Finalists were selected by a shortlist panel featuring Moheb Moses (Hall of Fame member), Cathy O'Sullivan (Foundry) and Julia Talevski (ARN).

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Finalists have been unveiled for the twentieth ARN Innovation Awards 2026, marking two decades of recognising excellence, leadership and innovation across the Australian IT channel.

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This year, there were more than 420 nominations received with 271 finalists from 134 organisations making the cut.

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Finalists were selected by a shortlist panel featuring Moheb Moses (Channel Dynamics), Cathy O’Sullivan (Foundry) and Julia Talevski (ARN).

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First launched in 2007, the awards program enters its milestone twentieth year as a defining platform for celebrating the individuals and organisations driving the channel forward, from start-ups and partners through to distributors, vendors and industry leaders.

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“When my colleague Jessica Ross and I launched the ARN IT Industry Awards twenty years ago, we wanted to recognise the companies and people who were making a real impact on Australia’s IT channel,” ARN Hall of Fame Suzie Searle said. “Tech was a very different industry then, but even at that time we could see how much the channel was its foundation, and how many talented people were driving its growth, innovation and success – the awards were created to shine a light on those people and organisations.

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“Twenty years later, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how the awards have evolved and how the channel ecosystem has transformed. The ARN Innovation Awards continue to recognise the people and companies who are shaping the future. It’s wonderful to see the awards reach such a significant milestone.”

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Over the past two decades, the ARN Innovation Awards have charted the evolution of the channel, spotlighting the achievements of businesses and professionals shaping the future of Australia’s technology ecosystem.

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The finalists span seven award categories: Partner, Tech Partner, Innovation for Good, Start-up, Personal Innovation, Vendor, and Distributor and Platforms. Winners will be announced at a black-tie celebration on Wednesday, 28 October at Ilumina in Sydney, where the industry will come together under the ARN roof to honour the year’s standout achievers. Hall of Fame will be revealed on the night.

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This year, the program introduced a new Marketplace category alongside revamped vendor categories for Cyber Security and Software/SaaS, reflecting some of the fastest-growing and most influential segments of the channel.

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The finalists represent the breadth and depth of innovation across the Australian market, encompassing managed service providers, system integrators and value-added resellers from both metropolitan and regional Australia, as well as emerging start-ups and specialist innovators.

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Innovation at the individual, vendor, distributor and marketplace level is also strongly represented, with finalists recognised for channel leadership, market impact, creative thinking and sustained business excellence.

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“In its twentieth year, the Innovation Awards continue to showcase the organisations and individuals redefining what success looks like in the Australian channel,” ARN editor Julia Talevski said.

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“The quality of submissions received this year reflects the pace of change across the industry, from marketplace innovation and cyber security leadership through to software-driven transformation. Congratulations to all finalists for their achievements and contributions to the channel.”

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Foundry editorial director Cathy O’Sullivan said the finalists exemplify the innovation and resilience that continue to drive the industry forward.

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“The Innovation Awards are all about shining a light on excellence, and this year’s finalists have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to innovation, customer success and industry leadership,” O’Sullivan said.

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“We look forward to celebrating their achievements and revealing the winners in October.”

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Finalists will now go before an independent judging panel of respected industry leaders, who will determine the winners in each category. The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.

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ARN remains committed to recognising and amplifying the achievements of Australia’s technology ecosystem, ensuring leading providers, partners and innovators receive the recognition they deserve through one of the industry’s most prestigious awards programs.

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