Meet your 2026 ACT Australians of the Year
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The 2026 ACT Australians of the Year have been announced, naming four exceptional Canberrans.
Celebrating people whose achievements and contributions have had a profound impact on the lives of others, the winners are now finalists in the national awards, which will be announced on 25 January 2026.
Meet the Canberrans who have been making Canberra – and the world around them – a safer, healthier and more inclusive place to live.
Professor Rose McGready, 2026 ACT Australian of the Year
Professor Rose McGready is a migrant and refugee health expert who has spent three decades providing life-saving health services to displaced people in the border region between Thailand and Myanmar.
For over 30 years, she has built a network of locally run clinics and outpatient services for pregnant women and new mothers and their babies, saving thousands of lives. Her research has also led to new treatments being developed to tackle maternal malaria and her findings have been adopted by the World Health Organisation as the global standard for combatting the disease.
Heather Reid AM, 2026 ACT Senior Australian of the Year
As a pioneer of women’s football Heather Reid AM has made it possible for thousands of women to play football in the ACT and around Australia.
She was the first female CEO of Capital Football in 2004 and has brought together four associations into a single peak body, securing Canberra United’s inclusion in the national W-League, helping to promote the game to a wider audience.
Heather has continued to support and mentor players, coaches and administrators, both locally and internationally. The Heather Reid AM Bursary helps pay the registration fees of players in need of assistance, ensuring that financial hardship is not a barrier to participation.
Sita Sargeant, 2026 ACT Young Australian of the Year
A historical storyteller and the founder of She Shapes History, Sita Sargeant uncovers the stories of women who have shaped Australia in ways that receive little or no recognition.
As the founder of She Shapes History – a historical tourism company and social enterprise that highlights these little-known stories through walking tours, digital content and partnerships with cultural institutions and historic sites – Sita and her team of guides have taken more than 10,000 people on tour in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.
Revealing how women’s contributions have long been ignored by mainstream history, Sita has also published a book highlighting the stories of more than 250 women who have shaped history in 31 towns and cities across Australia.
Ben Alexander, 2026 ACT Local Hero
Ben Alexander is a mental health advocate and co-founder of Running for Resilience.
As a former Brumbies and Wallabies player, he is helping build a stronger and more resilient community where no one feels they must face tough times alone by co-founding Running for Resilience (R4R) with fellow Canberran Matt Breen.
Helping to make the ACT suicide-free by 2033, Ben faced his own struggles after retiring from professional rugby and has used this experience to help others overcome personal difficulties through exercise and connection.
Each week, hundreds of people join R4R’s free runs and walks across Canberra to boost their physical and mental health and R4R also shares practical ways to connect and support others via a podcast, newsletter and community events.
Find out more about the awards and other ACT nominees on the Australian of the Year website.
