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ARN Innovation Awards 2022: and the finalists are…

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

Read more on the next page…

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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.