AIPIO Awards for Excellence in the Intelligence Profession
Nominations open from Monday 2 February to Tuesday 30 June 2026
proudly sponsored by
The Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO) is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2026 AIPIO Awards for Excellence in the Intelligence Profession.
These prestigious awards aim to recognise individuals and groups who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and contributions to the intelligence profession in Australia.
We invite nominations across the following four categories:
AIPIO Intelligence Professional of the Year
This award aims to recognise an individual who has made a significant and commendable contribution to the intelligence profession in Australia, specifically acknowledging an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, or other notable achievements within the intelligence profession.
AIPIO Emerging Intelligence Professional (EIP) AwardÂ
This award aims to recognise and celebrate excellence among emerging professionals across various intelligence sectors, acknowledging outstanding contributions over the preceding 12 months.
AIPIO Intelligence Group of the Year
This award is designed to recognise a group that has demonstrated exceptional performance or innovation in the intelligence profession. This award aims to acknowledge outstanding achievements, thought leadership, and the introduction of revolutionary practices within the intelligence profession.Â
AIPIO Intelligence Publication Award
This award is designed to recognise excellence in research, and writing, on issues relevant to the intelligence profession in Australasia.
Key Information
Nominations are open from 2 February to 30 June 2026.
Nomination forms must be submitted via the online nomination links.
Supporting materials for the Publication Award (including a copy of the paper) may be emailed to engagement@aipio.asn.au.
The AIPIO team will notify award nominees shortly after, with awards to be presented during the AIPIO National Conference.
No serving AIPIO Board Member is eligible to receive an award
We encourage all professionals in the intelligence field to participate in this esteemed recognition process.
Nominations can be submitted by colleagues, supervisors, or self-nominations.
Finalists will be selected based on their outstanding achievements and contributions to the profession.
The AIPIO Board will only issue awards where nominations are of the highest standard and there will only be one award for each category.
We would like to thank our Awards Sponsor, for their support in bringing these awards to life.
In addition to the specific category awards, AIPIO has two very special awards which are described below.
David Irvine AO Memorial Award
Instituted by the AIPIO Board in 2023, the David Irvine AO Memorial Award is an annual recognition dedicated to honouring an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the intelligence progression in Australia.
The AIPIO Board will select the successful recipient
The distinguished recipient of the David Irvine AO Memorial Award will receive:
A unique David Irvine AO memorial Trophy
$5,000 grant to encourage ongoing innovation and contribution to the intelligence profession.
President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution
The AIPIO President’s Award recognises profound contribution to the intelligence profession through service, commitment, leadership and advocacy.
This Award is given solely at the discretion of the AIPIO President.
The AIPIO Presidents Award for Outstanding Contribution recipient will receive:
An AIPIO trophy
A framed citation
Celebrating Our 2025 Awards Winners
David Irvine AO Memorial Award: Dr Brenton Cooper
Intelligence Professional of the Year: Tara Clague
Emerging Intelligence Professional of the Year: Sam Woods
Intelligence Group of the Year: CI-ISAC Australia
Highly Commended Intelligence Group of the Year – DICE Team (Queensland Police Service)
Intelligence Publication of the Year: “Counterterrorism Analytics – Predicting to Prevent the Next Attack” Augusto Verzosa
AIPIO President’s Award: Neil Quarmby
Submit your nominations today and join us in honouring excellence, innovation, and leadership within the intelligence community.