Two of ACCIONA’s own have been recognised for their academic achievements at the 2026 Chisholm Education Awards.

Congratulations to Justin Thomason for being awarded Trainee of the Year, and Ana Maria Gamero Otera who was named Apprentice of the Year at the award ceremony held in Melbourne in June 2026.

These awards are significant within Victoria's vocational education sector as they showcase student excellence and industry engagement at the Chisholm Institute, one of Victoria’s largest TAFEs.

Justin’s story

Being named Trainee of the Year at the 2026 Chisholm Education Awards is a recognition not only of Justin’s achievements, but the determination behind them.

Justin’s journey hasn’t followed the usual path. He left school at 14 after a serious injury that made him a person with quadriplegia, putting his education on hold for nearly 20 years.

Joining the M80 Ring Road Completion project marked a turning point.

Through his traineeship with ACCIONA, Justin completed a Certificate III in Business at Chisholm Institute in 2025, marking an important milestone after two decades away from formal learning.

On the project, Justin didn’t just settle into the role; he looked for ways to improve how things were done.

When he saw an opportunity to strengthen workforce reporting for subcontractors, he took the lead. Teaching himself advanced Excel and Power Query along the way, he redesigned the reporting system from the ground up.

The result is a smarter, more reliable way of working. The system now:
• Automatically tracks subcontractor reports
• Flags missing or incorrectly named submissions
• Brings data together in one place
• Checks information against the project’s workforce database
• Picks up gaps, errors and inconsistencies before they become bigger issues.

In simple terms, it saves time, cuts down rework, and gives the team confidence in the data they rely on every day.

Justin’s award recognises both his personal journey and the real difference he’s made on the M80 project.

Social Sustainability Manager Tim Myles summed it up well:

“This tool has significantly improved the quality and reliability of our reporting. People who use this data every day are genuinely impressed by the capability and initiative Justin has shown.”

Ana’s story

Mechanical & Electrical apprentice Ana Maria Gamero Otero was named Apprentice of the Year at the 2026 Chisholm Education Awards, recognising her skill, resilience and leadership.

Ana, who is undertaking a Certificate III in Fabrication and is based at our Port Melbourne workshop, shared the top Apprentice honours with Barber Ryan Jillings. Her story stood out for more than just technical skill – It’s one of courage, persistence and purpose.

Inspired by her father, an engineer, and her uncle, an electrician, Ana didn’t just follow a path - she forged her own. She chose a welding apprenticeship to create a stable future for her family while finding her own confidence along the way.

As a single mum of four, she was looking for structure and security. What she found was belief in herself.

From often being the only woman in the workshop or classroom, Ana turned that challenge into a platform. She now shares her journey openly, using social media to encourage others – especially women – to step into trades and engineering.

“I want to be a positive role model,” Ana said.

Ana’s impact doesn’t stop at the job site. Over time, she’s become a strong voice for inclusion across the construction industry.

In 2025, she spoke at a Master Builders Victoria diversity event, sharing her experience as a woman, migrant and mother.

That same year, she was also named Apprentice of the Year at the Empowered Women in Trades Awards, another sign of the difference she’s making.

She continues to mentor others through programs like Steel Chicks, helping the next generation see what’s possible.

At home, that inspiration is already taking root – her daughter now dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer.

Ana’s ambition is clear.

She hopes to become a welding inspector, helping raise standards while making the industry more inclusive for everyone.

Congratulations, to both Justine and Ana on this well-deserved recognition, and for demonstrating courage, perseverance and leadership in their role each and every day.