Navy women, take a bow.
Navy scooped the pool at the recent Australian Defence Magazine 2025 Women in Defence Awards, with accomplished Navy women claiming four of the 12 awards.
Two sailors and two officers, with ranks from able seaman to captain, took out the Engineering, Executive Management, ICT & Cyber, and Technical Trade Awards, which were presented at a ceremony in Canberra on October 15.
From an able seaman producing a quality management system for her workplace to a lieutenant commander managing complex engineering changes to improve an auxiliary oiler replenishment, the awards have shone a light on incredibly smart women with STEM backgrounds taking Navy by storm - and continuing to pave the way for others to follow.
Navy Women Strategic Adviser Commander Gabby Dobson said the awards reflected Navy's investment in professional development and technical skills.
"They also show the value we place on social mastery, how we mentor and support our people in the workplace, and engage in community outreach," Commander Dobson said.
"We are standouts in that area.
"In Navy, we always talk about team achievement, and women still tend to be reluctant to be individually recognised on a public stage, so it was special to see all these Navy women being celebrated."
Aviation technician Able Seaman Sophia Mintram flew from Perth for the awards with her veteran husband Dan and a member of HMAS Stirling's command team. She beat four other finalists to win the Technical Trade Award.
"I didn't expect to win and started my speech by saying I had nothing prepared," she said.
"I said I was humbled and appreciative, and then thanked my team at the Helicopter Support Facility (HSF), and finally, my husband."
'Women still tend to be reluctant to be individually recognised on a public stage, so it was special to see all these Navy women being celebrated.'
Growing up in Nowra with family friends who were 'birdies', Able Seaman Mintram finished high school and entered the Navy Gap Year program before completing her Aviation Technician Aircraft training at RAAF Base Wagga. She has posted to 725 Squadron and 816 Squadron, then moved to HMAS Stirling at the start of 2024 into a facility and aerodrome assistant position.
It was her work to produce a bespoke quality management system for the HSF that won Able Seaman Mintram her award.
The judges found the technician directly responsible for the uplift of standards, enhancing the quality of business rules and safeguarding the future of HSF aviation operations.
They declared that Able Seaman Mintram demonstrated what a contemporary female role in Defence can look like.
"My career has been incredible," Able Seaman Mintram said.
"I've had amazing opportunities such as being part of a regional presence deployment on board HMAS Sydney and flying to Singapore with my team on a C-17 to perform phase maintenance on an MH-60R helicopter while its ship was alongside.
"Plus, I got a Navy-issued husband. He'd just finished recruit school, I'd finished my Gap Year and we were doing a two-week maths course at HMAS Cerberus. There were 13 of us, including myself and one other woman.
"We had a good routine where we'd go to the library to do our homework, go to dinner and then walk around HMAS Cerberus in the evening."
The other individuals recognised as part of the Australian Defence Magazine 2025 Women in Defence Awards were:
- Lieutenant Commander Caroline Skinner, Marine Engineering Officer on HMAS Supply - winner of the Engineering Award for managing the complex engineering changes to improve an auxiliary oiler replenishment.
- Captain Kristen Watts, Director of Workforce Design and Integration in Military Workforce Design Division - winner of the Executive Management Award.
- Petty Officer Brionee Harvey, Communications Information Systems Sailor - winner of the ICT & Cyber Award for establishing the communication centre on the new Evolved Cape-class patrol boat, Australian Defence Vessel Cape Naturaliste.
- Lieutenant Commander Shafiqah Shariff Ali, Strike Officer and Principal Warfare Officer - one of four finalists for the Operations Award.
