INNOVATION AWARDS
Winners announced!
Three Australian innovators have been named winners of the Land Forces 2024 Innovation Awards, worth $120,000, after pitching their technologies on the first day of the Land Force 2024 International Land Defence Exposition.
They were among 20 finalists who each delivered a 3-minute pitch to a judging panel of innovation experts and an overflowing audience of exposition attendees from around the world.
The winners are:
- Land Forces 2024 Innovation Award: Shane ‘Buzz’ Sarlin, Buzzworks for optical clarity, ballistic facial and mandibular protection for any tactical helmet.
- Land Forces 2024 Emerging Technology Award: Daniel Stevens, Seitec for a system to detect and localise unexploded ordnance in real time, whether dropped from an aircraft or fired by artillery.
- Land Forces 2024 Young Innovator Award: Tara Penboss, Black Sky industries for contribution to Ultra-Mobile Artillery Rocket System V2.0.
A fourth award for the person who best mastered the art of the pitch on the day, was also presented. The winner, voted unanimously by the judging panel was:
- Best Pitch Award: Katie Donaldson, Praxis for tactical solar – Advanced Composite Solar panels for land, sea and air.
Their success was announced by Professor Emily Hilder, Head of Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA).
INNOVATION AWARD FINALISTS
Optical clarity, ballistic facial protection for any tactical helmet.
System that detects, classifies, locates and defeats hostile drone systems.
Robotic refuelling system to enhance Army’s battlefield fuel trucks.
Security risk-assessment for an online world.
3D printing Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit (EMU).
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY FINALISTS
Advanced composite battery cell using graphene and nanoparticles to achieve unprecedented energy density and efficiency.
3D printing lightweight titanium armour for humans and vital equipment.
A mixed reality simulator that enables combat medics to train as if they were in a real aircraft, ambulance or hospital.
Virtual reality tool that enables digital integration and human factors analysis of soldier combat systems.
CBRN Suit Textile: Providing protection while reducing heat stress.
Guided 40mm Rocket Propelled Grenade with a 2.5km range that can be fired from a standard grenade launcher.
An alternative to GPS for navigation, timing and synchronisation.
AI-enabled app that enables operators to control and reduce the risk of Traumatic Brain Injury in training and on operations.
Simple on-the-spot test to detect individuals with blast-induced brain injuries in training and on operations.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Man Marking Munitions (M3) for Infantry and Special Forces.
Tactical Solar – Advanced Composite Solar panels for land, sea and air.
System to detect and localise unexploded ordnance in real time, whether dropped from an aircraft or fired by artillery.
YOUNG INNOVATOR AWARD FINALISTS
Four exceptional young innovators are nominated for groundbreaking work on the following projects. Join us at the Innovation Awards onsite at Land Forces 2024 to hear from each of the Young Innovators themselves on how their ideas have contributed to these new technologies.
Nominated for: Broad Spectrum Medical Countermeasure Development for Nerve Agent Poisoning.
Nominated for: Defendtex Distributed Autonomy (DDA): Enabling rapid human tasking of robot swarms.
Nominated for: Engineering work on Black Sky Aerospace’s Ultra-Mobile Artillery Rocket System V 2.0.
Nominated for: Designing and developing Ultra High Temperature carbon rocket nozzles.
MEET THE JUDGES
Judging Panel - Award Submissions
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MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
9-11 SEPTEMBER 2026
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