A rugby legend, a disability advocate, a rocking climbing instructor, a community radio presenter and an artistic neuro-diversity advocate are among the nominees for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards for the ACT.
The 2025 award nominees are:
2025 Australian of the Year for the ACT:
- Jenny Edwards – Scientist and founder, Light House ArchiScience (Canberra)
- Megan Gilmour – Co-founder, MissingSchool (Hawker)
- Christina Ryan – Founder, Disability Leadership Institute
- Philippa Seldon – Founder, The Healthy Tradie Project (Nanima)
2025 Senior Australian of the Year for the ACT
- Armando Corvini – Rock climbing instructor and volunteer (Deakin)
- Laurie Fisher – Super Rugby coach (Canberra)
- Peter Ralston and Marilyn Ralston – Running supporters of the vision impaired (Kaleen)
- Stuart Warner – Musician and community radio presenter (Queanbeyan)
Armando Corvini is a rock climbing instructor and volunteer.
Mr Corvini says he’s led two lives – the one he lived when he was young and unstoppable, and the one he lived after his accident.
When Armando was 56, he was lead climber on an expedition to the Himalayas. Although the party were well-prepared, there was heavy snow and they had to overnight on the descent. All came away with frostbite, with Armando the worst off – he lost all his fingers and toes.
After recovering, the lifelong climber began volunteering at his local YMCA in 1997, helping stroke patients with their mobility. After it closed in 2005, he continued working as an instructor for many Canberra schools and colleges.
Armando is now 85 and his business, Guided Outdoor Adventures, offers rock climbing, abseiling and caving exploration to foster confidence in people of all ages. He also holds free indoor rock-climbing lessons for people with disability – enabling them to experience the joy of rock climbing.
Laurie Fisher is Canberra’s best-known Super Rugby coach
Mr Fisher has been a prominent member of the ACT rugby community for more than 40 years.
He first joined the Brumbies Runners in 1999, moving up the ladder to head coach of the Australian under 21s before becoming head coach of the Brumbies in 2005, finally leaving in 2008 for a stint with Munster in Ireland.
Laurie returned to Canberra in 2012, helping to build a new team that was beaten in the Super Rugby final in 2013 and semi-final in 2014. After another UK stint, this time to Gloucester, he returned for the 2018 season.
The team he moulded with head coach Dan McKellar reached the semi-finals of Super Rugby on three occasions, took out the Super Rugby AU title in 2020 and were runners up in 2021.
Having retired at the completion of the 2023 season, Laurie was asked to join the Wallabies coaching staff through to the end of 2025. Now 66, he remains closely connected and the heart and soul of the Brumbies, the most successful province in Australian Super Rugby.
Peter Ralston and Marilyn Ralston run supporters of the vision impaired.
Peter Ralston OAM (75) and his wife Marilyn Ralston (74) have made it possible for people with vision impairment or other disabilities in the ACT to walk or run at mainstream events and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Peter is founder and president of Achilles Running Club Canberra, which he and Marilyn began in 2013. Volunteer guides team up with people with disability at fun runs, club training and the weekly parkrun.
In the past three years, Peter has guided blind athletes 120 times at parkrun, and Achilles Canberra has enabled several blind members to each achieve hundreds of parkruns. Peter and Marilyn also serve the community, Peter as a member of Lions Club of Canberra Belconnen and Marilyn at St John’s Care, Reid.
In recognition of his service to sport for people who are blind or have low vision, Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2020.
Stuart Warner is a musician and community radio presenter
Canberra’s own ‘Piano Man’ Stuart Warner has been bringing joy to the public and visitors for 35 years, playing weekly at Hyatt Hotel Canberra as well as embassies, the Commonwealth Club, events and parties.
When not serenading guests, Stuart has been a radio presenter and program coordinator for community radio station ArtSound FM 92.7 for 10 years. On air for up to four hours a week, he has amassed an audience thanks to his soothing voice and impart of music and singer knowledge.
A mentor to many, 74-year-old Stuart serves on several committees at ArtSound, including its Board, and assisted with training courses and seminars to introduce new community members to broadcasting.
Stuart is also a trained theatre organist and held positions on the executive of the Theatre Organ Society of Australia (ACT) since 1998. He performs on the Compton Theatre organ housed in the Albert Hall and has a 40-year local government career in NSW.
2025 Young Australian of the Year for the ACT
- Jarrett Anthoney – Co-founder, Dainere’s Rainbow (Gungahlin)
- Daniel Bartholomaeus – Artist and neurodiversity advocate (Canberra)
- Brendan Swan – Founder, Concussion Australia
- Hayley Whatman – Voice for youth (Canberra)
2025 Local Hero for the ACT
- Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello – Co-owners, Cafe Stepping Stone (Canberra)
- Dr Madhumita Iyengar – Founder, Initiatives For Women In Need (Amaroo)
- Pamela Muston – Ultramarathon runner (Wamboin)
- Delfina Shakespear – Gender-equality advocate in women’s sport (Florey)
The nominees for the ACT are among 137 people being recognised across all states and territories.
The award recipients for the ACT will be announced on the evening of Thursday 14 November 2024 in a ceremony at National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, which will also be available to watch online at australianoftheyear.org.au.
They will then join the other state and territory recipients as national finalists for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2025 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council CEO Mark Fraser AO CVO congratulated the nominees for the ACT.
“The ACT nominees for 2025 have achieved extraordinary things and are contributing to the community in many different ways,” said Mark.
“They are using their own experiences to help others, taking leadership roles to lift others up and demonstrating we all have greatness within us.”
