Pictured left to right: Professor Rose McGready, Sita Sargeant, Ben Alexander, Heather Reid AM.
17 November 2025
In brief:
- The winners of the 2026 ACT Australian of the Year Awards have been announced.
- The awards recognise people who go above and beyond for their communities.
- They are now finalists in the national awards, to be announced on 25 January 2026.
The winners of the 2026 ACT Australian of the Year Awards have been announced.
They will join other state and territory recipients as finalists for the national awards on 25 January 2026.
Read on to find out more about the winners.
2026 ACT Australian of the Year – Professor Rose McGready
Professor Rose McGready provides life-saving health services to displaced people in the border region between Thailand and Myanmar.
When Rose arrived in the area more than 30 years ago, she discovered that refugees who had fled persecution in Myanmar had difficulty accessing medical assistance in Thailand.
Since then, she has built a network of locally run clinics and out-patient services. These help pregnant women, new mothers and their babies, saving thousands of lives.
Rose’s research has also led to new treatments being developed to tackle malaria in pregnancy.
Her findings have been adopted by the World Health Organisation as the global standard for combatting the disease.
2026 ACT Senior Australian of the Year – Heather Reid AM
Heather Reid has made it possible for thousands of women to play football in the ACT and around Australia.
Heather helped establish the ANU Women’s Soccer Club in 1978 and the ACT Women’s Soccer Association in 1979.
As the first female CEO of Capital Football in 2004, Heather brought together four associations into a single peak body.
She also secured Canberra United’s inclusion in the national W-League, helping promote the game to a wider audience.
Heather continues to support players, coaches and administrators, both in Canberra and overseas.
The Heather Reid AM Bursary helps pay the registration fees of players in need of assistance. This ensures financial hardship is not a barrier to participation.
2026 ACT Young Australian of the Year – Sita Sargeant
Sita Sargeant uncovers the stories of women who have shaped Australia.
Sita founded She Shapes History, a historical tourism company and social enterprise. It highlights these little-known stories through:
- walking tours
- digital content
- partnerships with cultural institutions and historic sites.
Sita and her team of guides have taken more than 10,000 people on tour in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. The tours reveal how women’s contributions have long been ignored by mainstream history.
Sita has also published a book highlighting the stories of more than 250 women who have shaped history in 31 towns and cities across Australia.
2026 ACT Local Hero – Ben Alexander
Former Brumbies and Wallabies player Ben Alexander is helping build a stronger and more resilient community where no one feels they must face tough times alone.
Ben co-founded Running for Resilience (R4R) with fellow Canberran Matt Breen. Their goal is to help make the ACT suicide-free by 2033.
Ben faced his own struggles after retiring from professional rugby. He has used this experience to help others overcome personal difficulties through exercise and connection.
Each week, hundreds of people join R4R’s free runs and walks across Canberra to boost their physical and mental health.
R4R also shares practical ways to connect and support others via a podcast, newsletter and community events.
Find out more about the awards and other ACT nominees on the Australian of the Year website.
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