Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers 2025: Meet the judges

We are pleased to present our expert panel of judges for Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers 2025.

Meet our judges, each of which enabled an independent, credible, arm’s-length evaluation of nominees for @AuManufacturing‘s campaign.

You can see the results of said campaign — this year’s Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list — here.

Mike Jennings

Design Director

WAVE Design

Mike is a Director of WAVE Design. With a background in engineering, he leads with an analytical and creative mindset to make a tangible impact on the world. For the last two years, Mike has assisted in judging Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers.

Mike has over a decade of design expertise, strengthened by a background in Mechanical Engineering. He combines an analytical systems-thinking mindset with creative curiosity to engage meaningfully with the world and its complexities, delivering high-quality outcomes for his clients. He thrives on leading multidisciplinary teams within large organisations to improve systems, experiences, products and services.

For the multinational health and care organisation Bupa, he led the design of a Therapy Hub for people with disability to access allied healthcare services, a world first for the organisation. For AstraZeneca, he led the redesign of their internal event management system, improving efficiency by over 80 per cent. With the City of Melbourne, he led work to re-imagine the future of the city’s Statutory Planning service.

Mike is an expert in design and innovation, with experience spanning various sectors, including Local and State Government, Technology, Finance, Engineering, Healthcare, Education, Not-for-Profit, Social Enterprise, and Pharmaceuticals.

Karen Lenton

Stakeholder Manager

Industry Capability Network

Karen is an accomplished stakeholder engagement and communications professional with more than 20 years’ experience across the public service and not-for-profit sectors. Throughout her career, she has developed deep expertise in stakeholder management, strategic planning, brand development, and communications policy.

As Stakeholder Manager for Industry Capability Network (ICN) Limited, Karen plays a key role in connecting Australian suppliers, particularly SMEs, with major projects and opportunities across a range of industries, including manufacturing. She leads national engagement initiatives, manages strategic partnerships, and oversees the content and brand development of ICN’s flagship platforms — Gateway by ICN.

Karen is passionate about supporting Australian industry capability, particularly at a time when initiatives like the Future Made in Australia Act are sharpening the national focus on local manufacturing and innovation. Through her work at ICN, she helps to grow Australian business participation in supply chains for major projects, and showcase the depth of local expertise to project owners and government stakeholders alike.

Hugh Ong

Portfolio Director

Smartcrete CRC

Hugh is SmartCrete CRC’s portfolio director and responsible for building and managing the CRC’s project investment portfolio of research projects. The CRC’s research addresses the ongoing sustainable use of society’s second most used substance after water, and the third largest contributing industry to greenhouse gasses after energy and food – concrete. Prior to CRCs, Hugh came from the finance sector and managed innovation funding to trial and develop emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning, cyber security and quantum computing specific to their application in banking. These trials ranged from early-stage explorations, through to successful large-scale deployments in business applications. An innovation investment professional with over 15 years’ experience working in corporate and research environments, Hugh understands the complexities of identifying, investing in and governing R&D projects. Knowing that technology and research alone is not a solution, Hugh is interested in strategy, business model innovation and agile project design – and works to bridge the gap between inventors and industry through the processes of innovation.

Alan Lipman

Company director and adviser

Innovative and forward-thinking CEO with over 20 years of transformative leadership in manufacturing, import and distribution. Proven track record of driving growth and innovation by embracing cutting-edge technologies and recruiting top talent. Extensive experience working across different sectors in Australian manufacturing, including healthcare, medical device, advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, and contract manufacturing.

Martin Broglia

Managing Director

Bonfiglioli Australia and New Zealand

Martin was appointed as Managing Director for Bonfiglioli Australia and New Zealand almost six

years ago.

Martin holds an Electronic Engineering degree from his home country, Argentina and then completed his MBA at Sydney University.

He is no stranger to power transmission and heavy industry, having worked for some of the top

players in the industry over his 25-year career. Martin has gained extensive experience in sectors ranging from mining and bulk materials handling, to packaging, logistics and food & beverage manufacturing.

His Argentinian roots lead Martin to do everything with passion and 100 per cent commitment. He believes that anything worth your time is worth doing well, and he applies this to his dealings with customers and his team at Bonfiglioli.

Stephen Noble

Managing Director

Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment

Stephen Noble is the Managing Director of Australia Wide Engineering Recruitment and has been with the company for 30 years.

Australia Wide has been very closely aligned with Australian manufacturing since 1979. We have a saying in our company that we recruit from the top floor to the shop floor in manufacturing, through specialist recruitment teams in Engineering, Trades, Labour Hire & Office Staffing. Our Engineering & Trades recruitment teams are all Engineers or Tradespeople themselves – the only recruitment company in Australia to operate with this model. We have exceptional expertise in the roles we recruit.

Stephen has recruited many hundreds of employees in manufacturing, particularly in the automotive, electronics, FMCG, defence & HVAC sectors. As recruitment partners with manufacturers, we have a very broad, front-row seat to the evolution of the industry. Innovation originates from people, and many of the individuals we recruit are driving innovation with our clients, particularly in new product development and improved manufacturing methods.