iTnews Announces Project Finalists for the 2025 Benchmark Awards

The 2025 iTnews Benchmark Awards have recognized a wide range of innovative projects across multiple sectors, underscoring the increasing importance of technology in enhancing efficiency, security, and user experiences. These projects reflect the growing trend of organizations leveraging advanced technologies to address specific challenges, improve operational outcomes, and better serve their stakeholders.

In the Best State Government Project category, several groundbreaking initiatives stand out. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) in Western Australia has been recognized for its next-generation warnings and Australian Warning System project, which aims to improve emergency preparedness and communication. Other finalists include the NSW Department of Communities and Justice’s infoShare, a cloud-based application designed for secure data collection, which enhances the state’s ability to manage and protect sensitive information. Queensland’s Office of the Coordinator-General has also been acknowledged for its AI-powered document classification system, which streamlines the management and processing of important documents. Additionally, the Queensland Police Service’s QPS QLiTE NextGen Mobile Application is a key project that improves the police force’s response to domestic and family violence by providing officers with a more efficient and user-friendly mobile platform.

In Best Local Government Project, local authorities have demonstrated how they are utilizing technology to enhance community services and operational efficiency. The City of Sydney’s Public Access IT (PAIT) project stands out, offering the public increased access to IT resources, while its transformation of the booking experience for community venues aims to simplify and enhance user experience. The Local Government Association of Queensland’s early warning SMS alerts for floodwater at Bloomfield Bridge provides vital, real-time information to the community, helping to mitigate risks associated with flooding. Other finalists, such as the City of Tea Tree Gully’s property and rating transformation project, are leveraging technology to modernize and optimize local government services for greater convenience and effectiveness.

The Best Finance Project category showcases a variety of technological advancements designed to improve financial services and customer experience. Flexicommercial has been recognized for its implementation of 365 Collect, which enhances debt recovery processes through automation and improved efficiency. ANZ has been acknowledged for its efforts in accelerating software delivery using the proprietary GenAI agent, as well as for adopting GitHub Copilot to streamline its development processes. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s ChatIT initiative, which revolutionizes tech support services through AI-driven chat systems, also stands out as an example of how financial institutions are integrating cutting-edge technologies to provide better services to their customers. Westpac’s Pay with Points project, which offers customers more flexible payment options, and Colonial First State’s innovative data solutions, which turn data into valuable business assets, are also among the finalists in this category.

In Best Industrial Project, companies in the industrial sector are harnessing technology to drive efficiency and sustainability. BAE Systems has been recognized for its Hunter Class Frigate Program, which utilizes a digital shipbuilding platform to improve the construction and maintenance of naval vessels. Transurban’s advanced analytics project to optimize energy usage in road tunnel ventilation systems is another notable example of how data analytics can lead to energy efficiency and cost savings. Other finalists in this category, such as GHD’s CDE Synchroniser for seamless data integration and NRW Civil and Mining’s efforts to decarbonize operations, illustrate how technology is transforming industrial operations by improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and enhancing sustainability.

In Best Energy Project, finalists are leveraging technology to improve the management and delivery of energy services. Endeavour Energy’s FLISR (Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration) system, a self-healing network, stands out for its ability to automatically detect and isolate faults, reducing service interruptions and improving reliability. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)’s development of a new Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) is also a key project that aims to modernize the country’s energy market infrastructure. SA Power Networks has been recognized for its cloud-based remote connectivity solutions and its efforts to improve protection and response times for energy users, further demonstrating how technology can enhance energy distribution and resilience.

In the Best Education Project category, educational institutions are embracing technology to improve learning outcomes, administrative functions, and research capabilities. Guildford Grammar School’s digital transformation project has successfully integrated new technologies to improve student learning and streamline administrative processes. RMIT University’s SAMS Global System Upgrade Program, which aims to enhance the university’s administrative systems, and UNSW’s use of cloud skills to advance research and innovation, are also exemplary projects in this category. Additionally, the University of Newcastle’s AI-powered operations innovation project highlights how AI can be leveraged to optimize university operations and support better decision-making.

The Best Retail Projects category recognizes companies that are leveraging digital transformation to enhance business growth and customer experience. Reece Group’s enterprise cloud system migration project is a standout, enabling the company to modernize its IT infrastructure and improve scalability. IRONMAN 4X4’s PRISM project, which lays the foundation for future growth, and Eagers Automotive’s focus on business continuity through acquisition, also showcase how retailers are adapting to new technologies to maintain competitive advantages and drive operational improvements.

In Best Telecommunications & Media Project, companies in the telecommunications and media sectors are utilizing data-driven solutions to enhance connectivity and customer experiences. Foxtel’s Hubbl entertainment platform, which integrates various services into a single, streamlined system, and NBN Co’s Data Simplicity initiative, which simplifies data management for customers, are notable innovations. Optus has been recognized for its Unified Data Platform, which modernizes its legacy systems and builds a data lakehouse to improve operational efficiency. The Connectivity Innovation Network & NSW Telco Authority’s LAWIFI project, which enables the rapid deployment of large-area Wi-Fi, is another example of how the telecommunications sector is leveraging new technologies to improve connectivity and expand service offerings.

In Best Health Project, health organizations are integrating technology to improve patient care and healthcare operations. eHealth NSW’s Engage Outpatients project is a pioneering initiative that digitizes patient referrals to improve access and outcomes. Northern Mallee Health Connect’s virtual care project brings healthcare services closer to patients’ homes, while LifeFlight Australia’s operations dashboard provides a single source of truth for managing air ambulance operations. DPV Health’s proactive approach to cybersecurity, where the organization tested its own network to safeguard patient data, and the Department of Health Victoria’s use of syndromic surveillance powered by natural language processing to better identify and respond to thunderstorm asthma, further exemplify the role of technology in improving health outcomes.

Finally, the Best Not-for-Profit Project category highlights organizations using technology to enhance their services for the community. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood’s ALiVe project, which automates key processes in life-saving blood production, and Uniting’s use of augmented reality smart glasses for telehealth in residential aged care, are prime examples of technological advancements in the not-for-profit sector. Other finalists, such as the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s CyberSimple initiative, which helps small businesses prevent cyberattacks, and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority’s IT transformation project, which has integrated case management systems and improved member portals, demonstrate how not-for-profit organizations are harnessing technology to better serve their communities and stakeholders.

These projects reflect the broad and transformative impact of technology across a wide range of industries, from government and finance to healthcare and not-for-profit organizations. The finalists for the 2025 iTnews Benchmark Awards showcase the ongoing evolution of technology in solving complex challenges and improving services for both businesses and the public.