwards, Barry Jenkins, Dr Thomas Wechselberger, Stephen Quigley, Nav Bajwa, Sean Griffin, Gillian Carter, and Kristina Agustin.
AIMEX extends gratitude to the 2026 Australian Marine Industry Awards Major Partners, Award Presenting Partners and Supporting Sponsors. Major Partners: Invest Gold Coast, Queensland Government and Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Partner: Volvo Penta. Award Presenting Partners: Bank of Queensland, Hamilton Island, Marine Futures, Main Beach Superyacht Marina, Rivergate Marina & Shipyard and TAFE Queensland.