UTILITY ARBORIST ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (UAAA) COMMITTEE

Vijay Vetrivel, Chair

Daryl Marshall, Deputy Chair

The term of the current committee finishes on 31 May 2026

2026 AWARD NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

These awards aim to recognise those who have made significant contributions to the
field of Utility Vegetation Management over the past year. There are four award
categories as detailed below that you may nominate people for. A fifth category called
Lifetime Contribution may also be awarded, however, this is not an open nomination and will be determined solely by the UAAA Award Committee.

If you would like to nominate more than one person, please complete a separate nomination form for each person. All nominations must be submitted by 12 noon Sunday 8 February 2026 and winners will be announced at the 2026 Arboriculture Australia Conference in Hobart.

AWARD WINNERS

UAAA AWARDS - 2025 WINNERS

Congratulations to the deserving winners of the 2025 UAAA Awards. These awards recognise those who have made significant contributions to the field of Utility Vegetation Management over the past year.

Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) Award: Rick Hill, Powercor, CitiPower, United Energy

Safety Leadership Award: Ryan Hillman, Asplundh

Rising Star Award: Natalie Miller, Active Green Services

Training & Education Award: Michael Poole, VATS/Thought Planters

Community Service Award: Grant Jones, ETS Infrastructure Management

Lifetime Contribution Award: Mick Emmett

UAAA AWARDS - 2024 WINNERS

2024 Lifetime Contribution Award Winner - John Wallace, Founder & Managing Director, ETS

2024 Utility Vegetation Management Award Winner - Joel James, Powerlink

2024 Community Service Award Winner - Wallace Christian, Operations Manager, Treescape

2024 Training and Education Award Winner - Sascha Seifritz, Head trainer, Interlink Training

2024 Rising Star Award Winner - William Zala, Leading Hand, Asplundh

2024 Safety Leadership Award Winner - Josh Moller, HSE Field Mentor, ETS Infrastructure Management

2023 UAAA Award Winners

Safety Leadership Award – Dale Hamilton

Rising Star Award – Jayden Lyons

Community Service Award – Howard Wright

Training and Education Award – Bruce Bennett

Lifetime Contribution Award – Craig Hallam

2022 UAAA Award Winners

Safety Leadership Award – Anthony Fehring

Rising Star Award – Charise Wood

Training and Education Award – Joe Harris

Utility Vegetation Management Award – Stephen Martin

Lifetime Contribution Award – Mark Wilcocks

2021 UAAA Award Winners

Safety Leadership Award – Dylan Carstairs

Rising Star Award – Lachlan MacPherson

Utility Arborist Award – Heath Frewin

Lifetime Contribution Award – Dale Enerson