Eight exceptional Australians have been nominated for the prestigious Australian of the Year Award for 2026, with the winner set to be revealed in Canberra on Sunday night. The diverse group of nominees includes a beloved media personality, Australia's first astronaut, and dedicated humanitarian workers, all of whom have made significant contributions not only to Australia but also to the global community.
Profiles of the Nominees
Professor Rose McGready
Professor Rose McGready has dedicated 31 years to assisting displaced individuals in the border region between Thailand and Myanmar in Southeast Asia. As a young doctor, she observed the challenges refugees faced in accessing healthcare in Thailand. Her work primarily focuses on supporting pregnant women through a network of locally managed clinics and outpatient services. Additionally, her research has led to new treatments for maternal malaria, which have been adopted by the World Health Organisation as the global standard. The Australian of the Year Awards praised her commitment, compassion, and clinical expertise for providing life-saving aid to vulnerable communities worldwide.
Alison Thompson OAM
Alison Thompson OAM began her humanitarian efforts during the 9/11 terror attack in New York City, where she rushed to the World Trade Centre with a first-aid kit. She later founded Third Wave Volunteers, a global network of 30,000 volunteers that responds to disasters in areas such as Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. Her initiatives have aided over 18 million people during critical times.
Dr Felix Ho ASM
Dr Felix Ho ASM has committed his life to delivering medical care to remote communities in the Northern Territory and abroad. He joined St John as a cadet at age 13 in 1995 and has since worked as an Intensive Care Paramedic on a United Nations mission to Timor-Leste. In 2020, he assumed the national leadership role for the St John Ambulance Australia youth portfolio.
Dr Rolf Gomes
Dr Rolf Gomes established Heart of Australia in 2014, a mobile heart health service that operates a fleet of 'Heart Trucks' to provide cardiac treatment across 30 rural towns. This innovative approach has saved more than 20,000 patients from lengthy travels to metropolitan areas for care. The Australian of the Year Awards highlighted his vision, ingenuity, and tenacity in improving rural health access.
Katherine Bennell-Pegg
Katherine Bennell-Pegg made history as the first Australian to qualify as an astronaut under Australia's space program, graduating from Basic Astronaut Training in 2024 at the European Astronaut Centre in Germany. Passionate about space since childhood, she inspires young Australians through school presentations, serving as a trailblazer in the emerging space industry.
Dr Jorian 'Jo' Kippax
Dr Jorian 'Jo' Kippax was part of a rescue team that saved Lithuanian whitewater rafter Valdas Bieliauskas in 2024 on the Franklin River in Tasmania. To free Mr Bieliauskas from freezing rapids, Dr Kippax and his team performed an underwater leg amputation. He was previously honoured with Lithuania's Life Saving Cross by President Gitanas Nausėda.
Carrie Bickmore OAM
Carrie Bickmore OAM is recognised for her efforts in funding brain cancer research, having raised over $27 million since 2015. In 2021, she established The Brain Cancer Centre to unite top researchers in finding a cure. The Australian of the Year Awards noted that brain cancer is a leading cause of death among Australian children and young adults, including her late husband Greg, who passed away in 2010.
Dr Daniela Vecchio
Dr Daniela Vecchio founded Australia's first publicly funded gaming disorder clinic in 2022. As head of mental health and addiction services at Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth, she responded to rising gaming addiction among youth by creating an early intervention system. Her work involves collaboration with specialists in Korea, Germany, Dubai, and across Australia.
