Set for Thursday 15 September, Innovation Awards will run as an in-person black tie event to bring the industry together under the ARN roof at ICC Sydney. ARN is proud to announce the finalists of Innovation Awards in 2022, housing a record-breaking number of submissions in what will be the largest celebration of ecosystem excellence in delivering transformative customer solutions across Australia. Set for Thursday 15 September, Innovation Awards will run as an in-person black tie event to bring the industry together under the ARN roof at ICC Sydney. Representing the entire Australian ecosystem, 354 finalists (including 120+ individuals) make the shortlist from a pool of over 200 organisations and more than 480 nominations, spanning partner, start-up, telco, vendor and distributor businesses. This marks a significant expansion in reach, support and market appeal, outpacing a best effort of over 315 finalists in 2021 to position Innovation Awards as the leading technology awards program for customer innovation and ecosystem excellence in the Australian channel. Reflective of a diverse technology network, more than 130 partners and start-ups are represented and range from large-scale multinational consultancy firms to emerging start-ups, alongside leading system integrators, managed service providers and solution consultants, plus cloud specialists, independent software vendors, boutique agencies and application developers. This is in addition to over 60 channel-centric vendors and telecommunications providers, plus more than 10 supply chain experts in distribution. Within this standout group, finalists are located across the entire country and represent all states and territories, spanning New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory. Aligned to the ARN approach of representing established and emerging technology providers in equal measure, Innovation Awards in 2022 stands tall as the leading forum for setting the industry benchmark for ecosystem excellence across Australia. “This is a stunning statement from the market,” said Cherry Yumul, Vice President of Channel at Foundry. “Irrespective of ongoing societal challenges and worsening economic conditions, Australia continues to power forward unperturbed — the ecosystem has once again raised the bar to set new levels of innovation. “To house another record-breaking year of ARN Innovation Awards is testament to the transformative nature of our ecosystem — partners, start-ups, telcos, vendors and distributors are all playing a crucial role in delivering on the promise of technology to customers across the country. Congratulations to our standout finalists.” In 2022, Innovation Awards will honour the channel across eight categories, spanning Partner Innovation, Tech Innovation, Australia-wide Innovation, Start-up Innovation, Personal Innovation, Vendor Innovation, Distributor Innovation and Hall of Fame. In response to a wealth of standout submissions, Personal Innovation has been divided to best acknowledge and highlight the depth of talent in the Australian market. Management Excellence, Marketing Excellence and Technical Excellence will be segmented into three sub-categories spanning Partner, Vendor and Distributor awards. Meanwhile, Channel Excellence will be divided into the sub-categories of Vendor and Distributor, plus Sales Excellence into the sub-categories of Partner and Vendor. This decision was made by the ARN shortlist panel consisting of Cherry Yumul (Vice President of Channel); James Henderson (Editorial Director), Julia Talevski (Editor), Shirin Robert (Community Editor) and Claudia Muldrew (Associate Editor) with the aim of providing a foundation upon which a broader range of exceptional companies can be recognised. In addition to honouring winners, ARN also holds wider responsibility for ensuring as many credible technology providers are endorsed through this unique awards program, aligned to the collective goal of providing a platform upon which the ecosystem can shine across Australia. Finalists will now be selected by an executive judging panel of business leaders from partner, vendor and distributor organisations. ARN congratulates all finalists and thanks all organisations and individuals for taking the time to submit nominations. PARTNER INNOVATION Partner Innovation recognises customer innovation and excellence across the key market segments of Enterprise, Mid-Market and SMB, in addition to pioneering technology specialists and collaborative providers. Enterprise: APCD Araza ASI Solutions BluBiz Solutions Brennan Cevo Data#3 Global Storage InfoTrust Insight Nexion Networks Mid-Market: Advanced Mobile IT ASI Solutions Australian Sentinel BluBiz Solutions blueAPACHE Brennan Dynamic Aspect InfoTrust Macquarie Telecom Oreta Somerville Stax Tecala Group TechForce Services The Missing Link SMB: A1 Technologies Cevo Delta Insights Dynamic Aspect eNerds Evologic InfoTrust Otto IT Powernet IT Solutions TechForce Services Think Differently: Araza Arq Group ASI Solutions Cognizant Otto IT Patient Zero Sekuro TelcoDataCloud The Missing Link Collaboration: AC3 & Big Village Balance Internet Be Nimble IT DXC Technology & Daisee Dynamic Aspect Ever Nimble Lift Alliance Optus TECH INNOVATION Tech Innovation recognises partners leveraging established and emerging solutions to enhance customer innovation levels, underpinned by deep levels of expertise and specialist services. Cloud: 8Squad Amblique Arinco Arq Group Consegna DXC Technology Insight Linktech Logicalis oobe Oreta Sourced Group Stax Telstra Purple Versent Security: Cevo CSO Group Data#3 Exigo Tech Fuse Technology Nueva Solutions Orro Group Outcomex Sekuro Tecala Group Digital Transformation: Atturra Aware Services Blue Connections IT BPC Technology Clade – A Brennan Company Ericom Fujitsu Insight Intuit Technologies Lanrex Logicalis Oreta Outcomex The Missing Link Versent Emerging: Arq Group DiUS Konica Minolta meldCX MobileCorp Tecala Group Telstra Purple Homegrown ISV: AbilityMap ActivePort Group Aqura Technologies Atlastix Barhead Solutions Cyara iasset.com Kiandra meldCX OrionVM AUSTRALIA-WIDE INNOVATION Australia-wide Innovation recognises partners delivering customer innovation headquartered outside of the two most-populated metropolitan areas in the country. This is partner is a market-leading specialist which thrives in challenging end-user environments, sparking new ideas and outcomes through an unconventional approach to technology consulting and implementation. Note: This award is open to partners headquartered outside of Sydney and Melbourne. National: Link Digital (Canberra, ACT) Nexion Networks (Perth, Western Australia) Patient Zero (Brisbane, Queensland) TelcoDataCloud (Adelaide, South Australia) Regional: Aqura Technologies (Perth, Western Australia) Area9 IT Solutions (Darwin, Northern Territory) Colton Computer Technologies (Orange, New South Wales) Int Tec Solutions (Mildura, Victoria) Intuit Technologies (Hobart, Tasmania) Leading Edge Data Centres (Tamworth, New South Wales) START-UP INNOVATION Start-up Innovation recognises market-leading start-ups building unique businesses to bring innovative new technologies to the Australian market. Note: All submissions must be from Australian-based start-ups. Product: ActivePort Group Arrow Digital Cybermate Fifth Logic meldCX Swoop Aero Wondaris Sector: Cybermate Fifth Logic Nueva Solutions Utecture Customer Value: Arinco Delta Insights Nueva Solutions Entrepreneur: Amit Sethi – BluBiz Solutions Vanessa McCarthy – Education Compliance Validators Fergus Creese – My Careers VENDOR INNOVATION: Vendor Innovation recognises vendors helping partners deliver transformative solutions and services to customers, operating market-leading approaches to engagement and enablement across the key technology segments of Cloud, Security, Hardware, Software, Networking, Collaboration and Specialist. Cloud: Avaya Dynatrace GoTo Hewlett Packard Enterprise Kong Nice Nutanix OrionVM Thousand Eyes, part of Cisco Veeam VMware Security: Armis Barracuda Networks BlackBerry Check Point Software Technologies Cisco CrowdStrike ExtraHop Fortinet LogRhythm Mimecast Proofpoint SentinelOne Sophos Watchguard Technologies Zscaler Hardware: Cisco Dell Technologies Dynabook Hewlett Packard Enterprise HP Lenovo Schneider Electric SoftIron Software: Aruba, A Hewlett Packard Enterprise company Thousand Eyes, part of Cisco HashiCorp M-Files Sana Commerce SolarWinds Veeam Zoom Networking: ActivePort Group Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company Cisco Meraki CommScope Cradlepoint Telstra Collaboration: Access4 Avaya Cisco GoTo N-able Poly RingCentral Yarnlab Zoom Specialist: Atlassian BidFin Cohesity ConnectWise Claroty Datto Dragonfly Technologies LastPass MyCISO Poly Rapid7 DISTRIBUTOR INNOVATION: Distributor Innovation recognises distributors spearheading ecosystem innovation and growth through transformative approaches to vendor engagement and partner enablement, spanning the core categories of Hardware, Software, Specialist. Creativity and Incubation. Hardware: Arrow Dicker Data Ingram Micro Leader Westcon-Comstor Software: Arrow Dicker Data Nextgen Group Pax8 Rhipe Westcon-Comstor Specialist: Ingram Micro (Specialist Division) Nextgen Optima Partner Wholesale Networks Tech Data Tradewinds Technology Brokerage Westcon-Comstor Creativity: Aria Technologies Arrow Exclusive Networks Ingram Micro Matchboard Pax8 Tech Data Westcon-Comstor Incubation: Leader Nextgen oSpace Westcon-Comstor PERSONAL INNOVATION Personal Innovation recognises standout individuals who contribute to customer, company and channel success through a transformative approach to management, channel, sales, technical and marketing positions. Channel Excellence (Vendor): Mert Mustafa – Check Point Software Technologies Kelly Sabo – Cisco Shaun Witherden – Datto Kris Hansen – Proofpoint (formerly Delinea) Shanthi Arul – Dropbox Tanya Hovagimian – ExtraHop Stefan Compagnoni – Extreme Networks Jordana Desmyth – HP Cheryl Sullivan – Lenovo Kushani Sriwardene – Microsoft Andrew Charitou – NBN Rhys George – NetApp Beau Alderson – Schneider Electric Kevin Liebenberg – Sophos Steven Hickey – Veeam Channel Excellence (Distributor): Ash Barron – Arrow Tina Kuleski – Dicker Data John Brown – Ingram Micro James Walters – Nextgen Group Pathum Bandara – Rhipe Tony Heywood – Tradewinds Technology Brokerage Kristal Wheeler – Westcon-Comstor Technical Excellence (Partner): Steven Tan – AC3 Brett Tyson – ASG Group David Barbagallo – ASI Solutions Jay Shah – Capgemini Michael O’Leary – Cevo David Sampson – Chamonix IT Solutions Nikhil Mathew – Cognizant Etienne Oosthuysen – Exposé Phill McSherry – MobileCorp Paul Seymour – Patient Zero Oshadha Ranaweera – Somerville Brent Harrison – Sourced Group Arun Kannan – Tata Consultancy Services Technical Excellence (Vendor): Mitchell Davis – Access4 Scott Hesford – BeyondTrust Sadiq Iqbal – Check Point Software Technologies Jason Mantell – Cloudian Sen Philip – CrowdStrike Mina Mousa – Extreme Networks Joel Lopez – Fujitsu Jason Deane – Schneider Electric Ian Frodsham-Budd – Veeam Samantha Treacy – VMware Matthew See – Watchguard Technologies Technical Excellence (Distributor): Gabriel Ripoll – Arrow Ben Le Huray – Ingram Micro Ben Sullivan – Dragos (formerly Nextgen Group) Abey George – Westcon-Comstor Marketing Excellence (Partner): Dorota Martinez – 8Squad Emily Penn-Tonkin – Arinco Georgia Swanson – Arq Group Alvin Paronda – Barhead Solutions Renata Di Stefano – blueAPACHE Erica Smith – Blue Connections IT Sophia Siegele – Chamonix IT Solutions Michelle Lewis – MobileCorp Jodie Meyerov – Perfekt Sanya Turkalj – Sourced Group Prayna Prasad – Stax Jemma Healy – Tecala Marketing Excellence (Vendor): Farzeen Quadir-Hegde – ASUS Katrina Nicol – Check Point Software Technologies Cecilia Huang – CommScope Bel Bennett – Dropbox Jessica Stark – GoTo Jacqueline Carreto – Lenovo Kristal Jamieson – One Little Seed Babita Rawat – Schneider Electric Tracey Reed – SentinelOne Debra Sutton – WalkMe Marketing Excellence (Distributor): Aline Horrocks – Arrow Paul Manio – Ingram Micro Seamus Pearson – Westcon-Comstor Sales Excellence (Partner): Alex Slade – A Corp Computers Jane Williams – AC3 Jason Eaton – ASI Solutions Nicholas Maranville – blueAPACHE Ali Syed – Cevo Vinay Joshi – Exigo Tech Hetal Dave – Infosys Lisa Fortey – Logicalis Tony Fulcher – Patient Zero Paul Friend – The Missing Link Sales Excellence (Vendor): Charlie Wood – BeyondTrust Leroy Daniel – BlackLine Sam Boelens – Check Point Software Technologies Reg Johnson – Cisco James Wright – Cloudian Joe Ciardi – Lenovo John Hickman – Schneider Electric Daniel Michel – VMware Gareth Irlam – Vocus Management Excellence (Partner): Dan Marsh – AC3 James Litjens – Arq Group Justin Lowe – ASI Solutions Jon Lang – DDLS Group Anthony Woodward – Logicalis Peter Jonson – MobileCorp Paul Glass – Nexion Networks Brendan Homann – Patient Zero Tim Baguley – Sourced Group John Jurkov – The Missing Link Management Excellence (Vendor): Vijay Raghvani – BlackLine Leo Lynch – Check Point Software Technologies Luke Power – Trellix (formerly Cisco) Nick Cross – Citrix Shant Soghomonian – Dell Technologies Cassandra Ashworth – DocuSign Luke Simmons – Dropbox Yvette McEnearney – GoTo Sunny Gandhi – Lenovo Ras Jayawickrama – Schneider Electric Anthony Daniel – WatchGuard Technologies Management Excellence (Distributor): John Poulter – Comstor Sarah Kittiphongphaisan – Exclusive Networks Jenelle Carmody – Ingram Micro Gavin Lawless – Nextgen Group Ruth Lavelle – Rhipe David Peach – Westcon Group HALL OF FAME Hall of Fame recognises long-standing leaders who have been instrumental in the development and enhancement of the Australian channel. One individual will be inducted into the ARN Hall of Fame in 2022 and will be determined by the executive panel of industry judges plus previous Hall of Fame inductees. For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities or event details — click here. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe