NT Digital Excellence Awards

Winner Series: Jeremy Boucher won the Minister's Gold Award! Jeremy leads a transformative community project through New Future IT, aimed at equipping young people in remote communities throughout the Northern Territory with entry-level IT technical skills.  He teaches them about computers and data entry, fostering a foundational understanding of technology. Jeremy actively identifies individuals with a keen interest in IT, providing them with further training and future employment opportunities. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Northern Territory Government Joshua Burgoyne MLA

Winners Series: The Array [ ] won the Northern Territory Government Department of Trade Business and Asian Relations ICT Innovation of the Year Award! The Array is a not-for-profit (NFP) Technology Hub located in the heart of Darwin City, playing a pivotal role in advancing the Territory’s technology sector through education, training, and business opportunities. The Array offers state-of-the-art classrooms and co-working spaces from the iconic Victoria Hotel. With a strong foundation in interactive digital entertainment (Game Development), The Array emphasises community and collaboration, using an innovative consortium model to connect local talent with global networks. As a NFP, it works closely with government and industry partners to drive growth and development in the Territory’s tech landscape. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Martin Redhead Dylan Bennett Aya MaAya Matsuyama (Ph.D) Taneille Brann

Winners Series: Jackadder International has won the ICT Industry Association of the NT ICT Business of the Year Award! Jackadder International, a Territory-born ICT company, has impressively grown into a $10 million enterprise within just eight years, expanding its team to 70 professionals, with women making up half the workforce, showcasing a firm commitment to diversity and inclusion. Jackadder’s culture is deeply focused on its people, ensuring they receive the highest development and support throughout their employment. Since establishing its Darwin headquarters in 2017, Jackadder has expanded nationally, with offices in Sydney and Hobart, and plans to extend to Western Australia and South Australia within the next 12–24 months, highlighting its dynamic growth. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Lou Martini Karina McLeod Bourne

Winners Series: New Future IT and Jeremy Boucher have won the Kinetic IT Community Benefit Project/Program of the Year Award! Jeremy is the co-owner of New Future IT, an Aboriginal business enterprise in the Northern Territory. With a passion for technology and community empowerment, Jeremy has been instrumental in providing high-quality IT services and support. Under his leadership, New Future IT has launched successful traineeship programs, offering valuable opportunities for skill development and employment to Indigenous youth. Jeremy’s commitment to innovation and community growth has significantly impacted the local business landscape, making New Future IT a cornerstone of technological advancement and social progress in the Northern Territory. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Jenna Thomson

Winner Series: Carter Smith is our Australian Information Security Association (AISA) Cyber Security Professional of the Year!! Carter is a senior cybersecurity consultant based in Darwin. He leads CyberCX’s Northern Territory office and brings a wealth of experience in developing, advising and testing security solutions across a diverse range of industries. Carter’s expertise spans everything from securing web applications to protecting critical infrastructure, such as power stations. His ability to tailor security strategies to specific business needs while considering the broader cybersecurity landscape sets him apart as a leader in his field. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Mark Ames

Winner Series: Lily Kawai won the DCDD Digital Futures Progression of Women in ICT Award! Lily started at NEC Australia in 2016 as part of their Indigenous work placement program. In 2017, Lily undertook a full-time traineeship, gaining her Cert III in Information Technology. In 2017, Lily successfully won the inaugural NTDEA Rising Star Award; in 2018, she became a Finalist in the ACS (Australian Computer Society) Digital Disruptor Award Young Professional of the Year (Female). Lily is currently the Field Services Team Lead, leading 22 techs. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Northern Territory Government Bruno B.

Winners Series: The ACS ICT Professional of the Year is Dylan Bennett! Dylan is an innovative educator and leader passionate about creativity, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy.  He thrives at the crossroads of education and game design, mentoring new talent and advocating for the growth of the tech industry in the Northern Territory. Dylan has spearheaded the growth of the Interactive Entertainment Industry by leading his team at his video game studio, Larrikin Interactive, to release games such as The Finke Desert Race Game and the award-nominated hit Diets & Deities. Dylan is a Founding Director and CEO of The Array [ ], a Not For Profit Technology Hub, upskilling local Territorians in all things technology through various training and educational experiences. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! ACS (Australian Computer Society)

Winners Series: Congratulations Cong Do Le (Peter), for winning the New Future IT & Red Centre Technology Partners ICT Rising Star of the Year. Cong Do Le is a Master of Data Science student at CDU, where he has maintained an impressive GPA of 6.63/7. Currently working as a data analyst, Peter has demonstrated remarkable proficiency in ICT, transitioning from a background in civil engineering. Peter has won the IT Code Fair's Coding Competition and Coding Innovation Award, showcasing his technical expertise. As an IT Code Fair ambassador, Peter has facilitated opportunities for students to connect with industry professionals, further solidifying his role as a leader and role model within the ICT community. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Red Centre Technology Partners New Future IT

Winners Series: Congratulations to Nithya Romeshika Yamasinghe, Shishtata Bhandari, Afra Nawar Amin and Gilbertofer Tanoto for winning the CDU IT Code Fair Most Outstanding Entrants for the Business Innovation Challenge. Delivering a solution that focuses on a critical need for NT digital literacy, focusing on inclusion and community participation. The team excelled at creating an innovative solution to bring digital literacy to Indigenous communities and building it within the community for sustainable growth. Follow us to see more inspiring stories and nominate for future awards! Charles Darwin University

More of our winners! Samritha Bharanidharan received the NEC Secondary STEM Student of the Year Award. Samritha, is a year 9 student and has been in the Students of High Performance program in Science and Maths in all 3 years of middle school. Samritha created an interactive story called "NT: Different in Every Sense", and her team was awarded the runner-up in Charles Darwin University's annual CDU IT Code Fair.  She obtained a STEM Sista scholarship offered by Flinders University, allowing her to learn real-life STEM skills and meet inspiring women who are successful in STEM fields.  In 2021, Samritha was awarded the Most Outstanding STEM Communicator and Team Member by the NT Minister of Education. In 2023, she was part of a team that placed second in two separate science communication awards at the Territory Young Scientists Awards. Samritha’s future in STEM-related endeavours is very bright. Follow us if you would like to nominate for future awards! NEC Australia