2026 AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOMINEES FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCED
Nominees for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards for Western Australia include a doctor developing medicines for Australia’s rarest diseases, a choir director, a construction boss creating opportunities for Mob, a wellness platform founder and a physiotherapist flying healthcare to remote communities.
The nominees are:
2026 Australian of the Year for Western Australia
Dr Gareth Baynam - Clinical geneticist (Kensington)
Kennedy Lay - Founder, Fly2Health Group (Jandakot)
Dr Daniela Vecchio - Digital addiction and gaming disorder specialist (Parklands)
Dr Tracy Westerman AM - Indigenous mental health pioneer (Nedlands)
2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Western Australia
Esme Bowen - Disability changemaker (Trigg)
Professor Kingsley Dixon AO - World-leading botanist (Waroona)
Martin Meader - Born To Sing choir director (Beaconsfield) Griff Morris - Sustainable housing designer (Mount Hawthorn)
2026 Young Australian of the Year for Western Australia
Alexis McDonald - Wellness platform founder (Bunbury)
Brooke McIntosh - Mental health fundraiser (Darlington)
Rodrigues Niyongere - Community football coach (Wanneroo)
Dr Haseeb Riaz and Gareth Shanthikumar - Positive masculinity educators (Peppermint Grove & City Beach)
2026 Local Hero for Western Australia
Bronwyn Bate - Founder, Mettle Women Inc (Trigg)
Frank Mitchell - Indigenous construction leader (Coollbellup)
Holden Sheppard - Award-winning author (Perth)
Dr Lara Shur - Paediatric audiologist (Wanneroo)
The nominees for Western Australia are among 134 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The Western Australia award recipients will be announced on Thursday 13 November 2025 in a ceremony at Government House in Perth which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join other state and territory recipients as finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2026 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the nominees for the Western Australia awards.
“The nominees for the Western Australia awards are extraordinary people,” said Mark.
“They are entrepreneurial in their approach to helping others, changing public perceptions, creating positive futures and bringing people together.”
ENDS.
Nominee bios on the following pages and can also be viewed from australianoftheyear.org.au.
Nominees have supplied photos which can be downloaded from this link: WA NOMINEE PHOTOS
MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Browne 0414 673 762 or nicole@mediaopps.com.au
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