As we look towards the upcoming 2020 Executive of the Year Awards, we take a moment to remind ourselves of the successful executives who were commemorated at last year’s event. Behold: all the deserved winners of the 2019 Executive of the Year Awards.
From David Hackett, winner of CEO of the Year, who encouraged other executives to “have a go” and enter for themselves, to Gina Rinehart who took home the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, there were plenty of noteworthy moments.
Now in its ninth year, The CEO Magazine’s Executive of the Year Awards is synonymous with shining a spotlight on the achievements of the individuals who make this country tick. Apply now for the 2020 Executive of the Year Awards.
PHOTOGRAPHY: SCOTT EHLER


David Hackett, CEO of MLC Life Insurance
CEO of the Year


Fiona Johnston, CEO of UM Australia
CEO of the Year Runner-Up and Media Executive of the Year


Anthony Nantes, CEO of Wisr
CEO of the Year Highly Commended


Caleb Bush, Senior Vice President / Managing Director ANZ at GPJ ANZ / Project Worldwide
Managing Director of the Year


Kiri Brain, former COO of Nexia Australia
COO of the Year


Leah Weckert, CFO of Coles Group
CFO of the Year


Gina Rinehart, Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting
Lifetime Achievement Award


Vedran Drakulic OAM, CEO of Gandel Philanthropy
Not-For-Profit Executive of the Year


(Left) Scott Walker, National Transport Manager at VISA Global Logistics; (Right) Julian Leach, Co-Founder and CEO of ParcelPoint
Transport and Logistics Executive of the Year – Joint Winners


Matthew Keighran, Managing Director South East Asia Pacific, Hugo Boss
Retail Executive of the Year


Sam El Rihani, Founder and Managing Director of Decode Group
Building and Construction Executive of the Year


Stuart Chesneau, Executive Director (Business Growth and Innovation) at Australian Red Cross Blood Service
Health and Pharmaceutical Executive of the Year


Phillipa Harrison, Executive General Manager International, Tourism Australia
Hospitality and Tourism Executive of the Year


Bobby Lehane, CEO of CHU Underwriting Agencies
Financial Services and Insurance Executive of the Year


Milan Andjelkovic, Managing Director, Strategy at TM Insight
Professional Services Executive of the Year


Jon Whittle, Executive Dean, Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University
Education Executive of the Year


Justin Barwick, Executive Assistant to Chief Human Resources Officer, Serco Asia Pacific
Executive Assistant of the Year


Krystel Cochico, National Marketing and Communications Manager at VISA Global Logistics
Marketing Executive of the Year


Kristofer Rogers, CEO of Split Payments
Start-Up Executive of the Year


Michael Reid, General Manager QLD, NT and PNG, Cisco
Sales Executive of the Year


Natalie Brooke, HR Manager at Menulog
HR Executive of the Year