Northwest Star: Revealed: who’s in line to be the ACT’s Australian of the Year for 2025

MissingSchool was featured in an article from Northwest Star. To view the original article click here.

 

 

A disability advocate, a rock climbing instructor, a rugby legend, a community radio presenter and an artistic neuro-diversity advocate are just some of the nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards for the ACT.

The territory’s 18 nominees across the four award categories include Brumbies stalwart Laurie Fisher, scientist and Light House ArchiScience founder Jenny Edwards, Cafe Stepping Stone co-owners Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello and Disability Leadership Institute founder Christina Ryan.

Award recipients for the ACT will be revealed next week and go on to represent the territory in the national Australian of the Year Awards presented in Canberra on the eve of Australia Day in January 2025.

The 2025 award nominees for the ACT are:

 

Australian of the Year

  • Jenny Edwards – Scientist and founder, Light House ArchiScience (Canberra)
  • Megan Gilmour – Co-founder, MissingSchool (Hawker)
  • Christina Ryan – Founder, Disability Leadership Institute
  • Philippa Seldon – Founder, The Healthy Tradie Project (Nanima)

 

Senior Australian of the Year

  • Armando Corvini – Rock climbing instructor and volunteer (Deakin)
  • Laurie Fisher – Super Rugby coach (Canberra)
  • Peter Ralston and Marilyn Ralston – Running supporters of the vision impaired (Kaleen)
  • Stuart Warner – Musician and community radio presenter (Queanbeyan)

 

Young Australian of the Year

  • Jarrett Anthoney – Co-founder, Dainere’s Rainbow (Gungahlin)
  • Daniel Bartholomaeus – Artist and neurodiversity advocate (Canberra)
  • Brendan Swan – Founder, Concussion Australia
  • Hayley Whatman – Voice for youth (Canberra)

 

Local Hero

  • Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello – Co-owners, Cafe Stepping Stone (Canberra)
  • Dr Madhumita Iyengar – Founder, Initiatives For Women In Need (Amaroo)
  • Pamela Muston – Ultramarathon runner (Wamboin)
  • Delfina Shakespear – Gender-equality advocate in women’s sport (Florey)

The ACT’s nominees are among 137 people being recognised across all states and territories.

The award recipients for the ACT will be announced on Thursday, November 14, 2024, in a ceremony at National Gallery of Australia, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.

They will then join the other state and territory recipients as finalists for the national awards announcement on January 25, 2025, in Canberra.

National Australia Day Council chief executive Mark Fraser said the nominees for the ACT had “achieved extraordinary things and are contributing to the community in many different ways”.

“They are using their own experiences to help others, taking leadership roles to lift others up and demonstrating we all have greatness within us,” Mr Fraser said.

The following profiles and pictures of the ACT nominees have been supplied by the National Australia Day Council, organisers of the Australian of the Year Awards.

 

2025 ACT AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

 

Jenny Edwards is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.au
Jenny Edwards is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.au

 

Jenny Edwards – Scientist and founder, Light House ArchiScience

Jenny Edwards brings her background in science and communication to her role as lead scientist at her award winning home design and retrofitting company, Light House ArchiScience.

Jenny believes science can guide us towards more sustainable and energy-efficient living in well-designed, welcoming and light-filled homes. She introduced the building envelope testing techniques of thermal imaging and air leakage testing to the Canberra region, and through Light House is aiming to transform the residential landscape in the territory.

Jenny is passionate about empowering the broader community by passing on knowledge about how to create comfortable and climate-resilient housing, inspiring grassroots sustainable action through simple scientific principles and smart science-based design. She shares her expertise through regular presenting and speaking engagements, authoring articles, and through her online presence at Light House and as FixIt Chicks on Instagram.

Jenny, 52, was named the Energy Efficiency Champion at the National Energy Efficiency Conference in 2023.

 

Megan Gilmour is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.au
Megan Gilmour is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.au

 

Megan Gilmour – Co-founder, MissingSchool

When her son survived critical illness, social innovator Megan Gilmour set out to support the 1.2 million Australian children at risk of missing school due to complex medical and mental health challenges.

Drawing on her lived experience and professional background in global development, Megan was driven to create MissingSchool – pioneering technology, education policy and partnerships to develop school solutions that help these children continue learning alongside their peers.

In 2015, Megan co-authored the national-first “School connection for seriously sick kids”report, and published a policy paper in 2021, pursuing visibility, equity and access to education for this vulnerable cohort. She led MissingSchool to launch the world’s first national telepresence service, allowing children in hospital or home to join lessons in real time, reconnecting some 6900 students since 2018.

Now 55, Megan’s relentless advocacy is changing education systems for children with chronic health conditions and school absence and their families, restoring vital connections for belonging.

 

Christina Ryan is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.au

Christina Ryan is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.a

 

Christina Ryan – Founder, Disability Leadership Institute

As a person with disability, and a leader in feminist and disability advocacy for many years, Christina Ryan was well placed to recognise the enormous untapped potential of people with disabilities to be leaders in all areas of society.

Christina founded the Disability Leadership Institute in 2016 to address the glaring gap in dedicated professional development services for people with disabilities. She recognised that the flexible thinking and problem-solving skills inherent in those with disabilities could be leveraged to benefit their chosen career trajectories.

As a UN delegate and expert witness to the Disability Royal Commission, 60-year-old Christina’s advocacy spans several decades and is informed by her intersectional understanding of prejudice and privilege. She advocates tirelessly for others, and through the institute has united and empowered countless people with disabilities to fulfil their leadership potential, fighting ableism and championing a more inclusive workforce.

 

Philippa Seldon is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.au

Philippa Seldon is a 2025 Australian of the Year nominee for the ACT. Picture supplied by australianoftheyear.org.au

 

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