Canberra Dynamics is pleased to announce that our Founding Director, Rhys Kissell, has been named a finalist in the 2025 Australian Defence Industry Awards under the Rising Star category.

This recognition reflects his sustained contributions to Australia’s sovereign defence capability across electromagnetic systems and electronic warfare - domains where the gap between theoretical promise and fielded performance is often stark.

Since its inception, the company has taken a deliberate approach: delivering technically rigorous solutions that are designed to operate in degraded, contested environments, and tested under conditions that reflect the real constraints of the tactical edge. Under Rhys’s leadership, Canberra Dynamics has rapidly positioned itself as a trusted engineering partner to government and defence clients seeking practical innovation.

The Rising Star category recognises individuals whose impact belies their time in the sector. For Rhys, this includes leading the design and prototyping of electromagnetic systems tailored for modern conflict, advising on high-assurance systems architecture, and challenging traditional procurement models with faster, leaner engineering cycles. The nomination also reflects his broader influence on how technical organisations can remain aligned with operational realities.

Rhys has previously supported capability development for the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force, and contributes to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK). He also teaches engineering at the masters level at the Australian National University, with a focus on bridging the gap between academic frameworks and real-world constraints.

The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, 10 July 2025, at the National Convention Centre Canberra, bringing together senior industry leaders, high performing workers, and innovators of all kinds from across the national defence ecosystem. Canberra Dynamics congratulates all finalists and looks forward to an evening that highlights the calibre of work being done across the sector, and the urgency of continuing to do more.