Celebrating Our Stars: The 2026 Sodexo Excellence Awards

Celebrating Our Stars: The 2026 Sodexo Excellence Awards

Earlier this year, we came together at the 2026 Leadership Conference to celebrate the incredible people who make us who we are. From safety and sustainability champions to inclusive leaders, our 2026 Sodexo Excellence Award winners truly embody our #BelongActThrive mindset. 

Working away from home is tough, but it is your hard work and dedication that makes us the leading village services provider in the Energy and Resources sector. These awards are a proud moment to recognise the teams, leaders, and partners who go above and beyond to deliver a ‘home away from home’ experience every single day.

Meet Our 2026 Excellence Award Winners 

massive congratulations to this year’s individual and team winners for focusing on the moments that matter: 

  • Service Spirit: Michelle Kernan – for setting the gold standard in professionalism and resilience. 
  • Team Spirit: Jay Bubnich – for leadership, positivity, and team spirit at Gudai Darri Village. 
  • Spirit of Progress: Rajat Schan – for innovative thinking and contributions to continuous improvement. 
  • Support Excellence: Lana Martin – for dedication to operational success across the Santos contract. 
  • Safety Leader: Christopher Stocklinger – for raising the bar on safety and a Zero Harm culture at Eramurra Village. 
  • Financial Performance of the Year: Northern Star Contract – for their dedication to continuous improvement. 
  • Sustainability Champion: Craig Adams – for hands-on dedication to sustainability at Collinsville Village. 
  • Inclusive Leadership Award: Dale Kennedy – for leading with inclusion and belonging. 
  • GSA Site Leader Awards: Tracey Cox – for commitment, knowledge sharing, and team impact at Marsh McLennan. 
  • E&R Site Leader Awards: Eve Van Rossen – for steady leadership and client relationships at ERA Village. 
  • Managing Director Awards: A big congratulations to our Business Development team, Lisa Reid, and Shane McDonnell for their transformative leadership, collaboration, and growth mindset. 

Celebrating Years of Service 

We also want to give a special shoutout to our long-serving team members who have shown incredible loyalty and passion over the decades: 

Aurea Cruz – celebrating an amazing 28 years of dedication. 

Penny Aldridge & James McKercher – each marking 26 incredible years of service. 

Strong Partnerships, Better Outcomes

We cannot deliver excellence alone. Our supplier partners play a huge role in our success, and we are thrilled to recognise their vital contributions: 

Supplier Market Maker in Sustainability: Woollahra Group – for championing environmental and social impact, and helping us create healthier communities. 

Supplier Spirit of Progress: Iron Merge – for uplifting communities and delivering forward-thinking business practices. 

Supplier Service Spirit: Allpest – for their deep commitment to partnership and service innovation. 

Supplier of the Year: Total Food Distributions – for being a true and trusted Sodexo partner. 

Be Proud of Our Impact 

Every meal you cook, every room you clean, and every friendly greeting you share adds up to a massive impact. You create thriving, connected communities. 

If you see any of our amazing winners on site or in your daily communications, please take a moment to congratulate them! Let us all feel proud of the incredible work we do together. 

How will you bring the #BelongActThrive mindset to your shift today? Share your thoughts and give a shoutout to a teammate in the comments below!