iTnews Benchmark Awards finalists named - 20+ categories, March 26 gala
iTnews has named finalists for its 2026 Benchmark Awards, Australia's largest recognition program for enterprise and government IT projects. Winners will be announced March 26 at Doltone House, Hyde Park, following a conference on IT strategy and AI.
The awards, running for over a decade, have expanded this year to include 11 people-focused categories evaluating CIO/CTO roadmaps, innovation under adversity, and talent management. Traditional project categories span federal and state government, finance, retail, telecommunications, and newer sectors including sustainability and agriculture.
Notable finalists
Government Technology Leader finalists include Charles McHardie (Services Australia CDIO), Elizabeth Wilson (Victorian Education CIO), and Dr Tom Gao (City of Sydney CTO). Federal project finalists range from the ATO's IT strategic sourcing program to Services Australia's aged care payments platform.
State government entries cover infrastructure modernization (South Australia's licensing system), transport tech (NSW's AI-powered urban planning for Glebe Island Bridge), and digital transformation (ACT's Windows 11 rollout). Local government projects include City of Sydney's integrated digital ecosystem and LGAQ's AI bark logging system.
Education sector finalists include TAFE NSW, University of Sydney, and Cranbrook School's enterprise ISO implementation.
How it works
Entry is free, with judging by iTnews editors and industry experts. The organizers emphasize no sponsor influence on judging outcomes - sponsors including NRI, CrowdStrike, Equinix, and Atlassian support the event infrastructure.
Finalists are evaluated on measurable value delivery, innovation, and how challenges were overcome - particularly relevant given 2025's economic and operational headwinds. Past winners include Woodside Energy, the ATO, and Deakin University.
The gala runs 3pm-10pm, co-located with a conference session. Categories include sector-specific awards and overarching "Australian Technology Project/Leader of the Year" honors. Entries closed December 12, 2025.
This follows the separate Benchmark Security Awards held November 2025, which focused on end-user and partner achievements in cybersecurity.